21. Airport procedures
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21.1 Procedures for courier mail
Diplomatic and consular bags are accepted for clearance at the ports and airports specified by Swedish Customs (tel: +46 771 520 520), i.e. at the following points of arrival/departure:
Airports:
- Stockholm Arlanda Airport
- Göteborg Landvetter Airport
- Malmö Airport
Ports:
- Frihamnen port, Stockholm
- Port of Gothenburg
- Copenhagen Malmö Port
Outgoing 'A mail' should be delivered to the aircraft by way of the security checkpoint in the departure hall, while outgoing 'B mail' should be delivered to the aircraft by way of the temporary storage facilities of the relevant airline.
Incoming 'A mail' should be brought into Sweden by way of the customs filter in the arrival hall and incoming 'B mail' by way of the temporary storage facilities of the relevant airline.
To access those areas to collect or deliver courier mail, staff members must be in possession of an airport photo badge. Please read about the application procedures for airport badges under section 20. Airport badges for mission staff.
For other questions regarding courier mail to be sent from or collected at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, please contact Swedavia, Arlanda Service Center, tel: 010 109 66 50.
21.2 Airport photo badges for mission staff
Mission staff may apply for airport photo badges for mission staff in order to collect or deliver diplomatic post in the airport's authorisation zone. A maximum of five photo badges may be delivered to each mission. According to Swedavia, airport photo badges are not intended to be used for receiving or bidding farewell to guests arriving or departing as regular passengers. For such cases, the airport VIP service is recommended. Please note that holders of airport photo badges must also use them when receiving or bidding farewell to guests arriving at or departing from the VIP lounge, as temporary badges cannot be issued to holders of photo badges.
The application procedure for photo badges may take up to four weeks and is based on Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation security and Swedish Transport Agency regulations on aviation security (TSFS 2016:1).
The following three steps must be taken before photo badges can be issued:
(i) Each mission must first conclude a security agreement with Swedavia/Arlanda Service Center. Please contact Swedavia to conclude this agreement:
Telephone: 010 109 66 50
Email: [email protected] - opens your email client,
(ii) A mission can subsequently apply for photo badges (individually for each holder) for a maximum of five staff members, diplomatic and non-diplomatic staff, by completing the following three forms:
- Application for badge
- Authorisation for check of criminal records - external website, - external website,
- Application for check of criminal records - external website, - external website,
Once completed, the forms should be submitted directly to Arlanda Service Center, SASC 190 45 Stockholm-Arlanda, or by fax to 010 109 66 99. Arlanda Service Center then transmits the applications to the Swedish Transport Agency for a background check, which includes a check of public records and a determination of whether a person can be considered loyal to the interests to be protected under the Swedish Security Protection Act. No photo badges will be issued until a complete background check has been carried out.
(iii) Each staff member applying for a badge must then complete an online security/safety training course on the Swedavia website.
Swedavia will provide login information to staff members upon request by telephone or email.
Telephone: 010 109 66 50
Email: [email protected] - opens your email client,
After a photo badge has been issued, its holder must collect it in person at Stockholm Arlanda Service Center (Terminal 5, ground floor) by presenting the identity card issued by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Swedish nationals are not entitled to Ministry-issued identity cards and must instead present a valid driving licence or ordinary Swedish identity card). The photo badge must be worn whenever its holder enters the transit or collection areas of Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
A photo badge is valid for a maximum of two years before it must be renewed. When mission staff conclude their duties prior to a photo badge's expiry date, the photo badge must be returned to Arlanda Service Center.
Staff members must observe Swedavia's rules regarding photo badges. Swedavia reserves the right to revoke photo badges if they are not followed. The Protocol Department has no influence over Swedavia's decisions or its processing of photo badges.
21.3 Individual photo badges for couriers
In order to apply for a photo badge (which is required when collecting or delivering courier mail at Arlanda Airport) each mission must conclude a security agreement with Swedavia/Arlanda Service Center (tel. 010-109 66 50).
Each mission may apply to the Arlanda Service Center for Swedavia's photo badge (individual for each holder) for a maximum total of 5 staff members (diplomatic as well as non-diplomatic staff) who are entitled to collect and deliver courier mail. This application includes the forms 'Application for a badge at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport' and 'Application for check of criminal records', which are available on the Swedavia website:
The two forms should be completed and sent directly to:
Arlanda Service Center, SASC 190 45 Stockholm-Arlanda or by fax number 010-109 66 99.
To obtain this photo badge, all staff acting as couriers must also undergo security clearance carried out by the Swedish Security Service ('Application for check of public records'). The security/safety training on the Swedavia website must be completed:
After a photo badge has been issued, its holder must collect in person at Arlanda Service Center (Terminal 5, ground floor) by presenting the identity card issued by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Swedish nationals are not entitled to Ministry-issued identity cards and must instead present a valid driving licence or ordinary Swedish identity card). The photo badge must be worn whenever its holder enters the transit or collection areas of Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Upon completing their tour of duty as courier in Sweden, the individual photo badge must be returned to the Arlanda Service Center.
21.4 Security checks
Please be advised that everyone must submit to security screening at the airport. This includes diplomats and other posted staff members. According to common international standard, security screening is not considered as being contrary to the regulations on diplomatic inviolability under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (Article 36 in particular).
21.5 Security checks of couriers
Each time a courier enters the freight sector of the airport (at Checkpoint Cargo), they will be subject to a security check. Their motor vehicle will also be checked if it is to be driven further into the freight sector. However, the diplomatic bag will not be opened or confiscated.
The courier will be accompanied by Swedavia staff, including the security company, to and from the aircraft in question. They are to leave through the customs control filter. Access to the transit area and aircraft is not permitted for any purpose other than collecting or delivering courier mail.
21.6 Marking and rules regarding diplomatic bag contents
The diplomatic and consular bag is defined as consisting of packages with visible external marks of their character. Such packages may only contain documents or articles intended for official use. Motor vehicles and freight containers are not accepted as a diplomatic or consular bag (A-mail or B-mail).
Weapons, firearms and ammunition and objects covered by an export or import ban must not be dispatched in a diplomatic or consular bag.
21.7 VIP service at Arlanda Airport
VIP service courtesy of the Protocol Department is granted to ambassadors upon their initial arrival and final departure, on the occasion of state visits, to head of states and prime ministers visiting the Swedish Prime Minister, to counterparts visiting the ministers at the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs and to EU ministers visiting their Swedish counterparts, and to certain heads of international organisations.
With VIP service at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, a VIP coordinator handles all the formalities, i.e. customs, immigration clearance, luggage delivery/check-in upon arrival/departure. VIP service can be booked and paid for by a mission. For more information, including the booking request form, price list and contact details, visit:
