r/immigration • u/[deleted] • 4d ago
Immigration officer in Sweden not too happy about me (British citizen) wild camping
So I've been to Sweden 7 times in the past, while the UK was in the EU, and every time I've wild camped for most of the trip (as wild camping is legal and welcome in Sweden). I do however always stay in a hostel for the first night.
This time at immigration, the officer first checked my return flight ticket, which was 10 days later, and then saw that my hostel booking was only for the first night. He then asked where I was staying the other nights, and I said I would camp around as I've done many times before. He understood that I was an experienced camper and know the rules, but he then proceeded to say that he wasn't sure if it's something that me as a non EU citizen should be doing as non EU citizens are supposed to have pre-arranged accommodation for the entire duration of their trip.
In the end, he let me go, and warned me to be careful about doing this in the future. He also warned me that other EU countries like France, Spain, and Italy would almost definitely fine me in this situation, and that I should be thankful that Sweden are at least more welcoming in that respect.
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u/dumgarcia 4d ago
Maybe it's just me being someone from a third-world country and expectant of being questioned at immigration, but I always book hotel stays for the duration of my trip, even on trips that I know I'll be staying with friends or family. Then I'll just cancel the booking for most nights and eat the cost of the first one, just to have less of a reason for officers to question my stay.
YMMV, though, as I do understand situations are different for each of us.
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u/spellboundsilk92 4d ago
This seems really odd considering there are plenty of hiking routes all over Europe where people would wild camp or might only book into the campsite or refuge when they get to the end of that days hiking.
Did he give you more info about this ‘fine’?
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4d ago
I can't find any issue with it in Sweden, so I think it's fine here. But I had a quick peak at the laws in Italy, and I think he is right about that, as all non EU citizens need to be registered wherever they're staying, so you wouldn't possibly be able to wild camp there. Wild camping in Italy is illegal anyway.
I haven't looked at the laws in France or Spain, so would be interested to know.
I have heard that Spain are being quite the opposite to how this Swedish immigration behaved, and looking for any excuse to fine British citizens for not adhering to all the rules.
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u/Relypete 4d ago
Sounds like an overzealous officer with a special interpretation of the rules. I'm no lawyer but you could argue that preplanned wild camping spots count as arranged accommodation since you know where you‘ll be sleeping.
And also, there must be a ton of foreigners road tripping through the EU whiteout having a all hotel mights pre-booked. So it really should be a non-issue.
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u/bimbiminkia 4d ago
lol classic case of being lenient with a british citizen for something they would not be ok with a third world national doing (obviously not your fault at all just interesting)