Øresund Bridge Border Checks

Øresund Bridge Border Checks

With both Sweden and Denmark being part of the Nordic Passport Union since the 1950s, border controls between the two countries have been abolished for decades and travellers can normally move freely across the Øresund Bridge. In 2001, both countries also joined the Schengen area, and since then the abolition of border controls is primarily regulated by European Union law, more specifically the Schengen acquis.

However, in November 2015, during the European migrant crisis, Sweden introduced temporary border controls at the border to Denmark in accordance with the provisions of the Schengen acquis on the reintroduction of temporary internal border controls. As such, travellers into Sweden from Denmark (but not travellers into Denmark from Sweden) must show a valid passport or national ID card (citizens of EU/EEA countries) or passport and entry visa (if required) for nationals of other non-EU/EEA countries. The move marked a break with 60 years of border control free travel between the Nordic countries. In January 2016, these border measures were extended by a special carriers' liability, forcing carriers (such as bus, train and ferry companies) to check the identity of all passengers from Denmark before they boarded a bus, train or ferry to Sweden. These checks were enforced by a fine of SEK 50,000 as punishment for serving those without such identity documents. This led to the enforcement of checks by private security guards at, for instance, the rail station in Kastrup airport in Denmark, an unpopular move with passengers, due to the delays imposed.

In May 2017, Sweden removed the carriers' liability, but the ordinary border controls carried out by the Swedish Police Authority remained on the Swedish side of the Øresund Bridge. In accordance with the Schengen Borders Code, these border controls are only allowed for a period of six months at a time, and therefore have to be renewed twice a year.

Øresund Bridge (Öresund Bridge) Overview

Øresund Bridge Carries:
Four lanes of European route E20
Double-track Øresund Line
Øresund Bridge Crosses: Øresund strait (the Sound)
Øresund Bridge Locale: Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden
Øresund Bridge Official Name: Øresundsbron (used by company), Øresundsbroen (Danish), Öresundsbron (Swedish)
Øresund Bridge Design: Cable-stayed bridge
Øresund Bridge Total Length: 7,845 metres (25,738 ft)
Øresund Bridge Width: 23.5 metres (77.1 ft)
Øresund Bridge Height: 204 metres (669 ft)
Øresund Bridge Longest Span: 490 metres (1,608 ft)
Øresund Bridge Clearance Below: 57 metres (187 ft)
Øresund Bridge Designer: Jørgen Nissen, Klaus Falbe Hansen, Niels Gimsing and Georg Rotne
Øresund Bridge Engineering Design By:
Ove Arup & Partners
Setec
ISC
Gimsing & Madsen
Øresund Bridge Constructed By: Hochtief, Skanska, Højgaard & Schultz and Monberg & Thorsen
Øresund Bridge Construction Start: 1995
Øresund Bridge Construction End: 1999
Øresund Bridge Construction Cost:
19.6 billion DKK
25.8 billion SEK
2.6 billion EUR
Øresund Bridge Opened: 1 July 2000
Øresund Bridge Daily Traffic: Increase c. 18,434 road vehicles (2022)
Øresund Bridge Toll:
Until 31 December 2023: DKK 440, SEK 650 or EUR 59
From 1 January 2024: DKK 455, SEK 673 or EUR 61
Øresund Bridge Coordinates: 55°34′31″N 12°49′37″E