Congress of the European Society of
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
To assist in travel to Stockholm, ESCMID Global can support attendees with letters of invitation and support in their application for travel visas. Travellers should consult the respective Swedish or Schengen-Partner representations regarding the current status of travel. Travellers possessing a valid Schengen visa can travel freely within the Schengen zone (depending on the days given on your visa). Please inform yourself before travelling.
Be aware that there is limited time to the congress and any requests for invitation letters should be made soon, though we cannot guarantee you will receive your visa in time.
You can find more information on applying for a visa here courtesy of The Swedish Migration Agency.
Attendees travelling to Stockholm for the congress should review Sweden’s entry requirements well in advance of their trip to confirm whether any travel authorisation or visa is needed. ETIAS is expected to launch in late 2026 and will require eligible travellers to complete a simple online application before entering Sweden or other Schengen countries. We recommend that all participants ensure they have the necessary travel documents in place before booking their trip.
ESCMID can only offer support to registrants, so it is necessary for applicants to have a valid and fully paid ESCMID Global 2027 registration before beginning the visa application process.
An official letter of invitation can only be provided directly after completing the ESCMID Global registration. These are automated invitation letters that indicate you are a participant and travelling to join the event.
Invited speakers, faculty, grantees, and accepted abstract presenters can request a specialised visa letter indicating the additional information and their active involvement in the programme of the congress, with follow-up contact to the embassies. Please use the contact form at the bottom of this page to request a specialised visa letter. The visa letter will be sent within seven days of completing the form.
Travellers who require a visa should consult the respective Swedish or Schengen-Partner representations within their country to determine exactly what is needed to apply. Further information about visa regulations and Schengen visas can be found on the respective website.
The processing time of an admissible Schengen visa application should not exceed 15 calendar days. However, due to the influx of visa applications not only for ESCMID Global but also other travellers, please allow for a maximum processing time of up to 6 months prior to arrival, and at least 4 months before the congress. Any later submission may not be processed by the respective Swedish or Schengen-Partner representations in time.
In case there is no Swedish consulate/embassy near you, please check which country represents Swedish visa services in your region.
To ensure a smooth visa application process:
Please note that ESCMID has no direct control over individual visa applications and cannot guarantee acceptance for the event.
Citizens of EU and EEA member states, as well as nationals of certain visa-exempt countries (such as Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, South Korea, and others), do not need a visa to enter Germany for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism or business purposes.
For the complete and updated list of visa-exempt countries, please refer to the Swedish Government website.
A valid passport is required to enter Sweden. In case of doubt, please contact the Swedish Consulate or Embassy well in advance before departure.