However, passports are, fortunately, not difficult to come by. In fact, you can obtain one by simply visiting any of the more than 7,000 passport acceptance locations such as public libraries, Federal courts, or municipal offices. There, you’ll be required to show a proof of your citizenship, a valid photo identification, and two photos to be used for the passport (you can do this yourself at the picture kiosks at your local mall.) You’ll also have to fill out some forms.

The passport facility then sends your paperwork to the authorities for processing, which will cost just under $100. From that point, you’ll receive your passport within 4-6 weeks (though with passport rules changing slightly in January 2007, you may encounter some delays.) After you receive it, check it thoroughly for any errors; never assume it’s perfect because mistakes sometimes do occur.

You’ll need to keep your passport on hand from the moment you leave your door to the moment you return, mostly for safety reasons. Besides, it’s best to know that you’ll always have proper ID on you, just in case. After all, you never know when you might decide on a whim to travel to another European country via train during your stay in Sweden; with passport in hand, you can simply jump on the rails for a day trip to another country for lunch and be back in Sweden for dinner. Bon voyage!