As residents outside the European Union, Canadians and Americans can reclaim part of the Swedish VAT on their in-city purchases — up to 19% of the value of their purchases, from a minimum of 200 SEK spent in the same store.
The procedure is simple: first look for participating shops, generally indicated by a "Tax Free Shopping" logo in the window or near the till, then ask at the time of payment for a refund form, also known as a Tax-Free Cheque. It may be useful to show your passport or indicate your country of residence to confirm eligibility. The main stores in the city — department stores such as NK or Åhléns, design boutiques and fashion stores — participate in large majority in this scheme. Most work with Global Blue, but some use Planet Payment or other providers.
Please note: in 2025, the process has been partially digitalised, with some stores now offering refunds directly via the Global Blue app. In all cases, it is essential to keep the forms and receipts, and not to use the purchased items before presenting them at customs.
Tax refund at Arlanda airport It is at the time of departure that you actually recover the taxes. At Arlanda, you need to go to the Global Blue counter at terminal 5, with your tax-free form, purchase receipts, passport, boarding pass and purchased items.
For Planet Tax Free, the counter is also located at terminal 5, in the WH Smith before security; for departures from terminal 2, you need to go to the Forex desk before security.
Once the form has been validated by customs, the refund can be made in cash, by credit to a bank card or by bank transfer. If the counters are closed at the time of departure, it is possible to drop the forms in a letterbox provided for this purpose at terminal 5, provided however that you have previously obtained the customs stamp.
Duty free shops at airports allow you to purchase tax-free products only if you are travelling outside the European Union. If you are travelling between EU countries, you cannot benefit from this tax exemption. In practical terms, for Canadians and Americans returning home from Stockholm, access to duty free is therefore open. You simply need your final destination to be outside the EU and to have a boarding pass for your flight.
Duty free shops are located in the departure areas and are only accessible to passengers who have passed through security checks — they are therefore reserved for travellers only. At Arlanda, they are mainly located at terminal 5. At Stockholm Duty Free, you can buy tax-free items at good prices, and the products on offer often come in larger sizes than in regular shops. You will typically find alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics and Swedish souvenirs.
The permitted quantities depend on the customs rules of your destination country (Canada, United States, etc.), not Sweden. For reference, European rules upon entry into the EU provide for an allowance of €430 per person travelling by air or sea for miscellaneous goods and alcohol. For the United States and Canada, customs allowances upon entry are set by their own authorities, and must be declared to customs on arrival.
Important point: if you have a stopover at another European airport before returning home, liquid duty free purchases must be placed in a tamper-evident sealed bag with the receipt, in order to pass intermediate security checks.
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