Iceland lifting all travel restrictions

Travelling to Iceland during COVID-19

Iceland is one of the most sought after travel destinations in the world. Although certain travel restrictions have been put in place to combat the coronavirus, as of February 9th 2022, Iceland remains open and will continue to be, for the foreseeable future.  

Below you will find all the current information regarding traveling to Iceland during COVID-19, what measurements have been put in place as well as border policies that must be abided by.  

Colorful houses in downtown Reykjavik

Who can enter Iceland during COVID-19?

At the moment anyone from the EEA/EFTA, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican as well as those who have a valid travel visa are allowed to enter the country without having to quarantine if they can successfully provide a certificate of vaccination, a valid recovery antibody certificate accompanied by a negative PCR оr Antigen test made no longer than 72 hours before their arrival.  

Third country citizens without appropriate visas are not allowed to enter Iceland.  

What is the current border policy?

In addition to the above mentioned, all passengers must complete a pre-registration form before arrival to Iceland, which includes personal contact details as well as planned departure date.  

Before travelling to Iceland, please make sure you are allowed to enter the country by reading the latest border force requirements 

If a passenger has strong ties to Iceland, the need to provide a PCR-test prior to arriving is removed. A test must be done either upon landing at Keflavik International Airport or in Reykjavík no longer than 48 hours after arrival.  

 Travellers born 2005 or later do not need to present a valid PCR or antigen test nor need to pre-register.  

 Depending on vaccination and recovery status, travellers can choose in between three options upon arrival in Iceland. 

Travellers with a valid vaccination certificate

Travellers must have a valid vaccination certificate approved by the World Health Organization. In addition the vaccination itself must be approved within Europe. At the moment, only of Janssen, Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, Sinopharm or AstraZeneca vaccines are accepted.  

A vaccination certificate is valid only if the initial 2 doses were finalized not more than 270 days or 9 months ago (or one dose for Janssen). This requirement is removed if a booster dose has been made.  

 The vaccination certificates include but are not limited to the Green Pass and Carte Jaune. They can be presented either in electronic or paper format. More information about specific certificate requirements can be found at Iceland’s Directorate of Health. 

 In addition, vaccinated travellers must pre-register before travelling to Iceland as well as make sure they have a valid negative PCR or Antigen Test made prior to arrival.  

Travellers with a former COVID-19 infection

All travellers with a former Covid infection must also pre-register before travelling to the country. They do not have to present a negative PCR-test for SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 or antigen test upon entry to Iceland but however, need to present a positive PCR-test older than 7 days but no more than 180.  

Rapid tests as well as self-tests will not be accepted.

Travellers that are able to provide all necessary certificates do not need to undergo any testing or quarantine upon arrival to the country. 

Travellers without a vaccination certificate of former COVID-19 infection

Travelers who cannot provide a valid vaccination certificate or proof of a former COVID infection must present a negative PCR-test upon entry to Iceland. The test must be made no later than 72 hours before embarking on the first leg of the journey.  

Travellers will be tested straight after arrival and must directly proceed to their chosen quarantine facility. A second test will be done 5 days after the first, and they will be released upon receiving a negative PCR-test result. The first test is done at Keflavik International airport while the second one is performed at Healthcare institutes all around the country. You will not be able to leave your designated quarantine location until both of your tests are negative.  

 Travellers without a valid vaccination certificate or proof of former Covid infection must also pre-register before entering the country.  

How does quarantine in Iceland work?

Should you need to quarantine in Iceland for whatever reason, it must be at a self-contained location with its own kitchen and bathroom facilities. Most guesthouses and hotels have made pre-arrangements to cater to the quarantine requirements, therefore it’s best to contact them and ask whether their accommodation is suited for this purpose. A list of approved quarantine facilities can be found here 

 In addition, the Icelandic government provides accommodation free of charge at its Red Cross quarantine hotels for those who cannot, for any reason, book a suitable guesthouse or hotel.  

Can I travel to Iceland now?

Yes, you can! Iceland has currently one of the highest vaccination rates within Europe and beyond. Currently, 81% of the population over 5 years of age is fully vaccinated, with nearly two thirds of the country having received a booster dose.  With a population of just under 370.000 people, the risk of contracting coronavirus is much lower than that compared to a big European capital. In addition, the majority of the population uses the Covid tracking app, allowing for a fast and accurate track and trace of potential infections.  

 

What rules are currently implemented in Iceland?

Due to the high vaccination rate, Iceland has recently loosened its internal pandemic restrictions.  Face masks must be worn in tight spaces where the 1-meter distance rule cannot be abided. They must also be worn in shops and pharmacies.  Bars, cafes and restaurants remain open until 11 pm and public swimming pools and sport facilities currently operate at a 50% capacity.  

 

How can I get a PCR-test Certificate prior to departure from Iceland?

Should you need to present a negative PCR-test to the airline or your final destination country you can do so in Reykjavík and Akureyri. All you have to do is pre-register and a bar code will be sent to your email, which you will then, present at the sampling facility. The test costs 7000 ISK and results can take up to 36 hours to arrive.  

 You will then get a digital certificate with all the necessary details required for travelling purposes.  

jokulsarlon glacier lagoon- travelling to iceland during covid-19

Iceland is open for EU/EFTA travellers and those who currently hold appropriate visas. Although COVID-19 and travel restrictions are still present throughout the country, necessary measures have been put in place to make Iceland as safe as possible both for locals and those visiting. Book your trip to Iceland now! 

 

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