COVID-19: An Update from Go Campers

As of 27 July, all vaccinated persons and those that can present a certificate of a prior COVID-19 infection must present a negative PCR or antigen (rapid) test that is no more than 72 hours old before departure to Iceland.

Valid until 26.07.2021

Per Icelandic regulations all travellers arriving in Iceland, after more than a 24 hour stay in the last 14 days in risk areas defined by the Chief Epidemiologist, are subject to certain measures at the border due to COVID-19:

• All passengers are required to fill out this pre-registration before arrival, which includes their contact information, confirmation of certificate presented or a negative PCR-test, address during their quarantine and a declaration of health
• See details on covid.is. There is also a web chat for questions.
• Travellers who present a valid certificate of full vaccination or previous infection:
  • Do not need to present a negative PCR-test upon arrival.
  • Do not need to undergo a screening test for COVID-19 at the border and are exempt from quarantine.
• Travellers who do not present a valid certificate of full vaccination or previous infection:
  • Need to present a negative PCR-test, that is not more than 72 hours old at boarding.
    • Rapid antigen tests are not valid
    • If a passenger is arriving on a connecting flight then the 72 hours are counted from boarding of the first flight. This can be demonstrated with the boarding pass from the first leg.
    • Individuals that cannot present a negative PCR-test on arrival can be refused entry at the border or financial penalties can be imposed.
    • Icelandic citizens will not be refused entry.
  • Are required to undergo 2 tests to screen for SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, with quarantine in between. The first test is performed upon arrival and the second test 5 days later.
  • Individuals in quarantine must follow rules on home-based quarantine and rules on appropriate housing while in quarantine.
• All children born 2005 or later:
  • Do not need to pre-register.
  • Do not need to present a negative PCR-test upon arrival.
  • Do not need to undergo a screening test or be in quarantine due to the travel.
• Transfer passengers who stay less than 48 hours in Iceland can choose quarantine instead of screening. Transfer passengers are required to present a negative PCR-test upon arrival.
• Organic samples will be destroyed but impersonal data may be used for statistics about the COVID-19 disease.

Valid from 27.07.2021

Per Icelandic regulations all travellers arriving in Iceland, after more than a 24 hour stay in the last 14 days in risk areas defined by the Chief Epidemiologist, are subject to certain measures at the border due to COVID-19:

• See also covid.is including a web chat for questions.

All children born 2005 or later:

• Do not need to pre-register.
• Do not need to present a negative PCR-or antigen test upon arrival.
• Do not need to undergo a screening test due to travelling.
• Need to quarantine if their parent/guardian/adult co-traveller needs to quarantine but otherwise not.

Travellers born 2004 and earlier:

• All travellers are required to fill out this pre-registration before arrival, which includes their contact information, confirmation of presenting a negative test taken before departure, any additional certificates, address during quarantine and a declaration of health.
• Travellers can be denied boarding by airline if they have not pre-registered or they do not have the appropriate certificates.
• All travellers  are required to present a negative test, that is not more than 72 hours old at boarding.
• If a traveller is arriving on a connecting flight then the 72 hours are counted from boarding of the first flight. This can be demonstrated with the boarding pass from the first leg.
• Travellers who reside in Iceland or have a social network in Iceland are encouraged to undergo a PCR-test immediately upon arrival and to follow rules of quarantine until results are received. A PCR-test can be obtained at Keflavik airport upon arrival if it is ordered beforehand on heilsuvera.is (you need to have Icelandic electronic ID). Others can get a test at Sudurlandsbraut 34 in Reykjavik or at other locations with the primary health care service. Note if there is a high demand for testing at the airport passengers will be directed to Reykjavik/the primary health care service.
• Travellers who present a valid certificate of full vaccination or previous infection:
• Need to present a negative PCR-or antigen test upon arrival that is not more than 72 hours old at boarding.
• Travellers who do not present a negative test upon arrival will be required to take a PCR-test at the border and to follow rules of quarantine until results are received.
• Travellers who present a negative test upon arrival do not need to undergo a PCR-test at the border and are exempt from quarantine.
• If less than 14 days have passed from completion of vaccination then the traveller will be required to undergo one PCR-test at the border and to follow rules of quarantine until results are received.
• Travellers who do not present a valid certificate of full vaccination or previous infection:
• Need to present a negative PCR-test upon arrival that is not more than 72 hours old at boarding.
• Rapid antigen tests are not accepted for those without a certificate of a full vaccination or previous infection.
• Travellers who do not present a negative PCR-test upon arrival can be refused entry at the border or financial penalties can be imposed.
• However, Icelandic citizens will not be refused entry.
• Are required to undergo two PCR-tests to screen for SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 after arrival, with quarantine in between. The first test is performed at the border and the second test 5 days after the first.
• Individuals in quarantine must follow rules on home-based quarantine and rules on appropriate housing while in quarantine.
• Transfer passengers are required to present a negative PCR- or antigen test upon arrival, as above. Transfer passengers who do not present a certificate of full vaccination or previous infection can stay up to 48 hours in Iceland in quarantine without screening.
• Organic samples will be destroyed but impersonal data may be used for statistics about the COVID-19 disease.

Travel restrictions do not apply to other EEA/EFTA-citizens and citizens of Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican.

Third-country citizens are still not authorized to travel to Iceland unless exemptions apply. Note: As of January 1, 2021, UK nationals have the status of third-country nationals.

Only Greenland is considered a safe area but all other countries are risk areas.

Rules at the border are in force until August 15, 2021.

Rules at the border

All travellers must pre-register before arriving in Iceland and confirm their departure day, if available.

Present a negative PCR test certificate against COVID-19. Rapid antigen tests are not valid. The test must have been taken within 72 hours before departure on the first leg of the journey.

Travelers must undergo testing upon arrival to Iceland.

Quarantine and second testing: Everybody must quarantine for five days and go for another test at the end of quarantine. Please note that a new day begins at midnight. People may quarantine at home provided that their accommodation meets certain conditions. If not, they need to stay at the government’s quarantine facility during their quarantine. Here is a list of accommodations that accommodate guests in quarantine.

Go directly to the quarantine location from the border entry point by airport bus, taxi, rental car or private car. Travellers are advised to stay overnight at a guesthouse near the border entry point if they are tired or the weather is bad. Border guards can provide information on such matters.

Testing and quarantine of children: Children born in 2005 or later are not tested at the border. They are exempt from the obligation to present a negative PCR certificate upon arrival. If a child travels with a person who is required to be quarantined, the child stays with them and is released from quarantine if the second test from the companion is negative. If the companion is exempt from double screening and quarantine, so is the child. A child travelling alone is neither tested nor needs to present a negative PCR certificate upon arrival.

Children born in or before 2004 need to undergo testing at the border, quarantine for 5 days and have a second test, unless they have a certificate of full vaccination. Children who have not reached the age of 18 are permitted to travel to Iceland with their parents, given the parents are exempt from travel restrictions to Iceland.

The second testing is done at health centres around Iceland. A bar code is sent to a mobile phone the night before testing. Please note the different opening hours for testing.

A positive result will always result in isolation, and in such cases, the instructions on home isolation must be followed. If an individual is diagnosed with a variant of the virus that is more contagious and/or causes a more serious illness, the person in question is unconditionally required to stay in a quarantine hotel. Isolation in the quarantine hotel is free of charge, and referral is in the hands of the infection tracing team and the COVID Outpatient Department at Landspítali.

It is recommended that travellers download the Rakning C-19 app. It is used, amongst other things, to communicate negative testing results and helps to trace infections if necessary.

A tourist is obliged to pre-register a departure date from Iceland if it is available. If the length of stay is shorter than the required time in quarantine, it will be examined separately, as there is a risk that the person in question will not follow the rules on quarantine.

Please note that violations of quarantine or isolation rules are subject to fines and the involvement of the authorities to prevent violations.