New measures at the border due to COVID-19

At midnight, a new regulation came into effect which stipulates that travellers with ties to Iceland must, despite presenting a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 or a certificate of previous infection, undergo either a rapid antigen test or a PCR test to diagnose COVID-19 in the next two days from arrival in the country. This also applies to children born in 2015 and earlier with ties to Iceland, whether they travel alone or with others. This test is free of charge. Travellers with connections to Iceland are e.g. Icelandic citizens or residents with a residence or work permit in Iceland, incl. applicants for such permits and their families, applicants for international protection and individuals who come to the country to work or study for longer than seven days, and their families.

All travellers must pre-register before arrival and in the pre-registration, the traveller specifies whether he has ties to Iceland and then receives a bar code for testing. You can choose between a PCR test at Keflavík airport or an antigen test with the primary care service at Suðurlandsbraut 34 or certain testing centers outside the capital area.

Individuals who do not undergo testing within the given time limit can be fined. There is no need to quarantine while waiting for the results of this test, but travellers are asked to attend to personal infection control, limit contact with vulnerable individuals and be alert to the symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, cold symptoms, sore throat, lethargy, fatigue, bone pain, sudden change of smell and taste, vomiting and diarrhea). Children born in 2016 and later are exempt from pre-registration and testing.

The requirement for all travellers to submit a negative COVID-19 test at the border will continue to apply.

The amendment as well as the original regulation is valid until 1 October.

The Chief Epidemiologist