Coronavirus (COVID-19) and travel: The situation around the world is changing dramatically. Various governments have changed their travel warnings to restrict travel during this time. To understand how this may impact cover under your policy, please go to our FAQs and select your country of residence.
For the latest travel warnings and alerts around the world, read about lockdowns and border restrictions.
Can you travel to Iceland right now? Find out how coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions are affecting international travel.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions in Iceland – updated 6 October 2021
Who can travel to Iceland?
All travelers must pre-register before arriving in Iceland. Anyone is welcome to visit Iceland if they can show either:
- certificate of full vaccination against COVID
- certificate of previous COVID infection.
As of 12 August 2021, travelers will be asked to provide proof of vaccination which must contain the specific COVID information Iceland requires. From 20 July 2021, travelers who have had a full course of the COVID-19 vaccine, the certificate will only be valid for travel to Iceland on or after the 15th day since your second vaccination (or from the single dose of the Janssen / Johnson and Johnson vaccine). If the time is shorter than 14 days, travelers will be tested at the border and must follow the rules on home quarantine until they receive a negative result. From 26 July you will also need to present a negative PCR or antigen (rapid) test that is no more than 72 hours old before departing to Iceland.
Read what certificates are accepted on the official Directorate of Health page.
If you hold an appropriate certificate, you are required to undergo one COVID-19 test upon arrival. The test is free of charge. You must wait for the result of this test (usually received within 5-6 hours but may take up to 24 hours) at your accommodation.
Find out more.
Passengers not vaccinated against COVID-19 and not previously infected
New restrictions from 27 April 2021: there is a ban on unnecessary travel from high-risk areas. Foreign nationals are unauthorized to travel to Iceland if they are arriving from or have stayed for more than 24 hours in the last 14 days in a high-risk region or country (with some exemptions, for example for citizens and residents of Iceland).
Visitors holding a passport (or valid residency) from low-risk EU/EFTA countries are welcome to visit Iceland, with testing and quarantine regulations to adhere to. Current rules require all travelers arriving in Iceland from risk areas to present a certificate of a negative PCR-test and undergo screening at the border. Those without exemption undergo screening again 5 days later and quarantine in between tests. If the second test is negative then quarantine is lifted.
Until June 1, if you are arriving from a high-risk country it is mandatory to stay in a quarantine facility (without charge). From June 1, quarantine may be done at home or at suitable accommodation.
There are restrictions for other nationalities, including travelers from the UK, US, and Canada.
Upon arrival you will be encouraged to sign up to the contact tracing app Rakning C-19. Further information, including how to download it, data usage, privacy and scope is available on the Rakning C-19 website.
Previous travel alerts for Iceland
Previous coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions in Iceland – updated 15 May 2020
From 24 April, there is a ban on travelers visiting from outside the EU and Schengen Area for a non-essential reason. From 15 May until 15 June, restrictions on entry have been relaxed slightly to allow a wider group of professionals arriving for work. Click here to find out who is eligible for modified quarantine upon arrival in Iceland.
Restrictions within Iceland are still in place. From 4 May, limits on social gatherings have been increased from 20 to 50 people, education facilities and some businesses will be allowed to reopen but must follow physical distancing guidelines.
Bars, nightclubs, swimming pools and gyms remain closed.
By 15 June, the Icelandic Government is hoping to ease restrictions on international arrivals. The exact measures are yet to be announced, but it is likely visitors will have to choose between a coronavirus (COVID-19) test or 14-days of self-isolation.
Before you buy a travel insurance policy, check your government travel warnings and health advice – there may be no travel insurance cover for locations with a government travel ban or health advice against travel.
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