Before arriving in Iceland

Iceland’s borders have remained open to other EU and Schengen states throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, under the condition that passengers quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Iceland will continue to implement the travel restrictions imposed for the Schengen Area, which are currently due to remain in place until 15 June 2020. From this date, passengers can opt for a COVID-19 test upon arrival, as an alternative to quarantine.

Please see updated travel restrictions to Iceland here.

The Government has announced that all passengers arriving in Iceland from 15 June can choose to be tested for COVID-19 (free of charge for an initial two-week period) or quarantine for two weeks. From 1 July, passengers will pay ISK 15 000 for a single test. Children born in 2005 or later are exempt from both testing and quarantine.

FAQ for travel in Iceland available at the FAQ page.

What you need to know:

The quarantine requirement in Iceland applies to people, regardless of nationality, arriving from countries and areas defined with high risk of infection. At present, this applies to all countries except the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Which countries and areas are defined as high-risk areas shall be regularly reassessed. Please see here for further information.

A few important things for you to have in mind while traveling in Iceland:

If you are traveling from abroad and have cold-like symptoms should contact the Health line +354 544 4113. The helpline is always the first point of contact and people must call before going to hospitals or clinics. 

ban on public on public events and gatherings of 200 people or more is in place until 21 June. You should monitor news on the latest measures taken by authorities as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Please observe and follow notifications that are visible in hotels, guesthouses, car rentals and other tourism companies throughout the country.

Before departure

Passengers are required to fill out a pre-registration form (on www.covid.is/english) before departure to Iceland, which requires passengers to provide their personal details and contact information, flight information, travel dates and address(es) during their stay in Iceland. The form also includes a declaration of health and passengers are required to provide information on countries they have visited before arrival, whether they have any symptoms of COVID-19, whether they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 before their arrival, or if they have been in close contact with an infected individual.

Passengers are also encouraged to download and use the COVID-19 app Rakning C-19. The app contains important information on COVID-19 and how to contact the health care service in Iceland.

 

Health safety of air travellers, aviation personnel, ports and ships 

Guidelines for health safety measures are being updated in line with EASA and ECDC COVID-19 Health Safety Protocol, Operational Guidelines for the management of air passengers and aviation personnel in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Passengers will be required to abide by these guidelines. Similar guidelines are being prepared for ports and ships. This information will be available on www.covid.is/english.

 

Health safety control measures at the border

The pre-registration form provides passengers with information on the conditions for entry into Iceland. Passengers can choose to be tested by a PCR-test for COVID-19 on arrival or self-quarantine for two weeks. Children born in 2005 or later are exempt from these measures, as well as those who have stayed outside of high-risk areas for 14 days prior to arrival. Flight and freight ship crews who are residents in Iceland are also exempt from these measures. At this time, the Icelandic health authorities cannot accept proof of test results.Those with a previously confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in Iceland are exempt from quarantine upon their return from travel abroad.

 

Points of entry

Testing will be available at Keflavik airport and in Seydisfjordur (for passengers arriving on the Smyril Line) for those who opt to be tested on arrival in Iceland.Passengers arriving in other international airports (Reykjavik, Akureyri, Egilsstadir) or ports will be tested at the closest local healthcare centre. The pre-registration process will facilitate testing and shorten wait times for passengers.

Testing at the border

PCR testing will be offered on arrival from 15 June, free of charge. From the 1 July however, passengers will be charged ISK 15 000 for a single test.Following the test, passengers can travel onward to their registered address(provided in their pre-registration form). Passengers do not need to self-quarantine until they receive their test results, but should take preventive measures to protect themselves and others from infection. Passengers can expect to receive their test results within 24 hours, usually on the same day, or the following day for those arriving later than 5 PM. Passengers will receive their test results through the app (Rakning C-19), or through text message. Passengers who test positive will receive a phone call notifying them. To ensure they receive their test results, all passengers are required to provide reliable contact information on their pre-registration forms.

 

In the event of a positive COVID-19 test result

If a passenger tests positive, they may be offered to undergo further tests to determine whether or not they have an active infection. In the case of an active infection, the passenger must self-isolate. Foreign nationals who are required to self-isolate and do not have access to a suitable location where they can isolate will be given accommodation at a specialised isolation centre at no cost to them. Infected individuals must provide information to the contact tracing team on who they have come in close contact with during two days prior to the onset of their symptoms. Further information on isolation requirements can be found here.

Requirements for a two-week quarantine

All information on requirements for quarantine is available here. Please note that violations of quarantine or isolation requirements are subject to fines or enforcement action from the relevant authorities to ensure compliance.

 

In the event of an obligatory self-quarantine

A negative test result does not guarantee that an individual will not later be required to self-quarantine if they have been exposed to infection, e.g. on the flight to Iceland.

The contact tracing team interviews those who have been in close contact with a confirmed active case during two days prior to the onset of symptoms , e.g. been within 2 meters of an individual for more than 15 minutes, or those who have sat close to an infected individual on an airplane (usually within two seat-row radius). They might be required to self-quarantine for two weeks from the time of last contact.

 

In case of diagnosis

Medical examination, treatment or medical supervision of notifiable diseases, including COVID-19, is of no cost to the patient. This does not apply to an elective PCR-test for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

 

During the stay

All travellers are encouraged to take precautionary measures to protect themselves and others, such as frequent handwashing, use of disinfectants, the two-meter social distancing guidelines, and to respect health safety regulations in place. PCR tests do not absolutely rule out COVID-19 infections in asymptomatic individuals.

Travellers are encouraged to download and use the COVID-19 app Rakning C-19. The app contains important information on COVID-19 and how to contact the health care service. They are also encouraged to follow information on the official COVID-19 information portal www.covid.is/english, which hosts the most up to date information and important announcements in several languages for tourists.

 

Tourists are encouraged to monitor their health. Those who become ill or think they may have symptoms of COVID-19 can contact the health care helpline through the app Rakning C-19, the information portal www.covid.is, through the national online health portal Heilsuvera, by phone by dialling 1700 or, if calling from a foreign phone number, at +354 544 4113.

All travellers are encouraged to maintain a distance of 2 meters as much as possible. Social distancing is an important part of preventive measures and anyone who wishes is entitled to maintain distance.

See detailed FAQ for travel in Iceland here.

 

While in Iceland 

These new instructions were issued by the Icelandic authorities on the 2nd of May 2020. The original is in Icelandic and can be found here: Original instructions in PDF Format.. The Instructions apply for Camp Grounds, Caravan Grounds, Cabins, Huts, small Guest Houses, guided Tours and outdoor activities.The rules have been translated by Camper Iceland. We cannot be hold responsible for translation errors, hence the original Icelandic version is valid.

VALID FROM THE 4th OF MAY 2020

Instructions for all travelers

  1. Guest May not enter camp grounds, in huts or guided tours if they:
  • Are in quarantine
  • Are in isolation (same goes if the guest is waiting for the result of a test)
  • Have been in isolation because of a COVID-19 infection and 14 days since released from isolation have not past
  • Have symptoms (Cough, flue, high temperature, fever, headache, bone ache (bone pain), tiredness, stomach ache, diarrhea etc.)

2. The caretaker cleans and disinfects common area and areas that can be touched min. twice a day.
3. From the 4th of May 2020 a maximum of 50 persons may be in one common area. The area can be in- and outdoors, Camp grounds must be divided up in accordance to this rule.
4. People must honor and follow the 2-meter rule (2-meter distance between humans or 6.56168 feet)
5. Access to had soap and disinfectant must be provided.
6. Limit the contact to other travelers especially groups as possible

Instructions for Camp Grounds

the rules apply for camp ground and all persons traveling in tents, tent caravans, caravans, campers, Motor homes and RV etc.)

  1. A Camp Ground must not host more than 50 travelers unless its possible to divide them into certain sections. The 2-meter distance rule must be possible at all times and 2 toilets with a hand cleaning station must be available per section. The same goes for swimming pools / hot pots etc. if available.
  2. If a swimming pool or hot pot area is available it is necessary to device groups into sections. (F.e. one section is open for half a day and another secion is open the second half of the day)
  3. The caretaker cleans and disinfects all areas that are touched with the hands a minimum of twice a day and points out to visitors how to follow the rules.
  4. We honor the 2-meter rule and the care taker must point out that the 2-meter distance between humans applies at all times. F.e. receptions, faucets, dish washing, toilets and showers etc.
  5. A minimum distance of 4 meters (157.48 inch or 13.28084 feet) must be between tents, trailers, caravans, campers, Motor Homes, RV etc. this rule does not apply to families or persons that travel together).
  6. Toilets and Showers:
    1. Install disincentive material to allow customers to disinfect all touchable areas such as f.e. door knobs or other areas. (The name of the Icelandic disinfectant is sprit or virkon)
    2. Install distance pointers on the ground or any other way to help customers to follow the 2-meter rule.
    3. In places where toilets are to close together use every second toilet only.
  7. Kitchens and places where clients can eat food:
    1. Install soap and hand disinfectant at each faucet with instructions and ask visitors to clean the area well after using it.
    2. Follow the 2-meter rule. Ensure that customers can have 2 meters between them if not traveling together.
    3. Install pointers on walls or floors to guide customers (2-meter rule).
    4. All food must be removed from common areas such as coffee, tea, salt, pepper etc. Customers must not leave food behind for the next customer. An instruction about this must be installed at areas like this.
    5. If customers have access to kitchen utilities (knifes, forks, spoons etc.) they must clean them before and after usage.
    6. Trash must be put in a separate bag per tent/vehicle and disposed of.
  8. Other service:
    1. Again the 2-meter rule applies. Information about the rule must be installed (clean hands, distance etc.)
    2. Put markers on the floor to underline the 2-meter rule and hence help customers.
    3. Material to disinfect all areas that customers touch must be accessible.
    4. Remove all books, papers, playing cars, games etc.
    5.  Trash is put in a separate bag and disposed off.
  9. Little Houses on camp grounds are only rented to families or people traveling together.

Instruction for activities

An activity is f.e. driving, walking, hiking, bicycle, ATV, snowmobile, skiing, horse riding, sailing, climbing, cave visiting, glacier tours and similar.

  1. From the first of May 2020 a maximum of 50 persons may be in each group.
  2. Follow the 2-meter (6.56168 feet) rule that apply to all humans and the distance between them. This rule applies for the whole duration of the tour. Customers that travel as a family or together may share one vehicle. Special rules have been made for busses, ask your bus tour operator.
  3. If you travel on snow or where it is cold a minimum of 4 meters must be between customers.
  4. If many customers travel in one group the guide must maintain a distance to the group and prevent that in passages people get closer together.
  5. Operators must ask the customers to bring disinfectant in all tours and disinfect especially before eating food of any kind.
  6. In hiking tours a minimum of 2 meters must be between hikers. In cycling or running instances a minimum distance of 4 meters apply.
  7. If equipment is used together it must be cleaned between users (hammers, lights, axe, saddles, skis, clothing of any kind, googles, paintball or any other ball.
  8. If customers are required to sleep in tents a minimum of 4 meters must be between tents and only those that travel as friends, relatives or family stay in one tent.
  9. Do not share anything within the group (food, beverages or any other belonging)
  10. Put the trash in a bag, seal it and dispose of it.