Minister of Justice Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir has issued a regulation banning unnecessary travel from defined high-risk areas due to the COVID-19 pandemic which took effect this morning. The ban will remain in effect until May 31 but does not apply to vaccinated travellers.
Until May 31, all foreigners who arrive from or have spent more than 24 hours over the past 14 days in areas where the 14-day incidence rates of COVID-19 infections is higher than 700 per 100,000 inhabitants will be unable to enter the country. This applies to all foreign citizens, including the EEA and EFTA countries.
This does not apply to foreigners residing in Iceland, based on a residence permit or other types of right of residence, families of Icelandic and foreign citizens residing in Iceland, foreign citizens in a long-term relationship with an Icelandic citizen or foreign citizen residing in Iceland. Neither does this apply to foreign citizens who can present a valid certificate of vaccination or a certificate that they have had COVID-19 and are no longer infectious according to border regulations.
Furthermore, the ban does not apply to foreign nationals who have to travel to Iceland for essential reasons, including the following:
- Transfer passengers.
- Healthcare and elder care personnel.
- Goods and services transport personnel.
- Individuals in need of international protection.
- Individuals who need to travel due to an urgent family situation.
- Individuals and delegations arriving in Iceland at the behest of the Icelandic authorities, diplomatic mission staff and other representatives of foreign states, staff of international organisations and individuals invited by them to visit the country due to the operations of those organisations, armed forces representatives, humanitarian assistance and civil protection staff, and the families of all the above.
- Students.
- Individuals who need to travel due to business or work that, due to its characteristics, can’t be postponed or carried out abroad.
For more information on travel to Iceland during COVID-19, the government has compiled a list of frequently asked questions.
