Travellers from abroad who do not present a negative PCR test certificate upon arrival in Iceland will be fined ISK 100,000 ($786/€646). Those who present forged certificates will be charged with forgery. RÚV reported on the new regulations, announced in a directive issued by the State Prosecutor’s Office yesterday. Travellers who attempt to avoid testing at the border will also face fines of ISK 100,000.
Stricter border regulations took effect last Friday in Iceland, requiring all travellers arriving from abroad to present a negative PCR test certificate before boarding and upon arrival. The test must be administered with 72 hours of the departure time. The requirement is in addition to testing at the border, five days of quarantine, and a follow-up test. Authorities gave travellers a few days of leeway to adapt to the new regulations, but will now begin fining travellers who do not follow travel regulations.
As outlined above, travellers can be fined for failing to present a negative PCR test upon arrival in Iceland. They can also face a fine of ISK 100,000 for refusing testing at the border. If travellers are diagnosed with an active COVID-19 infection and violate isolation regulations they can face fines of ISK 50,000-250,000 ($393-1,965/€323-1,616).
Certificate Forgery Could Lead to Prison Sentence
Breaching infection prevention regulations within Iceland is also subject to fines. Institutions that do no respect mask-wearing guidelines or two-metre distancing can be fined ISK 100,000-500,000 ($786-3,930/€646-3,230).
Travellers from abroad who present forged PCR test certificates will be charged with forgery, according to the directive from the State Prosecutor. According to Iceland’s Penal Code, forgery is punishable by imprisonment of up to 8 years. For minor violations, imprisonment of up to one year or fines may be imposed.
Domestic Restrictions Loosened
Relaxed restrictions took effect in Iceland today, after more than three weeks without a single domestic case diagnosed out of quarantine. The national gathering limit was raised from 20 to 50, with groups of up to 200 permitted at seated events such as performances and sports matches. Restaurant, bar, and club opening hours were extended and swimming pools and gyms permitted to operate at 75% capacity, up from the previous 50%.
