Iceland’s Health Minister has confirmed that the country will adopt a colour-coded system at its borders from May 1 allowing European travellers from defined low-risk countries to eschew quarantine upon arrival. Currently, all travellers to Iceland must present a negative PCR test certificate before departure as well as undergo testing at the border, a five-day quarantine, and a follow-up test. From May 1, however, Iceland will participate in a co-ordinated European Union approach to travel restrictions.
As of May 2021, travellers arriving from the Schengen Area, EEA, EFTA, and EU whose country of origin is defined as low-risk will not be required to quarantine upon arrival to Iceland. They will, however, still be required to present a negative PCR test certificate prior to departure as well as undergo testing at the border. As of the time of writing, Iceland is the only country that is defined as green based on its 14-day COVID-19 notification, testing, and positivity rates.
Icelandic Travel Industry Association Chairperson Bjarnheiður Hallsdóttir celebrated the Health Minister’s confirmation that Iceland would adopt the colour-coded system this spring. According to Bjarnheiður, it allows tourism companies to plan marketing and communication with customers for the summer season, usually Iceland’s busiest for tourism.
The colour-coded system does not apply to travellers from outside the Schengen Area, EEA, EFTA, and EU. Borders are currently closed to travellers outside those areas, but as of later this week, all travellers will be permitted entry to Iceland if they present a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19.
