Certificates regarding previous COVID-19 infection that are accepted at the border in Iceland for exemption of border measures
Traveller with a valid certificate of previous COVID-19 infection or full vaccination are exempt from presenting a negative PCR-test, testing or quarantine upon arrival. If less than 14 days have passed since the second shot (or from single vaccination with the Janssen vaccine), one test upon arrival in Iceland is required and rules on quarantine should be followed until the results are received.
Children born 2005 and later are exempt from pre-registration, presenting a certficate of a negative PCR-test and testing. If the accompanying parent/guardian goes into quarantine the child quarantines as well but quarantine of the child is lifted with the adult, without testing for the child. If the parent/guardian presents a certificate for exemption, or a child travels alone, the child is exempt from quarantine.
Others who have stayed more than 24 hours in a risk area in the last 14 days are required to:
- Present a certificate of a negative PCR-test, no older than 72 hours at departure.
- Undergo PCR testing at the border upon arrival
- Quarantine for 5 days that ends with a second PCR-test
All travellers need to pre-register at covid.is
Certificates accepted at the border:
- Certificates of full vaccination against COVID-19 that fulfil the Chief Epidemiologist´s requirements.
- Confirmation of previous COVID-19 infection that fulfil the below requirements. See requirements here.
The following certificates are considered a valid confirmation of a previous COVID-19 infection:
- Positive PCR-test (RT-PCR) results for SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 that is older than 14 days.
- Presence of antibodies (IgG) against SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 measured by ELISA or equivalent serologic assay* (see below).
- Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are not accepted (rapid PCR-tests, rapid antigen or rapid antibody tests).
A certificate of previous COVID-19 infection is required to include the following details: Certificates that fulfill the criteria are accepted from all countries and may be in paper or electronic format including the European digital COVID certificate (EU DCC) are valid (as per Regulation No. 777/2021 on EU Regulation 2021/953).
- The certificate should be in Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish or English. A document in another language can be valid if the original document is accompanied by a certified stamped translation in one of the languages required.
- First name and last name (as in travel documents).
- Date of birth.
- When test was performed (date).
- Where test was performed (country/city/address).
- Name of laboratory/issuer of certificate.
- Date of certifcate.
- Phone number of laboratory or responsible authority (or at least enough information, e.g. a website, to verify the results).
- Type of test performed (PCR-test or antibody test but not rapid tests).
- Result of test
- PCR-test positive for SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19
- Antibodies (IgG) present with method included or a numerical result
- IgM antibodies appear soon after an infection but IgG appear later. IgM only is not valid.
*EIA, ECLIA, ELFA, CMIA, CLIA, CLMIA are equivalent tests to ELISA
Border control will evaluate wether a certificate is valid and will consult a representative of the Chief Epidemiologist (health care worker) as needed. The final decision of whether a certificate is valid is at the discretion of the Chief Epidemiologist.
If a passenger presents a document that is deemed invalid, i.e. if any of the necessary requirements are missing, the passenger must, as other arrival passengers, undergo double testing with quarantine in between tests.
Please note that although we accept these certificates at the Icelandic border for exemption of border measures upon arrival due to COVID-19 that does not necessarily apply in general in other countries.
Fyrst birt 29.11.2020
Síðast uppfært 08.07.2021