You live in the United States. You’re vaccinated (but your younger kids are probably not!) And you want to visit Iceland. Do you need a Covid test before you leave? While you’re there? Is your CDC card enough proof of vaccination? Will your children have to quarantine?

Final update June 10, 2022: No more Covid restrictions for visiting Iceland!

Here’s the update we’ve all been waiting for. As of June 12, 2022, you no longer need a Covid test to return to the US. Iceland also no longer has any restrictions. That means you don’t need to do ANYHTING Covid-wise to visit Iceland. No tests before or after your trip, no proof of vaccination, nothing. Any other information (including lots of stuff below) is now outdated!

If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, check out our custom Iceland itinerary planning service, or our Iceland car rental recommendation!

Major update February 24, 2022: Iceland is removing all Covid restrictions effective on February 25, 2022!

Here’s an article about it. That means that arriving in Iceland will be just like it was before Covid was a thing. You won’t have to present a negative Covid test, or proof of vaccination or anything else. (Don’t forget to still bring your passport!)

You still need to present a negative Covid test to go back home to the United States. These rules are not from Iceland, but rather from the US. You need to present a negative Covid test taken within 24 hours of your flight home! Here are the details about that:

Do I need a negative Covid test to head back to the United States?

Yes, unless you had a super-recent Covid infection. The CDC is clear on this:

All air passengers 2 years or older with a flight departing to the US from a foreign country at or after December 6, 2021, are required show a negative COVID-19 viral test result taken no more than 1 day before travel, or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days, before they board their flight.

The “1 day” part is new as of December 6th– you used to have more time!

Just to clarify, this is not a requirement from the Icelandic government, and other people flying back to their home countries may or may not need to be tested. So the Icelandic authorities don’t help much with this one, since it’s not their regulation.

How do I get my Covid test before heading home?

There are 2 web sites that let you schedule a Covid test. And they have very very similar names, which I find kind of funny:

https://covidtest.is/

https://www.testcovid.is/

Yup, there’s Covid Test and Test Covid. Either is fine. What’s the difference? at this point, just location.

Covid Test is run by the Icelandic Government, and offers tests in Reykjavik (and Akureyri.)

Test Covid is run by a private company, and offers tests in Reykjavik or in Keflavik near the airport. (It’s not in the airport, though, and it’s not really walkable from the airport.)

Both are free. If you’re getting tested in Reykjavik, just choose the better location for you (the bus terminal or Harpa Concert Hall.)

 

 

 

Everything below is outdated!

 

Here’s a comprehensive guide to everything we know right now. The information here is constantly changing, and we’re learning new things every day. Please comment (or e-mail us) if you have any questions or updates!

This post is focused on American travelers, though everything should be almost identical if you live in Canada.

Rules for United States residents visiting Iceland in 2022

This information was last updated on January 17, 2022.

As of June 24, 2021, anyone from the United States is allowed to visit Iceland. Prior to June 24th, only vaccinated travelers and their children were allowed into the country. Travel restrictions apply to all third-country nationals now explicit state that being a resident of, and traveling from the United states is a valid exemption that allows you to travel.

(Outdated) Can I visit Iceland from the United States if I am not vaccinated?

As of June 24th yes.The easiest way is to present a POSITIVE Covid test that you have recovered from. The dates of your infection are very specific:

Instead, a positive PCR test must be presented that is older than 14 days (isolation completed) but younger than 180 days.

Everyone needs to present a negative Covid test at the border, vaccinated, recovered, or not.

If you are not vaccinated and cannot present a positive PCR test as specified above, you can still visit. But you will need to be tested at the border, quarantine in Iceland for 5 days once you arrive in the country, and then get tested again. If you plan to do this, make sure you read and understand the rules for unvaccinated travelers here. We think most people aren’t choosing this option, so let’s move on to vaccinated visitors.

Can I visit Iceland from the United States if I *am* vaccinated?

Yes! And the rules are even easier as of July 1st, 2021. You used to have to get tested upon arrival, and quarantine for at least a few hours until the test results came back. But as of July 1, 2021, vaccinated adults are allowed to visit Iceland with minimal restrictions. You need to pre-register before traveling, and then show your vaccination card upon arrival.

The date of your vaccination is very important. You must be at least 14 days out from your final shot. Updated January 2022: Effective February 1st, 2022, your most recent shot must also have been in the last 9 months (270 days.) If not, you’ll need to get a booster.

Does it matter which vaccine I received if I want to visit Iceland?

If you were vaccinated in the United States, no. There are only 3 approved vaccines in the US right now: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. All 3 of these are acceptable vaccines according to the Icelandic Government.

One important note about Johnson & Johnson: Officially, the J&J vaccine is called Janssen; that’s J&J’s European partner. See the FDA site to see that Janssen is the official name of the approved vaccine.

Here is Iceland’s list of acceptable vaccines. All 3 FDA approved vaccines are listed.

Is my CDC card sufficient to prove I’ve been vaccinated?

The answer to this seems to be yes! That same vaccine page says “A vaccine certificate is required to include the following:

• Be in Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English or French. A document in another language can be valid if the original document accompanied by a certified stamped translation in one of the languages required.
• First name and last name (as in travel documents).
• Date of birth.
• Name of disease vaccinated against (COVID-19)
• Where and when vaccination(s) was/were performed (date(s)).
  • • Vaccination must be complete; see below the required doses for full vaccination for each vaccine.
• Issuer of the certificate (supervising clinician/administering centre), with signature and stamp if the International Certificate of Vaccination.
• Vaccine or vaccines administered.
• Manufacturer and batch/lot no. of vaccine for each dose.”

As long as your name on the vaccine card matches the name on your passport, and as long as you’ve received both doses of Pfizer or Moderna (J&J is just one dose) I think you’re (literally) good to go!

Can my unvaccinated kids come with me?

Children as young as 5 are now allowed to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. But if your children are too young, or old enough but not fully vaccinated, can they travel with their vaccinated parents?

The answer is yes. And we’ve heard from many travelers that they didn’t have any issues bringing their unvaccinated kids.”Yes kids born 2005 and later can enter with their vaccinated parents, we had no problem doing this!” And as of July 1st, no testing is required.

I recommend being a birth certificate for any unvaccinated children you take to Iceland (or other proof that at least one adult is a parent of the child.) I don’t think vaccinated adults are allowed to take random unvaccinated children with them– only their own children!

Do I need to get tested for Covid before I leave for Iceland?

YES!! Starting July 27th, you must present a negative Covid test before you get on the plane. The test must be taken within 72 hours before your departure time on your first flight. This can be a PCR test or a rapid test, but it cannot be self-administered. This is only for adults (travelers born in 2005 or earlier.)

Children born 2005 and later are exempt from the requirement of presenting a negative PCR certificate upon arrival.

Do I need to pre-register before I visit Iceland?

Yes! No more than 72 hours before your trip, you must pre-register with the Icelandic authorities. You can do this at travel.covid.is.

Do I need to get tested when I arrive in Iceland?

No. Starting July 1st, no border test is needed for vaccinated travelers and their children!

Do we need to quarantine in Iceland?

Starting July 1st, no quarantine is needed for vaccinated travelers and their children!

You should also download Iceland’s Covid tracking app. It’s not mandatory, but it’s a good way to track any potential Covid exposure. Download the app before you leave: Apple or Android.

Will we need to wear masks in Iceland?

Yes! As of June 26, 2021, Iceland has removed all domestic Covid restrictions. But an indoor mask mandate was just re-instated as of July 24th or so.

You’ll also need masks is in airport in the United States, and while on the airplane. Children 2 and up are required to wear a mask on the airplane.

How do I get my Covid test before heading home?

This is a bit tricky. There are testing centers throughout Iceland that will provide a Covid test for you. But this one isn’t free. But, they are cheaper if you use the tourism link below.

Go through travel.covid.is, which allows you to “Registration for [a] PCR-test for travels abroad.” The only testing location in Reykjavik is located at Suðurlandsbraut 34.

Update July 2021: You used to be able to use that barcode at any testing center throughout the country. But that’s no longer true, as of July 12, 2021.  You can see on the list of the other testing centers here– all of the locations outside of Reykjavik, Akureyri and Egilsstaðir say something like “Effective 12th July 2021, no border exit testing will be conducted.”  Akureyri and Egilsstaðir are generally not convenient for people leaving the country within a couple of days! Note that the hours at the locations outside of Reykjavik are very very limited– unusually there’s only a window once a day.

The cost is 7000 ISK, or about $55 US:

Here’s some additional information from that page:

It can take up to 24 hours to get a certificate from the moment you finish your covid test. However, it is most likely you will receive the certificate within 12 hours of the test.

Please note: If your travel plan changes you can choose another time without registering again. The barcode you receive only works once and does not expire.

UPDATE, June 26th: You now have the option for a rapid test from travel.covid.is. It sounds like some people are having issues getting their results from the rapid test, but hopefully these are now fixed.

You need to plan your trip to be at one of the testing centers within 3 days before the end of your trip! (And not on the last day, since you need to have the results in hand when you fly out.)

The new rapid Covid test option near the airport

Update June 26th: A private company is now offering a rapid Covid test near the airport. If the other testing options don’t work for you, this could be an easy way to get your test right before you head to the airport.

The location is just 2 minutes away from the airport. Here’s a Google Maps link to the location. You can and should make an appointment on their web site for a few hours before your flight. They are open from 7 AM to 4 PM every day. This is more expensive than the rapid test in Reykjavik, but it’s very convenient!

What about an eMed at-home test?

United Airlines notifies its passengers that an eMed test is recommended. In theory this sounds great. For $150 you get a 6 pack of tests, and you can take them in front of a computer (with a live person watching you) whenever you want, as long as it’s within 3 days of when you leave Iceland. But we have some concerns with this:

• We’re not positive that Icelandair will accept this test. It does seem to meet the CDC guidelines, which allow for a rapid antigen test. But there’s a wonderful post at Costa Rica Guide that says some US airlines will not accept the eMed test. Right now, I have no idea if anyone besides United will accept it.
• eMed states that the 6 pack is meant to be used by only 1 person, since the order comes with a prescription linked to one person. So you’d have to order a 6 pack for each person in your group! Again, Costa Rica Guide has the best information about this. Such as: “Can I split up the sixpack for use by six different people? Officially, no.  Actually, yes.” In other words, it’s complicated!

Update May 22, 2021: The CDC updated its guidance to say that at-home tests are allowed. So the eMed test officially meets the CDC guidelines. However, given the weird 6-pack issue, I still recommend getting an in-person test at an Icelandic testing center. See the 2 less expensive rapid test options above.

You could also consider something like the Ellume at-home test. But at $50, it’s only about $5 cheaper than the rapid test that is 2 minutes from the airport. The rapid test that Icelandic airline employees will recognize seems like a better bet.

That’s all for now. Please let us know in the comments what you think, or if you have any questions or additional information! And let us know if you’d like us to help plan your Iceland vacation!