gullfoss iceland

Iceland is open!

Iceland has opened up its borders. All travelers who have been vaccinated or those who have had covid-19 and have antibodies can now travel to Iceland. 

TRAVELLING TO ICELAND IN 2021

Updated: 20 July 2021

The UK government has reopened for international travel from 17 May, allowing people to go on foreign holidays. Iceland is on the UK Government’s list of ‘green’ countries meaning you do not need to self-isolate on return. All travelers who have been vaccinated or those who have had Covid-19 and have antibodies can now travel to Iceland. Children (born after 2005) traveling with a parent who has been vaccinated will also no longer be required to test upon arrival. 

Below follow the rules set by both the UK and Icelandic governments that you'll need to adhere.

Before departing the UK

  1. Pre-register electronically no more than 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in Iceland.
  2. You need to pre-order your return to England Covid-19 test so that you can take this whilst in Iceland as it needs to be done within the 3 days before you return to England. Qured is one example test provider, their tests cost £39. 
  3. And you will also need to pre-order your PCR test to take on Day 2 of your return to England.
  4. If you have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 you will need to demonstrate this status on arrival in Iceland.
  • If you have a smart phone or tablet download the NHS patient APP from the App Store or Google Play. It is important to download this as soon as you book your holiday as it can take a while to register. Once the app is registered check that your vaccination status is fully up to date.
  • If you do not have access to a smartphone you can call the NHS helpline on 119 and ask for a letter to be posted to you. The letter will take up to 7 working days to reach you. The letter will be sent automatically to the address registered with your GP.
  • We would also advise that in addition to one of the above you also take with you your NHS vaccination cards.

Upon arrival in Iceland

I am fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (+ 14 days since fully vaccinated)
Starting 26th of July, if you are fully vaccinated you must also carry a negative PCR test or antigen (rapid test) that is not more than 72 hours old before departure to Iceland.
You must be fully vaccinated and have a valid vaccination certificate. In Iceland, the vaccination certificate you receive when you have been vaccinated at your health center is accepted. The earliest possible departure is 14 days after the second dose. If you are traveling with children (born in 2005 or later), they do not need to be vaccinated, and in addition, children do not need to take a PCR test on arrival, if they travel with a parent who has been vaccinated. If it is less than 14 days, you also need to be tested at Keflavik, go to the hotel and wait for results.

I have had Covid-19
Starting 26th of July, you must also carry a negative PCR test or antigen (rapid test) that is not more than 72 hours old before departure to Iceland. You also need to have a valid certificate that you have had Covid-19 and have antibodies, with a valid certificate you can travel to Iceland. The certificate must show that you have had Covid-19 and have recovered and that it has been issued from a country within the EEA. If you are traveling with children (born in 2005 or later), they do not need to be vaccinated. Children do not need to take a PCR test on arrival if they travel with a parent who has been vaccinated or has a valid certificate that they have had Covid-19 .

I have not been fully vaccinated or had Covid-19
On arrival in Iceland you must show a negative PCR test done within 72 hours before departure, and undergo double tests with a five-day quarantine in between. If all these test results are negative, you can continue your trip in Iceland. As these restrictions are so strict, we recommend that you wait to travel until you are fully vaccinated. All tests in Iceland are free. 

The regulations will be reviewed, and revised if necessary, on August 15. 

RETURNING TO THE UK

As Iceland is on the “green” list for travel, you can return from Iceland without needing to quarantine, but you will need to do the following:

  1. take a pre-departure Covid-19 test whilst you are still in Iceland. It needs to be done within the 3 days before you return to England. Qured is one example test provider, their tests cost £39. 
  2. take a PCR test on day two of your arrival back to England.
  3. complete a passenger locator form 48 hours before you arrive in the UK, which you need to show at the check-in at the airport.

Geysir landscape in Iceland.

Iceland has lifted all its domestic Covid restrictions

On the 26th of June Iceland lifted all its domestic Covid restrictions in accordance with recommendations made by Chief Epidemiologist Þórólfur Guðnason. Now, travellers and locals can enjoy Iceland without mandatory use of masks, social distancing rules and limits on the number of people allowed to gather. All services, such as activities, swimming pools and restaurants operate now without restrictions.

Iceland currently has very low spread of infections, and is now marked as a so-called green zone by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. Recently, few new cases have been registered and vaccination has begun. Restrictions are eased and life is now beginning to return to a more normal state.

Iceland is a country that has been mentioned as a role model in the international press for its handling of reducing the spread of the coronavirus. 
 

Aerial view of Geysir in Iceland.

ABOUT OUR ICELAND HOLIDAYS FOR 2021

  • As we currently have free cancellation and rebooking on all trips, it is also completely safe to book your trip today.
  • Direct flights from Belfast (BHD), Bristol (BRS), Edinburgh (EDI), London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), London Luton (LTN), Glasgow (GLA) and Manchester (MAN). Connecting flights from other airports in the UK are also available.
  • Iceland is still an exclusive destination but gratifying for this year, we see price levels for accommodation and activities that are significantly lower than it has been in recent years. With fantastic landscapes, open spaces and a unique range of attractions and activities, Iceland is the perfect destination for your next trip in 2021.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Here are our answers to some of the most frequent questions we get that may be helpful to know when planning your vacation to Iceland 2021.

While waiting for standardization of an international digital vaccination certificate, the usual international vaccination certificate (yellow) is primarily used as proof regardless of where you were vaccinated. You can get this certificate at your vaccination clinic or health center.  You also need to be fully vaccinated. The criteria for the certificate are listed below.

Vaccination certificates must fulfill the following criteria

Must be submitted in Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, or French. 

  • First name and last name (comparable to travel documentation).
  • Date of birth.
  • Name of the vaccinated disease (Covid-19).
  • Where and when the vaccinations took place (date(s))
  • Vaccination must be complete; the number of doses required to complete the vaccination for each vaccine must be according to manufacturer recommendations.
  • Information on the issuer of the certificate (Healthcare Professional/Institution), along with a signature in the case of an international vaccination certificate.
  • Name of the vaccine.
  • Manufacturer of vaccine and batch number.

Updated information regarding terms and requirements for other types of certificates can be found at the Directorate of Health.

From July 1, 2021, there is no longer a requirement for arrival testing for passengers vaccinated against COVID-19 or recovered from it.

I am fully vaccinated against Covid-19
If you are fully vaccinated and have a valid vaccination certificate, you can travel to Iceland. To qualify, you must have taken the second vaccination dose at least 14 days before arrival in Iceland. If you travel with children (born in 2005 or later), they do not need to be vaccinated, nor do they need to take a PCR test on arrival, if they are traveling with a parent who has been vaccinated.

I have had Covid-19
If you have a valid certificate that shows you have had Covid-19 and have antibodies, you can travel to Iceland. The certificate must show that you have had Covid-19 and recovered. If you travel with children (born in 2005 or later), they do not need to be vaccinated, nor do they need to take a PCR test on arrival, if they are traveling with a parent who has been vaccinated.

I have not been fully vaccinated or had Covid-19
On arrival in Iceland you must show a negative PCR test done within 72 hours before departure, and undergo double tests with a five-day quarantine in between. If all these test results are negative, you can continue your trip in Iceland. As these restrictions are so strict, we recommend that you wait to travel until you are fully vaccinated. All tests in Iceland are free. 

On our package holidays to Iceland, free rebooking or cancellation is valid until 30 days prior to departure. This means that in case of cancellation, regardless of reason, we will refund what you have paid. You can also choose to rebook the package holiday free of charge. These conditions apply until further notice and apply to all our package holidays to Iceland. We always rely on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office´s (FCO) travel recommendations and follow the Package Travel Act. As long as there is no advice against travels to Iceland, all package holidays are operating as planned and our flexible cancellation and rebooking conditions apply. These conditions apply to new bookings from October 5, 2020, and onwards. For bookings made before October 5, 2020, or re-bookings, conditions stated in the original booking apply.

Flexible terms for vulkan group´s package holiday:

  • No later than 30 days prior to departure: Free rebooking or cancellation free of charge.
  • 29-8 days: Free rebooking or cancellation fee 20% of the trip price *.
  • 7-3: Cancellation fee 75% of the trip price *.
  • 3-0: No refund *.

* In cases where the package holiday includes airline tickets or hotel non-ref rooms, there is also a cost for these (29 days or less prior to departure).
 

In case of cancellation as a result of advice against travels to Iceland from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), free rebooking to another travel date applies. There is also a possibility to use the amount paid for a future holiday or receive a refund.

This is provided that you booked before the advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) came and that your departure date is or was planned during the time the FCO advises against travel.

OUR ICELAND HOLIDAYS FOR 2021

Discover our fantastic holidays and book your dream Iceland holiday today!