Iceland is opening to tourists on 15 June with COVID-19 tests upon arrival

Iceland will begin welcoming tourists on 15 June, but residents from some countries may have to wait until July to visit. 

Last month, Iceland’s prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir has announced plans for the country to reopen to visitors by 15 June.  She also noted that systems would be put in place for those arriving to be tested at the airport in an effort to forgo self-imposed two-week isolation.

Sea stacks off the coast of Reynisfjara © Myron Standret / Alamy Stock Photo

The Icelandic government updated its advice on 5 June, noting all passengers arriving in Iceland from 15 June can choose to be tested for COVID-19 or quarantine for two weeks. The tests will be free for the first two weeks, but from 1 July, passengers will pay ISK15,000 (US$112 or €99) for a single test. Kids born in 2005 or later are exempt from both testing and quarantine. Travellers will not be allowed to bring test results from their home country. 

While Iceland is ready for visitors, the EU will delay the opening of Schengen borders to some countries until 1 July, which means that North Americans will not be able to access Iceland. 

Travellers will also have to fill out a pre-registration form before they arrive and adhere to rules around infection control. All visitors are also encouraged to download the contact tracing app, Rakning C-19. The Icelandic government has previously said that 40% of the population in Iceland is using the contract tracing app. The app has been developed with privacy measures, with location data stored locally on a user’s device unless released for tracing purposes if and when an infection is discovered. 

Iceland’s strategy of large-scale testing, tracing and isolating had positive results in the country, with only about 1800 cases of COVID-19 and ten deaths.