COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Norway (13 July Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and legal foreign residents can enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Fully vaccinated travellers against COVID-19 or who have recovered from COVID-19 during the last six months can travel to Norway from any country in the EU/EEA/Schengen provided they have the following documents: (1) A Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish COVID-19 certificate with a QR code that can be verified by the Norwegian authorities, or (2) A COVID-19 certificate following the EU rules for digital corona certificates.

• Fully vaccinated parents cannot bring their unvaccinated children.

• These requirements do not apply to travellers from the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is not a member of the EU's digital COVID-19 certificate scheme and travellers cannot travel to Norway with a COVID-19 certificate from the United Kingdom.

• COVID-19 certificates from countries outside the EU/EEA Area are not accepted as documentation. However, residents in a country outside the EU/EEA who have a valid EU/EEA COVID-19 certificate proving that they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 during the last six months can use this documentation to travel to Norway.

• Countries in the EU/EEA and the Schengen areas have been colour coded as green, yellow, or red according to the risk for COVID-19. The list of countries in each colour can be found at this website.
  Persons residing in green countries/areas can enter Norway.
  Exceptions for travelling to Norway for people who come from red or yellow areas/countries inside the EU/EEA/Schengen and the United Kingdom include:

• Foreigners residing in Norway.

• Foreigners who are resident in the EU/EEA/Schengen Area or the United Kingdom, and who are in an established relationship with a person resident in Norway.

• Foreigners residing in the EU/EEA/Schengen Area or the United Kingdom who are going to visit close family members residing in Norway.

• Family member of an EU/EEA citizen who is going to settle in Norway, or an EU/EEA citizen who is a family member of a Norwegian citizen who is going to settle in Norway.

• Foreign students.

• Foreign athletes and necessary support staff who come to Norway to participate in certain sports events.

• Persons who can commute between Nordic countries.

• Foreigners who are going to have scheduled contact with their children.

• Foreigners who have been granted a family immigration permit.

• Foreigners who have special reasons that indicate that the person is given the right to enter, such as special care responsibilities for persons in Norway or other strong welfare considerations.

• Some occupational groups.

• Foreigners working offshore on a mobile or fixed installation.

• Foreign workers who are exempt from entry restrictions upon application and decision by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate.

• Foreign workers who are exempt from entry restrictions upon application and decision by the Norwegian Directorate of Agriculture.
  Foreigners who are going to stopover at an airport in Norway (both in international airport transit and within Schengen).

• Foreigners who are permanent residents of Svalbard, or who need to travel through the Norwegian mainland on their way to or from work or residence on Svalbard.

• Foreigners working in critical societal functions.

• Foreigners with an invitation from the Norwegian authorities and employees in international organizations.

• Norway permits entry for adult children, stepchildren, parents, and stepparents of adult children or stepchildren, as well as grandparents, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Norwegian citizens, who are residents of the following third countries: Australia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Serbia, South Korea, Taiwan, the USA, and Singapore.

• The complete list of exceptions and more information about entry to Norway can be found here.

Is transit allowed?

• Yes

• Travellers are allowed to transit through Norway as long as their final destination is not within Norway. Travellers should check with their particular airline before travelling for any airline requirements.

• Travellers who are in transit from the mainland to Svalbard no longer need to present a negative result from a COVID-19 test before departure if they can provide documentation of their protected status and can present a COVID-19 certificate.

Is a test required on arrival?

• Yes with exceptions

• Travellers who are fully vaccinated or have had COVID-19 during the previous six months, as documented by the Norwegian/European COVID-19 Certificate will be exempt from testing before arrival and testing at the border. Only EU vaccine passes from Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Croatia, Iceland, Poland, and Latvia are accepted for the time being.

• All other arriving travellers are required to be tested at the border crossing point upon arrival in Norway. The test must be a rapid antigen test. PCR testing can only be used as an exception. People who have been tested with a rapid antigen test must wait at the test station until the test result is available.

• In the case of a positive result from the rapid antigen test, those who arrive from countries outside the EEA/Switzerland must take a PCR test at the border crossing point. Other people with a positive result from a rapid antigen test must take a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival. More details and exceptions can be found here.

• Exceptions from the requirement apply to fully vaccinated travellers and persons who have been diagnosed and recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months. Currently, only the presentation of a Norwegian, Danish, or Swedish certificate with a QR code that can be verified by the Norwegian authorities is considered safe and verifiable documentation of vaccination or history of illness.

Is a test certificate accepted?

• Yes with exceptions

• Certificates issued by other countries are accepted. The certificate must be in Danish, English, French, German, Norwegian, or Swedish.

• Travellers arriving from the EU and using the EU vaccine pass will be exempt from testing before arrival and testing at the border. Norwegian authorities have stated that only EU vaccine passes from Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Croatia, Iceland, Poland, and Latvia will be accepted for the time being.

• Currently, only the presentation of a Norwegian, Danish, or Swedish certificate with a QR code that can be verified by the Norwegian authorities is considered safe and verifiable documentation of vaccination or history of illness.

Test certificate required?

• Yes with exceptions

• Travellers arriving from the EU and using the EU vaccine pass will be exempt from testing before arrival and testing at the border. Norwegian authorities have stated that only EU vaccine passes from Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Croatia, Iceland, Poland, and Latvia will be accepted for the time being.

• Travellers who arrive in Norway from areas with a quarantine requirement must present a certificate for a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours prior to arrival in Norway. Approved test methods are PCR or rapid antigen tests. For people arriving by plane, the 24 hours apply before the scheduled departure time of the first flight. Travellers who do not present the certificate may be refused entry.

• The requirement for a pre-departure negative test certificate does not apply to travellers providing vaccination certificates proving that they have been fully vaccinated or those providing documentary proof with an approved laboratory method of having been diagnosed with COVID-19 during the last six months. The requirement also does not apply to certain other groups listed in the government website.

• Currently, only the presentation of a Norwegian, Danish, or Swedish or EU digital COVID certificate with a QR code that can be verified by the Norwegian authorities is considered safe and verifiable documentation of vaccination or history of illness.

• Day commuters from Sweden and Finland must have a negative PCR test certificate issued within the past seven days. The requirement does not apply to persons who, by approved laboratory method, can document that they were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the last six months.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes with exceptions

• The quarantine rules on arrival in Norway are complex and subject to change. To simplify the process, arriving travellers can use the Norwegian Directorate of Health’s Quarantine Checker Tool to check the rules specifically applicable to them.

• Based on Norway’s restrictions, travellers will be required to spend between zero and 10 days in quarantine.

Entry form required?

• Yes with exceptions

• Travellers arriving from the EU and using the EU vaccine pass will be exempt from requirements to register upon entry. Only EU vaccine passes from Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Croatia, Iceland, Poland, and Latvia are accepted for the time being.

• All travellers must register prior to their arrival in Norway and may only register their journey within 72 hours of their time of arrival. The form can be found here. On completion of the digital registration, the traveller will receive a receipt that must be presented to the police at the border control.

• Fully vaccinated travellers and people who have recovered from COVID-19 during the past 6 months, as documented via their Norwegian or European COVID-19 certificate are exempted from the requirement to register.

Vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not mandatory for entry into Norway. However, people who are fully vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 6 months, and who can document this with a verifiable COVID-19 certificate that is connected to the EUDCC gateway are able to enter Norway freely, regardless of which country they are travelling from. They are exempt from the duty to quarantine, testing prior to arrival, testing at the border, and the requirement of entry registration.

• The conditions to be categorized as fully vaccinated can be accessed here.

Insurance required?

• No

• Proof of insurance coverage for COVID-19 expenses is not required to enter the country.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• Airports are open. International and domestic flights are operating.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• The Norwegian border is closed to most foreigners until 10 August 2021.

• Ships carrying more than 100 passengers are not allowed to dock at Norwegian ports.

• Information for travelling to Svalbard can be found here.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• There are no areas under curfew. However, the government has implemented COVID-19 measures for municipalities based on the local COVID-19 numbers. Details can be found here.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Public transportation is operating.

• There are no restrictions on interstate/intercity travel.

• Masks are recommended, however, they are only mandatory in Indre Østfold and Oslo.

Social restrictions

• Moderate

• Maintain a two-meter distance from others.

• A maximum of 20 people are allowed at private indoor gatherings.

• Public events and settings with fixed designated seating, such as restaurants, can now host up to 1000 people.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Most domestic business activities have resumed with limited numbers of customers.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Accommodations are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are open with social distancing protocols.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes

• Bars and pubs are allowed to open with social distancing protocols.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes

• Museums, cinemas, theatres, and concert venues are open.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Personal care services are open with social distancing protocols.

Events allowed?

• Yes

• A COVID-19 certificate or EU pass may be required to attend large events and take cruises along the Norwegian coast. At large events, a negative result from a COVID-19 test will have the same status as being vaccinated and having recovered from COVID-19. Details can be found here.

Masks required in public?

• No with exceptions

• Authorities recommend wearing a face mask when it is not possible to maintain a safe distance. Nationwide, the use of face masks is strongly recommended on public transport. Everyone must use a face mask in Oslo when you cannot keep at least two metres apart unless you are members of the same household.

Other

• Children and teenagers can resume sports activities.

• Gyms are closed but can be used for individual treatment or rehabilitation.

• Swimming pools, amusement parks, bingo halls, and other similar attractions are closed.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing and maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.