COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Norway (14 April Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and legal foreign residents can enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No with exceptions

• Until further notice, only residents of Norway are allowed entry. Exemptions may apply to foreigners with special care responsibilities for persons in Norway or other strong welfare considerations; foreigners who are exercising visitation rights with their children; nuclear family members of persons residing in Norway, (spouse/registered partner/cohabitant, minor children or stepchildren, parents or stepparents of minor children or stepchildren); journalists and other personnel on assignment for a foreign media institution; sailors and personnel in aviation; foreigners who carry goods and passenger transport; foreigners who work within critical social functions; and health personnel from Sweden and Finland who work in the Norwegian health and care service. More details and exceptions can be found here.

• From 1 March, Swedish and Finnish commuters are permitted to enter the country but must show a negative PCR test taken within seven days of their journey.

Is transit allowed?

• Yes

• Travellers are allowed to transit through Norway without quarantine.

• Travellers are only allowed to travel to Svalbard after they have stayed in quarantine in other parts of Norway.

Is a test required on arrival?

• Yes

• Travellers arriving from a red-coded region or who have been residing in the region during the last 10 days before arrival will have to be tested upon arrival in Norway. The test must be either PCR or rapid antigen test. Any travellers with a positive rapid antigen test must take a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from testing.

• Travellers who, in the last 10 days prior to arrival in Norway have stayed in the UK, South Africa, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, or Brazil, and are 12 years of age or older, will have a PCR test at the border crossing.

Is a test certificate allowed?

• Yes

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

Test certificate required?

• Yes with exceptions

• Travellers arriving in Norway from red-coded regions that require quarantine must present a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test taken during the 24 hours prior to entry. Norwegian citizens and foreigners residing in Norway are exempt from this requirement. For travellers arriving by plane, the test must have been performed within 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for the first flight of the journey.

• From 1 April, both Norwegian citizens and foreign residents in Norway must have a COVID-19 test taken during the last 24 hours before arrival in Norway. For people arriving by plane, the test should be performed within 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for the first flight of the journey.

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

• Foreign travellers who cannot present documentation for a COVID-19 test can be denied entry.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• People travelling to Norway from abroad shall be in quarantine for 10 days, with a few exceptions for people travelling for work, those whose employers have supplied a pre-approved accommodation, or travellers arriving based on other special grounds for travel. The quarantine period will no longer be reduced with negative COVID-19 test results taken after arrival.

• All travellers arriving in Norway must quarantine for 10 days, with the exception of travellers arriving from specified countries in Europe with low transmission (yellow-coded countries). The list of yellow/red-coded regions can be found here.

• Based on the above restrictions, the travellers will be required to spend between zero and 10 days in quarantine.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• 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.

Vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not required for entry into Norway.

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 further notice.

• 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

• People are encouraged to avoid domestic travel.

• Public transportation is operating.

• There are no restrictions on interstate/intercity travel.

• Travellers are advised to avoid travel in Vestland and Viken provinces.

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

• Authorities urged to avoid non-essential domestic travel within Norway.

Social restrictions

• Moderate

• Maintain a two-meter distance from others, with the exception of the people you live with (or, in the case of people who live alone, their close contacts).

• A maximum of ten people is allowed at private gatherings indoors.

• Officials have tightened new regional measures, details can be found here.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Most domestic business activities have resumed with limited customers.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Accommodations are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Some restaurants are open with social distancing protocols. Serving alcohol is prohibited across the entire country.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Some bars and pubs are allowed to open with social distancing protocols. Bars and pubs that are allowed to open must close before midnight (local time). Serving alcohol is prohibited across the entire country.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Museums and heritage sites are open.

• In Oslo, businesses running cultural activities remain closed. Libraries are exempted.

Personal care services open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Personal care services are open with social distancing protocols.

Events allowed?

• No with exceptions

• Indoor events are limited to 20 people seated in fixed designated seats.

• Indoor sporting events may be attended by up to 50 participants under the age of 20 belonging to sports clubs in the same municipality.

• Outdoor events are limited to 50 people.

• Funerals and burial services are limited to 50 people seated in fixed designated seats.

• The sale of alcohol is prohibited at events nationwide.

Masks required in public?

• No with exceptions

• Nationwide, the use of face masks is strongly recommended on public transport. In Indre Østfold and Oslo, face masks are mandatory on public transport.

• Authorities recommended wearing a face mask when it is not possible to maintain a safe distance.

Other

• Theatres and cinemas remain closed in Oslo.

• All teaching and planned events at universities, university colleges, and vocational training schools are closed now and will take place digitally.

• All upper and lower secondary schools in Norway will switch to yellow level alert from red level of alert.

• Both indoor and outdoor sports for youth up to 19 years of age may resume in groups of up to 20 people. Organized swimming and swimming schools have resumed.

• 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 other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.