With its international borders being reopened to vaccinated travelers, now is the time to discover the beauty of Iceland for yourself!
During the pandemic, almost all international borders have been closed to tourists to try and mitigate the spread of the coronavirus around the world. We’ve been wondering when governments around the world would start to open up, especially once vaccines started to roll out. Iceland became one of the first countries to reopen to American tourists on April 6th. So if the wanderlust has been hitting hard since you got your vaccination, a trip to Iceland might be just what you need! But international travel during the pandemic (and likely afterward as well) will require travelers to stay on top of what they’ll need to cross borders successfully. If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, here’s what you’ll need to know about getting in.
Entry Requirements
All travelers, regardless of their origin point, are able to visit Iceland if they are able to show either a certificate of full vaccination against COVID – the card you received when getting your jabs – or a certificate of previous COVID infection. If you have either of these certificates, you won’t be required to take a PCR test before your flight. Note that this applies only to tourists whose final destination is within Iceland – Iceland cannot be used as a transit point to connect you to the rest of the European Schengen zone at this time.
After Landing – Testing and Quarantine
Once you’ve landed in Iceland and you’ve shown your certificate, you’ll have one more step to take before your vacation can begin in earnest. As of the publication of this piece, tourists entering Iceland also need to take a COVID-19 test upon their arrival and quarantine until the results of this test are completed. There are some bits of good news in this – the test is free of charge, you’ll be able to quarantine at your accommodation instead of having to quarantine at a designated secondary location, and the results usually come back in about 5-6 hours, but may take 24 hours at the most. The Icelandic government notes that they will be reviewing this requirement by May 1, so check the official government website for the latest news.
Returning to the United States
Another thing to keep in mind when traveling to Iceland is satisfying the requirements for re-entry into the United States at the end of your holiday. As of the publication of this piece, the US government and the CDC requires all incoming passengers to show a negative COVID test result (a NAAT or antigen test) taken no more than 3 days before their departing flight. This includes travelers that have been previously vaccinated. Check with your airline before departure to see what options you have for satisfying this requirement and ensure you make time near the end of your trip to get your test done!
Explore the World with AESU!
Are you ready to plan an adventure of a lifetime? AESU offers unique, thrilling travel programs for college students and young professionals at affordable rates. Each trip is action-packed and informal—designed just for people your own age. We are also able to design custom tours just for your group.
Looking to travel this year? Experience our brand-new domestic tours with beautiful destinations such as the California Wine Country, Nashville Music City, The Wild Wild West, and Outdoor Wonderland – British Columbia!
2021 tour dates are now available! If you have any questions or want help booking your next adventure, please contact AESU by calling 800-638-7640, or fill out the contact form found on our website. Follow AESU on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.