Iceland to allow vaccinated travellers to skip COVID-19 test and quarantine requirements

Iceland will now be issuing digital ‘vaccination certificates’ to all citizens who have received two COVID vaccine shots. The Iceland Government announced this recently, and stated that this will allow the citizens to travel without worrying much about strict border restrictions.

As per the reports, incoming travellers who are able to show proof that they have received both the shots of vaccine, will not be required to undergo COVID-19 test or quarantine.
Reportedly, the vaccine certificate will be available for Icelandic residents online, which will be “in accordance with existing European standards and the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis," also commonly known as the ‘Yellow Card.’ Reports stated that more than 4500 people in Iceland have already received their second vaccination shot.

However, non-EU citizens, including those from the United States, are currently not allowed to visit the country. The government in its latest advisory stated that it has taken the step in a bid to facilitate the movement of people between countries so that people are able to present a vaccine certificate at the border and be exempt from COVID-19 border measures in accordance with the rules of the country concerned.

Although vaccinated travellers from other countries will not be required to undergo testing or quarantine rules upon arrival in Iceland, the government emphasised that a vaccine will not, however, mean that they will automatically qualify to visit the country's geothermal lagoons and majestic falls.

This step of vaccination records is an extension of Iceland's decision in December to allow travellers to skip the mandatory test and quarantine requirements if they are able to show proof they had previously tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered. As of now, travellers visiting the country are require to get tested twice, once upon arrival, which will be followed by a five- to six-day quarantine, before getting tested again. Further, the government noted that the said policy will remain in place until at least May 1.