NORDIC NEWS
NORWAY
Updated 08 October 2020
If you want to travel to Norway, note that you may have to stay in quarantine for 10 days after arrival. Exemptions are given upon arrival in Norway from areas in the Nordic countries and other EU/EEA/Schengen countries with sufficiently low transmission. Norway is not yet open for travellers from countries outside of the EU/EEA/Schengen area.
On the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH)’s official website, you’ll find a map and list of which countries and regions that are exempt from quarantine. It also includes information for workers from Sweden and other countries in the EU/EEA/Schengen area that arrive in Norway. The page will be updated at least every second week.
DENMARK
Updated 08 October 2020
The COVID-19 situation is changing regularly. Visit the Danish Health Authority website and the Danish Police website for the most up to date information. Different restrictions and behaviour may be in place across the regions of Denmark - for up to date information, check with your local authorities and your travel provider before arrival.
Find out if the Danish border is open to your country of residence here.
Tourists entering Denmark are no longer subject to a minimum stay requirement and will no longer have to show documentation of a 6-night booking. If a tourist wishing to enter shows clear signs of sickness, for example a cough, fever, or similar, they will not be allowed to cross the border.
Danish citizens are allowed to re-enter the country and visitors from other countries can now enter Denmark again under certain conditions.
Business travellers with a clear business reason to visit should refer to regulations on the Danish Police website as they are allowed entry on some conditions.
SWEDEN
Updated 08 October 2020
There is a temporary entry ban in place for non-essential travels to the EU via Sweden until 31 October, but travel from another EU country, a country part of the EEA, UK and Switzerland to Sweden is possible.
For more information, please visit:
Visiting Sweden during the covid-19 pandemic (krisinformation.se)
FAQ page of the Swedish Government
Sweden currently has no quarantine obligation for travelers. For more information about preventive measures recommended in Sweden, please visit the FAQ page of Public Health Agency of Sweden.
FINLAND
Updated 10 October 2020
Finland welcomes leisure travellers from a number of countries where the coronavirus situation has eased. There is no mandatory quarantine or testing for travellers from these countries on arrival in Finland.
As of 12 October, leisure travel is possible between Finland and the Vatican.
As of 12 October, travel restrictions are unfortunately back in place again for travellers from Cyprus, Latvia and Lichtenstein due to an increase of coronavirus cases in these countries. Arrival by pleasure craft is possible from Schengen countries.
Leisure travel is also possible for people living in China (based on EU guidance on reciprocity) Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, and Uruguay. Self-isolation is not required for travellers from these countries.
As of 19 September, the new limit value of the Finnish government for travel to Finland without mandatory testing or quarantine is a maximum of 25 new cases of the disease per 100,000 persons in the country during the previous 14 days.
LEISURE TRAVEL ALSO POSSIBLE FROM EU AND SCHENGEN COUNTRIES WITH HIGHER INFECTION RATES STARTING END OF NOVEMBER
As of 23 November, leisure travel will also be possible from all EU and Schengen countries (including UK) with infection rates above 25 per 100 000 persons. However, travellers from these countries will need to have proof on arrival in Finland of a negative COVID-19 test result no older than 72 hours. On arrival in Finland, visitors from these countries are placed in quarantine for 72 hours after which they need to take a second test. After a second negative COVID-19 test result, the person can move around in Finland freely. If the visit to Finland lasts less than 72 hours, no quarantine or second test is required.
Finnish health authorities will review countries’ infection rates weekly. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s traffic light model show which countries it is possible to travel to Finland from.
Finnish health authorities may enforce mandatory COVID-19 testing and quarantines of 14 days on people arriving from travel-restricted countries if there is suspicion that they may have been subjected to the virus, for instance during their flight.
ICELAND
Updated 08 October 2020
Iceland is open to passengers inside the Schengen Area but all arriving passengers must choose between a 14-day quarantine or a double testing procedure with a quarantine for 4-5 days. The double border-screening procedure requires all passengers arriving in Iceland to undergo two PCR-tests: one upon arrival and another 4-5 days later to minimise the risk of a false negative causing infection to spread in the community. During this period, all arriving passengers must stay in quarantine in case of a possible infection. Passengers are charged ISK 9.000 for a single test at pre-registration but ISK 11.000 if paid on arrival. The second test is free of charge. This process was designed to prioritise safety, but also to work for visitors and Icelanders, based on Chief Epidemiologist’s medical and scientific guidance.
More information: Double border screening for all arriving passengers
See also: Instructions for persons under home-based quarantine and Appropriate housing while in quarantine
All passengers traveling to Iceland are required to fill out a pre-registration form before arrival, which includes their contact information, address(es) during their stay in Iceland and a declaration of health.
During these unprecedented times, the easing of travel restrictions is constantly being evaluated.
ESTONIA
Updated 08 October 2020
Estonia admits people with no Covid-19 symptoms arriving from the European Union, the members of the Schengen area or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as from a small number of countries outside this area - but quarantine requirements may apply.
From September 1 foreigners can also have a COVID-19 test done for a fee in order to shorten their self-isolation (the general 14-day self-isolation obligation). Coronavirus test results from before arriving to Estonia are not accepted.
All contact with other people must be avoided while waiting for the test results, which can take up to 48 hours. Pre-booking for COVID-19 test can be made via phone +372 678 0000.
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The obligation of self-isolation does not extend to those people who arrive in Estonia from a country with an infection rate of less than 25 people per 100,000 inhabitants.
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If the country's infection rate is between 25 and 50, the requirement of self-isolation depends on whether it is lower or higher than 1.1 times the Estonian rate.
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If the infection rate is lower than the Estonian rate, the person does not have to self-isolate. If it is higher, then a two-week self-isolation obligation applies.
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If a person comes to Estonia from a country with an infection rate of 50 or more per 100,000 inhabitants, they must in any case remain in self-isolation.
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The data on national infection rates is updated once a week on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Estonia's infection rate multiplier of 1.1 allows a 10% fluctuation, which is necessary to exclude re-calculation due to changes in national indicators within a week.
Detailed information on countries, self-isolation and testing requirements for passengers can be read from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
LATVIA
Updated 08 October 2020
Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area, and the Swiss Confederation, as well as people with permanent residence status in those countries, when travelling from their home countries to Latvia no longer face 10 days self-isolation period, if 14-day cumulative number of COVID-19 cases per 100 000 inhabitants does not exceed the rate in Latvia.
Epidemiological data is updated every Friday on the website of SPKC (Latvia’s Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) website.
Arriving from other countries 10 days quarantine is still necessary, until further notice.
LITHUANIA
Updated 08 Octoiber 2020
The Ministry of Health of Lithuania notes that, as of 14 September, countries will be deemed to be virus-affected, where coronavirus incidence rate exceeds 25 cases (instead of the previous 16) per 100 000 population in the last 14 days. Lithuania’s incidence rate currently stands at 18.8 cases per 100 thousand.
Persons who have returned or arrived from countries on the list of countries most affected by coronavirus infection or who have travelled through these countries, shall be deemed to have been exposed to the virus. Isolation will be mandatory in their case. Isolation however will not be mandatory in the case of travelling by air without leaving the airport transit area.
Furthermore, every traveller returning to or arriving in Lithuania by air, sea or land using regular, special and charter services will have to register electronically with the National Public Health Centre (NPHC) as of Tuesday, 15 September. This means that before boarding a plane, ferry, bus or train, a person will have to fill in a form on the NPHC website and present the confirmation received - the so-called QR code - during the boarding. The National Public Health Centre form can be found here.
In the case of individual travelling by land, it is obligatory to register with the NPHC within 12 hours from the moment of arrival in the Republic of Lithuania.
Foreigners arriving from the affected countries must have a test for COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) taken at maximum 72 hours before the entry to Lithuania and negative results thereof, except cases provided for in the order of the Minister for Health. A negative test result will not free from the obligation to self-isolate for 14 days.
EUROPEAN UNION
LINKS PROVIDED COURTESY OF OUR PARTNERS ETOA (EUROPEAN TOURISM ASSOCIATION)
Updated 06 July 2020
2 July 2020 | European Council recommendation added to European Union section for member states to start lifting travel restrictions at the Schengen external border for 15 non-EU countries from 1 July.
29 June 2020 | Norway has been added to the map from European Commission in European Union section showing real time information on internal and cross-border travel allowed/restricted, services open (e.g. attractions, hospitality) and health and safety guidance.
For an overview on internal and cross-border travel allowed/restricted:
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EC (map) for EU27 countries, Norway and Switzerland (includes which services are open in destination and health and safety guidance), for UK see here,
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(map) for countries worldwide (includes information on government financial support),OECD
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(map) on air travel for countries worldwide.IATA
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Government foreign affairs webpages (for EEA countries see below) should also be monitored as the final decision on border entry and issuing travel advisories/warnings remain matters of national competence.
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Information on the Package Travel Directive can be found in the ETOA and European Union sections
WTTC WORLD TRAVEL & TOURISM COUNCIL
Global Protocols for the New Normal
WTTC works alongside its Members, governments, health experts and other industry associations are working together to achieve effective recovery protocols by developing meaningful action plans that optimise sector-wide recovery efforts.
Part of the WTTC protocols include providing the public & private sectors with the insights & toolkits for interaction & implementation to ensure that people are and feel safe. It is paramount to have common rules. Ultimately, we envision a future of travel which is safe, secure, seamless and provides an authentic and meaningful experience to the traveller across the journey; one which supports the livelihoods of millions and contributes to sustainable economic growth.
We will create short protocol reports for at least nine industries within Travel & Tourism to align the private sector behind common standards to ensure the safety of its workforce and travellers as the sector shifts to a new normal.
OTHER RESOURCES
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Mischon de Reya. Practical Covid-19 guidance, Legal or operational questions