Norway: Authorities plan relaxations of COVID-19 international entry and domestic restrictions as of June 19 /update 45

Event

Authorities plan to ease certain COVID-19-related international entry restrictions. Starting June 19, additional categories of foreigners residing in the European Economic Area (EEA) area or the United Kingdom who are related to Norwegian citizens may seek approval for entry. Travelers who have spent the last ten days in locations within the EEA and Schengen Zone with less than 500 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous two weeks will undergo self-isolation for ten days upon entry instead of hotel quarantine. However, quarantine rules for entrants who have stayed outside the EEA and Schengen Zone for the last ten days before arrival continue; they must stay in quarantine hotels until they obtain a negative PCR test taken no earlier than three days after entry. The measure will also affect UK travelers from June 21. Additional relaxations are planned from July 5, in line with regionwide EEA measures.

Foreign travelers who reside in designated quarantine-exempt ("yellow") countries or areas may enter without restrictions. As of June 19, Greenland, the Faeroe Islands, Iceland, and the Finnish hospital districts of Central Finland, North Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Lappi, Kainuu, North Karelia, Satakunta, South-Karelia, Pohjos-Savo, Vaasa, and Ita-Savo, are the only locations on Norway's quarantine-exempt list. Additions from 00:00 June 21 include Poland, Romania, as well as the Finnish hospital districts of Central Ostrobothnia, Etelä-Savo, Kanta-Häme, Kymenlaakso, Pirkanmaa, and Varsinais-Suomi. Authorities expect more countries to be added to the list as vaccination rates in the EEA increase.

Persons who have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months will not need to quarantine upon entry. This will only apply to travelers who can prove this by showing a secure and verifiable QR code solution; travelers can check whether their information may be verified by clicking here.

Generally, only Norwegian citizens and legal residents are allowed to enter the country; however, exemptions are in place for close family members of Norwegian residents, transport workers, individuals in transit, and foreigners who work in critical fields. All travelers, including Norwegian citizens and residents, need to provide a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken no more than 24 hours before arrival; persons arriving by plane may take the test no more than 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for the first leg of the flight. Upon arrival, travelers must take a rapid coronavirus test at the airport or border and wait at the test station until the result is known.

All permitted travelers from high-risk areas must register at the Entry Norway website, available by clicking here, within 72 hours before arrival. In addition, cross-border commuters from Sweden and Finland are permitted to enter Norway without isolating, provided they take a COVID-19 test every seven days.

Domestic Restrictions
Further relaxations to domestic restrictions will apply in Norway from 12:00 June 20. Persons may receive up to 20 guests in private homes. Up to 1000 people are allowed at indoor events with assigned seating, while up to 100 people can attend outdoor events with assigned seating. Sports events and on-site work in offices may resume with social distancing measures. Nonessential businesses and services may operate, albeit subject to strict social distancing and hygiene measures. Individuals are advised to limit their social contact and avoid all nonessential travel. Protective facemasks are recommended rather than mandatory. Municipalities with higher rates of infection may impose stricter measures within their jurisdictions.

In Oslo, events with fixed seatings are restricted to 200 people indoors and 600 people outdoors. Private gatherings and leisure group activities may involve up to 30 people depending on the venue. The use of protective facemasks remains mandatory where social distancing of 2 meters (6 feet) cannot be observed. Workers must continue telecommuting to the extent possible.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Government of Norway
Restrictions by Municipality
Registration Form for International Arrivals
Schengen Area Countries