Heathrow and Gatwick: Latest travel rules for Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden
Coronavirus cases in the UK are rising, with a record 218,413 new daily cases reported on Tuesday, January 4, more than 3.2 times the number from last year’s peak.
This increase in cases is largely due to the arrival of the super-infectious Omicron variant, which despite causing relatively milder symptoms than its Delta counterpart, has nevertheless spread rapidly across the country since it was first discovered in late November.
The latest wave of Covid hitting the UK has resulted in several countries revising their travel restrictions for UK citizens and residents arriving at their ports of entry.
READ MORE: Heathrow and Gatwick: Latest travel rules for Albania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland and Romania
Rules and restrictions are constantly updated, so all travelers should check before embarking on their journey. As it looks, here are the rules for entry to countries in Scandinavia.
Denmark
Whether you are vaccinated or not, Denmark requires you to take either a rapid antigen test within 48 hours of arrival, or a PCR test up to 72 hours before.
Travelers from the UK who bring proof that they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival and give a negative Covid test according to the instructions above can enter Denmark without isolating themselves. The same applies to those who can prove that they tested positive for Covid between 14 and 180 days before they appeared.
If you have not been fully vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid, you must take a Covid test within 24 hours of arrival in Denmark. Refusing to do so would mean isolating yourself for 10 days, but that isolation period can end prematurely by testing negative on the fourth day.
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Children under the age of 15, persons residing in border regions entering Sweden via transit from Bornholm without being resident in Sweden, persons traveling for the purpose of freight transport and persons in transit through Denmark departing within 24 hours of entry are excluded.
Children aged 15-17 are also exempt from testing and self-isolation if accompanied by a parent who has been fully vaccinated or previously infected.
A printed PDF proof of vaccination status is required and must be from November 1 to ensure that the QR code on the certificate can be scanned properly.
Finland
All travelers to Finland from the UK born in 2006 or earlier must present proof of a negative Covid test taken no later than 48 hours before arrival. This can be a PCR test or a side flow test.
Travelers born in 2007 or later are exempt from proving vaccination status or taking a test, provided they travel with a fully vaccinated parent or adult guardian.
Documents proving that travelers are fully vaccinated must be dated at least seven days before entering the country. Finnish authorities believe that people who have only received one dose of the vaccine and who have previously recovered from Covid are fully vaccinated.
If you are not fully vaccinated, you can only travel to Finland if you can prove that your reasons for traveling are significant or compassionate. Unvaccinated tourists are currently not allowed to enter Finland.
A printed PDF proof of vaccination status is required, it must be from 1 November to ensure that the QR code on the certificate can be scanned properly.
Iceland
At present, all non-essential journeys of British nationals from the United Kingdom to Iceland are canceled, with the exception of those residing in Iceland, and those who have either been fully vaccinated against Covid at least 14 days before arrival or have recently recovered from it.
Negative PCR or antigen test results must be demonstrated within 72 hours before departure to Iceland. Travelers must also pre-register prior to arrival.
A printed PDF proof of vaccination status is required and must be from November 1 to ensure that the QR code on the certificate can be scanned properly.
Children born in 2005 or later are excluded, but those older than 16 will have to undergo a Covid test at the border, quarantine for five days and have a second test as above if they are not fully vaccinated.
If a traveler should test positive on arrival, they must isolate themselves in a hotel or state-provided accommodation unless further tests show a negative result.
Norway
Anyone wishing to enter Norway must be tested for Covid upon arrival at the port of entry. If there is no test center at the port of entry, a self-test must be performed within 24 hours of arrival.
Isolation will only be required if the test result after arrival gives a positive result.
Travelers must also complete a registration form within 72 hours of arrival.
Children under the age of 16 are exempt from testing, but anyone over the age of 12 is required to wear a face mask in public areas.
Evidence of receiving a double dose of a vaccine is only valid if the last dose was administered at least seven days before arrival. Single-dose certificates must be at least 21 days old to be considered valid.
A printed PDF proof of vaccination status is required, it must be from 1 November to ensure that the QR code on the certificate can be scanned properly.
Travelers who have recovered from Covid in the last six months and can prove it do not need to present evidence of a negative test before departure on arrival.
Sweden
At present, all non-essential trips to Sweden are prohibited except for fully vaccinated travelers who have received their last dose of the vaccine at least 14 days before arrival. Travelers must also provide proof that they have tested negative for Covid at least 48 hours prior to arrival.
Children under the age of 18 do not have to prove vaccination status if they travel with a fully vaccinated adult.
British and other foreign citizens who can prove residency in Sweden are also excluded.
There is no isolation period for fully vaccinated travelers entering Sweden, but arrivals from the UK are recommended to take a PCR test on arrival.
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