Find out about entry requirements in Norway, including transit conditions, recognized vaccines, quarantine conditions and more.
On February 12th, 2022, the Norwegian Government officially removed all regulatory measures against COVID-19, following the recommendations of the two main Health Authorities of the country. In fact, both the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health considered how measures could be erased given the sustainable rise in hospitalization rates and the positive impact of vaccinations on the protection from more aggressive forms of Covid19.
Among the lifted measures are quarantine, social distancing, isolation and entry requirements. However, it is still worth describing which requirements and indications are still strongly advised for travelers, in order to clear any kind of ambiguity.
Table of contents
- Entry and transit requirements in Norway
- Do I need a negative test to enter Norway?
- Recognized Vaccinations
- What to do if you test positive for Covid
- Face masks, social distancing and lockdown measures
- Ask our Experts
1. Entry and transit requirements in Norway
No entry restrictions are currently in place in Norway, regardless of your citizenship and of whether you are entering the country from a Schengen/EU country or from a non-Schengen/EU one. In fact, also third-country passengers do not need to respect any particular testing or vaccination requirement.
Furthermore, entry is free also regardless of your vaccination status: you do not necessarily need to be vaccinated to enter Norway. Transit is also possible without special requirements. Finally, the obligation to complete an online governative form upon entrance is no more in force.
All passengers can enter Norway freely and without any registration.
2. Do I need a negative test to enter Norway?
Given the general suspension of restriction issued on February the 12th, 2022, there is currently no obligation of getting tested for Covid19 upon arrival or before arrival in Norway, regardless of your vaccination status or your citizenship and/or country of origin. However, it is still useful to know some essential information on Covid tests availability and rules in Norway that apply during your stay.
Covid Tests in Norway are fully available in private and public health centers as well as in pharmacies. It is important to know that COVID-19 consultations and testing are free in the public health service for everyone who is staying in the country, regardless of residence status. If you get symptoms of covid-19, or if you think you are infected, you can contact the health service in your municipality, or call the emergency service on the telephone (116 117).
When contacting the health service, you will not be requested to show a passport or any other identification document. Results will be available within 20 minutes in case the healthcare professionals performed a rapid antigen test, or within 1-4 days in case a PCR was executed. Furthermore, private test centers are also available in airports areas.
2.1 Testing for Covid-19 in Norway (upon payment)
Testing is not free of charge at these facilities:
- At the Gardermoen Oslo Airport Dr. Dropin offers different tests at departure, behind check-in area 3. You are advised to book an appointment in advance (read more and book an appointment here)
- Trondheim airport: KRY offers rapid tests at the airport in the departure area.
- Stavanger airport: Klinikk Spero offers quick tests in the arrival hall. Please book in advance.
- Bergen airport: Volvat offers rapid tests in the check-in area.
- Kristiansand airport: Søm Legesenter offers rapid tests and is located 2,5 km off the airport.
- Bodø airport: Vaksineklinikken is located 2,8 km from the airport (7 min by car).
3. Recognized Vaccinations in Norway
Vaccine Certificates are not currently in use in Norway to discipline access to stores or to any kind of public activity or venue (social life, entertainment sites, restaurants, sports facilities, etc.). However, the national COVID-19 certificate might still be reintroduced in case single municipalities find it appropriate, or if it becomes necessary to rapidly introduce the use of the COVID-19 certificate as a national measure again. If the municipality where you are staying during your travel introduces the use of COVID-19 certificates, you are required to get familiar with the new local measures by visiting the municipality’s website.
The COVID-19 certificate must have a QR-code that can be verified.
The following are the recognized vaccines:
- Comirnaty (Pfizer);
- Spikevax (Moderna);
- Vaxzevria (Astra Zeneca);
- Janssen;
- Covishield;
- Sinovac-CoronaVac;
- Nuvaxovid.
Among others, the following certificates can be used:
- Norwegian COVID-19 certificate;
- The EU digital COVID certificate;
- UK NHS COVID-pass.
Finally, Health Authorities advise unvaccinated travelers to be careful when traveling to Svalbard Island, even if there is no obligation to be fully vaccinated to visit the Island.
4. Quarantine and what to do if you test positive for covid
Given the aforementioned suspension of all Covid19 related restrictions in the Country, there is currently no obligation to quarantine upon arrival in Norway, regardless of your vaccination status or your citizenship and/or country of origin. Similarly, isolation in case of a confirmed Covid19 infection is strongly recommended by Health Authorities, though not being mandatory.
In case you test positive for Covid19 using a self-test (available in all pharmacies), the result must be confirmed with a test at a Health Center only if the person who tested positive did not receive a booster dose. Those who received a booster dose, or who did not receive a booster dose but are fully vaccinated and had COVID-19 within the last 3 months, do not need to get tested again.
In the event of a positive self-test, you should register your result in the municipality’s contact tracing system, while Health Authorities recommend staying home for 4 days from the start of symptoms, or from the day the positive test was executed in case no symptoms are shown. It is also recommended to leave the house only if you have been fever-free for at least one day, to keep your distance from others in the household, and to possibly wear a face mask. Adults you live with are advised to get tested if they develop respiratory symptoms.
The recommendation to stay at home for 4 days does not apply to children and school pupils up to upper secondary school age, who are recommended to stay home only if they show clear symptoms and can go back to school when they have been fever-free for 24 hours.
5. Mask obligation, social distancing and lockdown measures in Norway
The obligation to wear a face-covering is removed starting February 12th, 2022, outdoors and indoors, in public or private venues. The use of a face mask is recommended when you have close contact with people in risk groups, if you are part of a risk group, or if you experience cold/respiratory symptoms. By “risk groups” Norwegian Health Authorities refer to those categories who are at particular risk of developing a more severe disease course (resulting in hospital admission, intensive care, or even death), given advanced age (over 65 y.o.) and/or underlying medical conditions, with men being at greater risk than women.
Face-masks are also advised for those who test positive for Covid19 and live with other people. Furthermore, there is no obligation to keep a specific social distance. However, Authorities recommend keeping a distance from other people if you develop new respiratory symptoms.
Finally, an extended phase of relaxation of various restrictive measures concerning lockdown and public life is occurring since mid-January 2022: limitations on gatherings in public and private venues are no more in force, while restrictions on opening hours of bars and restaurants are suspended and all entertainment sites may now reopen.
An epidemic monitoring system is still active. It is also worth mentioning that single municipalities may decide to implement more stringent local restrictive measures if needed. It is hence strongly advisable to check the chosen municipality’s website to be sure you are familiar with current changes.