This week Iceland will begin allowing all visitors who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 without mandatory testing or quarantine. Previously Iceland had opened its borders to travelers from the EU, but this new decision means visitors from the UK and U.S. are now also permitted.
“The world has been through a lot in the past 12 months, and we are all hoping for a slow and safe return to normalcy. This also includes the resumption of the opportunity to travel, which is valuable to culture, trade and enterprise,” said Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir.
Certificates of vaccination with a vaccine authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), that are listed here (this list is updated as needed):
1. Comirnaty; Pfizer-BioNTech
2. COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna
3. COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca
4. COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
Visitors can present an official paper or electronic vaccine certificate, but there is an issue that needs to be clarified. Iceland’s requirements don’t match what’s listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) certificate that we have all received. Iceland requires that a nationality and passport number be listed on the form. CDC cards do not include that information.
Here is what Iceland wants on each vaccine card:
- First name and last name (as they appear on your travel documents/passport)
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Name of disease vaccinated against (COVID-19)
- Date When vaccinations were performed
- Vaccine administered
- Manufacturer and batch/lot no. of vaccine
Under these guidelines, it’s unclear at this time how a U.S. citizen would be able to provide acceptable documentation. We are hopeful that in the coming days Iceland will expand its restrictions to includes the CDC card along with a valid passport.
The next obstacle is flight availability. Major airlines have very few flights currently available to Iceland. Icelandair currently offers 2 flights a week from Boston to Keflavik Airport. Hopefully as the demand increases major airlines such as Delta and United will add flights for the summer months.
Iceland tours packages and vacations are available for 2021 and 2022.
Greece will reopen to vaccinated travelers on May 17th, 2021. This announcement came from Harry Theocharis, the Tourism Minister. “Greece is ready with a complete protocol for summer 2021,” he said. “Tourists will be welcome if before travel they are either vaccinated, or have antibodies, or test negative. All tourists will be subject to random testing.” Escorted Greece tours and Greek island hopping vacations are accepting reservations.
