Europe is going through a COVID-19 surge. The United Kingdom has recorded more than 40,000 new infections last Friday, Germany declared a national emergency, and Austria announced that it would make vaccination against COVID-19 a legal requirement.
Now, the Norwegian Government —which is clearly concerned about the country’s rise in COVID-19 infection rates— has restored entry restrictions to the Norwegian territory in order to put the brake on the spread of the disease.
From November 26th, 2021, it will be mandatory for people traveling to Norway to take a COVID-19 diagnostic test and complete an entry registration before arrival in the country. Another option is to present a valid COVID-19 certificate indicating full vaccination or COVID-19 recovery in the last six months (if applicable).
The COVID-19 diagnostic test must be taken 24 hours before arrival in Norway and, of course, it should deliver a negative result for the traveler to be allowed into the country. Children under the age of 18 are the only ones who are exempt from taking any of these tests.
As for the entry registration, it will be required for everyone except for children under the age of 16 and other selected groups. Ideally, it should be presented along with the COVID-19 certificate at the border control. If the traveler cannot present a COVID-19 certificate, he or she will have to take a COVID-19 diagnostic test upon arrival in the Norwegian territory, no matter the area that he or she is coming from. There will be test centers at the borders and all municipalities should be ready to test arriving travelers on-site if they have to.
The new rules for entry to Norway will apply strictly to every traveler independently of the area they’re coming from, including Norwegian nationals who are returning to their home country.
Entry to Norway may be denied if the traveler fails to document compliance with these rules. In this case, the traveler will be considered a transgressor and may be reported to the police and fined for the violation of the entry norms.
The information was provided by Norway’s Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl in a press release from November 19th, 2021.
Norway is also not making any modifications to the travel quarantine requirements, and the quarantine hotel program will remain as an optional service for people without other proper accommodation, the press release reads. According to Emilie Enger Mehl, it is unlikely for travel quarantine rules to be lifted at least during the winter.
- Other measures include:
- The application programs conducted by the Norwegian Maritime Authority and the Norwegian Agriculture Agency will be suspended until further notice.
- All foreigners who have the right to enter Norway under the Immigration Act will be allowed into the country.
- The National Center for Control of Travellers to Norway will be reprovisioned of personnel in order to resume control activities. Municipalities will be informed about travelers that need to be followed up.
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