Norway is one of the European countries with some of the strictest restrictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 on its territory.
According to SchengenVisaInfo.com, the country continues to do so and recommends refraining from any international travel that is not necessary.
However, this recommendation does not apply to EEA / Schengen countries, the United Kingdom or other third countries included in Norway’s purple list.
Currently, the possibility of foreigners entering Norway is very limited. Thus, to make it easier for travelers to check whether they can enter the territory of the latter, the Norwegian authorities have established a color scheme.
Therefore, based on the color of the list in which the country is placed, it is determined whether travelers need to be tested, quarantined and informed about the rules they must follow.
Travel to Norway from the countries included in the green list
According to the Norwegian authorities, travelers coming from a European country on the green list are not subject to testing and quarantine requirements, regardless of their vaccination status, as the level of infection in these regions is extremely low.
Those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who have recovered from the disease in the last six months are also exempted from the entry test requirement and do not need to complete a travel registration form provided they represent the current Norwegian or European COVID-19 certificate.
Currently, the green list of Norway includes the following countries and regions:
Austria
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Germany
Greenland
Hungary
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Poland
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Finland: SVD Lanci-Pohja, SVD Mellersta Esterbotten, SVD Ostra Savolaks, SVD Norra Karelens, SVD Södra Karelens, SVD Sid-Osterbotten, SVD Gentliga Finland and Åland Islands
Sweden: Blekinge, Dalarna, Gävleborg, Jämtland, Jönköping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Södermanland, Uppsala, Västerbotten, Västernorrland, Västmanland and Örebro.
It was emphasized that persons coming from green countries / regions should remain in self-isolation for ten days after entering Norway if they have visited or transited through an orange, red or purple country / region in the last ten days.
However, those who have traveled without using public transport or without spending the night in the orange / red / purple country do not need to follow these rules.
Travel to Norway from the countries included in the orange and red list
Unlike those coming from countries on the green list, people coming to Norway from an orange or red country must follow a few rules.
According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), all unvaccinated and not previously recovered travelers arriving in Norway from one of the countries mentioned below must carry a negative test certificate before entering, fill out a registration form, pass the border test, and quarantine.
However, the Norwegian authorities have emphasized that those fully vaccinated and recovering from COVID-19 are exempt from all these measures, regardless of the country from which they travel.
Norway’s orange and red list currently includes the following countries and regions:
Belgium
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Greece
France
Iceland
Italy
Croatia
Lithuania
Ireland
Luxembourg
Malta
Portugal
San Marino
Switzerland
Vatican
Denmark: the capital region of Denmark, the region of Central Jutland, North Jutland, Zealand and the region of Southern Denmark (Funen and South Jutland).
Финляндия: Birkalands SVD, Centrala Tavastalands SVD, Egentliga Finlands SVD, Helsingfors och Nylands SVD, Kajanalands SVD, Kymmenedalens SVD, Lapplands SVD, Mellersta Finlands SVD, Norra Karelens SVD, Norra Savolax SVD, Norijra Събота СДС- реР Savolax, SVD Vase and Åland Islands
Sweden: Gotland, Halland, Norrbotten, Skåne, Stockholm, Västra Götaland, Värmland and Östergötland
Previously, Iceland, Italy and San Marino were included in the green list, but they were moved to this list due to the deteriorating situation with COVID-19.
Travel to Norway from countries included in the dark red list
Countries on Norway’s dark red list have recently had high levels of infection and are considered highly contagious. For this reason, Norway has the strictest entry restrictions from the following countries / regions:
Andorra
Cyprus
United Kingdom
Monaco
Netherlands
Greece: Crete, southern Aegean islands
France: Corsica
Spain: Balearic Islands
The same rules as for those coming from the countries on the orange and red lists apply to people coming from the country on the dark red list.
The only difference is that unvaccinated and untreated travelers arriving from one of the countries / regions mentioned above must remain in self-isolation in a quarantine hotel for three days, after which the self-isolation period can be completed at another appropriate place of residence.
Like travelers from other categories, those who have been fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 are not subject to testing and quarantine regulations.
The Norwegian government has decided to extend the recommendations against all minor trips to all countries until 1 September. However, this decision will not apply to travel to the EU, the Schengen area and the United Kingdom.
Travel to Norway from epidemiologically safe third countries included in the purple list
With the exception of all EU / EEA / Schengen countries mentioned above, travelers arriving from the following third countries included in Norway’s purple list are also allowed to enter the country.
Albania
Australia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canada
Kosovo
Moldova
New Zealand
Northern Macedonia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Taiwan
Ukraine
All persons coming from these third countries are subject to the same rules as those coming from the red countries. Children under the age of 18 must also comply with the requirements.
“Children under the age of 18 who have arrived from outside the EU Member State and do not have an EUDCC must undergo mandatory quarantine. Quarantine may end if a negative PCR test performed no earlier than three days after arrival is shown, ”the statement said.
Travel from other countries not mentioned in any of the lists is prohibited and highly discouraged.
What is open to tourists in Norway?
According to a press release issued by the Norwegian government on August 2, the country’s tourist attractions are open and restrictions remain in place.
So, all people who come to Norway will find that most places are open, including shopping malls, hotels, galleries and cinemas. Bars, restaurants and cafés are also open until midnight.
In addition, the country hosts sports, cultural and entertainment events, provided that the size of groups of adults indoors does not exceed 30 people. As for outdoor areas, there can be 40 people in one environment.
Norwegian vaccination passport
Norway started accepting and issuing the EU digital certificate for COVID-19 on June 24. This means that all Norwegian citizens, as well as citizens of other countries who have an EU digital certificate for COVID-19, can travel freely in European countries and Norway without strict restrictions.
Don’t forget your travel insurance when traveling to Norway
All holidaymakers planning to visit Norway or any other EU country in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance packages to cover epidemic and pandemic situations.
Such a purchase guarantees all travelers that in the event of cancellation of their trip due to an unforeseen increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, most of their money spent on booking the trip will be refunded.
The situation with COVID-19 and the number of vaccinations in Norway
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of August 11, 140,830 cases of COVID-19 infection had been detected in Norway, of which 1,051 new cases had been reported in the last 24 hours alone. In addition, since the beginning of the pandemic, the country has registered 804 deaths related to the health effects of coronavirus.
With regard to the level of vaccination, Norway has so far administered at least 5,666,199 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Assuming that each person needs two doses to be considered vaccinated, this means that 37.6% of the country’s population was fully immunized.