The UK could be reclassified as a “dark red” country when Norway updates its entry rules on Friday, meaning as early as next Monday, arrivals from the United Kingdom may be required to enter quarantine hotels for a minimum of three days. 

Currently, the UK is classified as red. This means that residents, citizens and close family and partners of those that live in Norway can travel to the country to visit. 

Arrivals from red countries must quarantine for a minimum of seven days either at home or somewhere with a private bedroom and bathroom. 

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They will be released from quarantine after returning a negative PCR test on day seven. They are also obliged to test before their arrival, register their entry into the country and test at the border. You can read about the entry requirements for Red countries here. 

However, arrivals from the UK could instead have to spend a minimum of three days in a quarantine hotel, which costs 500 kroner per day for adults and 250 kroner per day for children aged between 10-17. 

The reason for this is because the UK is expected to be reclassified as a dark red country due to soaring numbers of Covid-19 infections. 

To be classified as dark red, a country will have more than 500 Covid infections per 100,000 in the previous fortnight when the Norwegian Institute of Public Health makes its weekly assessment of data provided by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). 

As of July 15th, the ECDC reports that the UK has an incidence rate of 571 per 100,000 for the week beginning July 12th. 

This means that it appears likely that when Norway updates its travel advice on Friday, the UK will be dark red until it can get the incidence rate back down below 500. 

However, the UK turning red will not change who will be able to enter Norway from the UK, meaning close family and partners will still be allowed to enter, albeit with a quarantine hotel stay. 

This is unless Norway decides to change its entry rules specifically for the UK, which it hasn’t so far signaled it will.

What about vaccinated travellers? 

Fully vaccinated travellers and those who have Covid-19 in the past six months and have a valid vaccine pass, either EU or Norwegian, will not be required to enter into quarantine hotels, or undergo testing or be subject to other entry requirements. 

Those with only one jab will be allowed to quarantine at home for a three days before taking a PCR test. They will also need to register their entry into Norway.