Travel from the United Kingdom to Norway

All travellers over the age of 16 must register their journey to Norway on the government’s website. This applies regardless of vaccination status or prior immunity. 

Pre-departure Covid-19 tests are required for people who are not fully vaccinated, or have not recovered from the virus in the previous six months. This also applies for travellers without a valid Covid-19 health pass. Children under-18 won’t need to test before travel. 

Norway currently only recognises health passes compatible with the EU scheme and digital certificates from the United Kingdom and a handful of other non-EEA countries as proof of vaccination or having recovered from the disease. 

The test can be either a PCR or rapid antigen test, and the certificate can be in English. All tests must be taken within 24 hours of arriving in Norway.

Fully vaccinated travellers with an approved health pass will not need to test before departing.

However, regardless of vaccine status, prior infection or health pass, all travellers will need to test for Covid-19 after arriving in Norway. In most cases, this can be done at the border, especially for air travellers. 

This will be a rapid test, and travellers must wait for results at the test centre. 

If the test centre is busy travellers will be told to take a lateral flow test at home. There isn’t a portal where the result needs to be uploaded. If the test returns positive you will then need to take a PCR test. 

Arrivals from the UK who aren’t fully vaccinated, have not recovered from coronavirus within the last half a year or do not have an approved health pass will also need to quarantine. 

The quarantine period is set at ten days. However, you can end quarantine after returning a negative PCR test taken no sooner than three days after arrival. This means, typically, you can expect an isolation period of around five to six days, depending on the length of time it takes to process your test. 

Quarantine can take place at home or another suitable location. Generally speaking, an appropriate place is somewhere with its own private bedroom and where you can maintain social distance from others and where you do not need to share food prep and bathroom facilities. 

Quarantine hotels remain an option for those who do not have a suitable place. They cost 500 kroner per night for adults and 250 kroner for children aged 10-17. 

When in quarantine, you can’t go to work or school and should avoid long cross-country trips and visitors. You can exercise and head to the shops for essentials. 

From Norway to the UK 

Pre-departure testing, last introduced in the UK on December 7th, has been scrapped for travellers entering the UK. Furthermore, those arriving in the UK no longer have to isolate until they receive the results of their Day 2 test. 

All passengers still must fill out the Passenger Locator Form. Some travellers have reported glitches and crashes with the form, so this is best done in advance. 

Before filling out the form, you will also need to book a testing package. The test’s booking reference is required to fill out the passenger locator form.

From Sunday, January 9th, arrivals can book a less expensive antigen (lateral flow) test rather than a PCR test.

It is best to give yourself sufficient time for the result to arrive to avoid missing out on any plans as the unregulated nature of Day 2 and Day 8 testing in the UK means the speed with which results are returned varies wildly. The best way to ensure a quick result is to attend a in-person Day 2 test. 

Unvaccinated travellers will need to book a Day 2 test and Day 8 test and quarantine for ten days.

The tests can be taken at home, at private test centres (though these can be difficult to find locally) or at some airports.  

What Covid measures are there in Norway? 

Several Covid-19 restrictions have been announced by the Norwegian government to reduce social contact and slow the transmission of coronavirus, following weeks of surging cases and several outbreaks of the recently discovered Omicron variant in the country.

The restrictions include recommendations on the number of visitors allowed at home and a nationwide ban on the sale of alcohol in restaurants and bars .The majority of measures were introduced on December 9th with updated measures such as the ban on alcohol being sold at bars and restaurants becoming effective on December 15th. 

READ MORE: Norway further tightens Covid rules with nationwide alcohol ban in bars

Social distancing and facemasks have been reintroduced. A maximum of ten guests are recommended at home. 

Everyone is being advised to maintain a social distance of one metre around those not in their household. 

A maximum of 20 people will be able to meet at private gatherings in a public place, in or on rented premises. In addition, alcohol service is prohibited in bars and restaurants. Venues will also be required to have table service. 

Hospitality and one-on-one services such as hairdressers will need to register the contact information of customers, provided consent to do so is given. Some leisure settings will also need to register guests contact info. This won’t apply to shops, libararies and shopping centres, however.

Facemasks must also be worn when it is not possible to keep a social distance of one metre in shops, malls, restaurants, public transport, taxis and indoor areas at public transport stations.

If local areas do introduce the Covid certificate as a requirement to enter hospitality and leisure venues, then visiting friends and family won’t be able to go to bars and clubs where certificates are being used as they are only available to residents with an identification number.