International travels

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) advises against all international travel that is not strictly necessary.

Entry to Norway – information in several languages

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) advises against all international travel that is not strictly necessary. This global travel advice from UD is valid until July 5th, 2021. As of July 5th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will lift the travel restrictions for the EEA / Schengen, the United Kingdom and countries on the EU list of third countries that are considered safe by the NIPH (the Norwegian Institute of Public Health). Read more about the global travel advice here (regjeringen.no).

At present, the opportunity for foreigners to enter Norway is limited.

The travel advice and rules for entry are intended to reduce the risk of those travelling to bring the infection with them to Norway. Prior to travelling you should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply, both for the area where you live and for the area that you want to travel to. Keep in mind that the infection situation and the advice for infection control may change rapidly.

Who can travel to Norway?

You cannot travel to Norway if you are:

  • a tourist
  • a girlfriend/boyfriend or fiancée of a resident in Norway
  • an EU/EEA citizen (including citizens of the Nordic countries) who is working or studying in Norway who is not exempt
  • a business traveller
  • a foreign citizen with a Schengen-visa who is not exempt
  • a person who has a leisure property in Norway but who is not a resident.

You will be granted an exception and allowed to enter into Norway if you are:

  • a Norwegian citizen (irrespective of which country you live in)
  • a foreign citizen who is resident in Norway. 
  • a foreign citizen who is about to spend time with their own children (contact arrangements for children)
  • a child or pupil who commute from Sweden or Finland to attend kindergarten, primary or secondary school. Persons who undertake necessary travels between their home and kindergarten or school are also exempt
  • a close family member of persons who are resident in Norway:
    • Spouse, registered partner or cohabitant
    • Minor children or stepchildren
    • Parents or step-parents of minor children or stepchildren.
    • Adult children and stepchildren
    • Parents and step-parents of adult children/stepchildren
    • Grandparents and step-grandparents
    • Grandchildren and step-grandchildren
    • a girlfriend/boyfriend who is 18 years or older from the EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom. This requires an application to the UDI to enter the country. You will find information and the UDI application forms here.
  • a foreign citizen who is resident in Sweden or Finland and commute on a daily basis in connection with work in Norway.

Refer to the complete list of exceptions at UDI and further information about entry into Norway.

Those allowed to enter Norway must follow the rules upon entry into Norway as listed below.

Rules upon entry into Norway

If you are allowed to enter Norway, you will need to

It is your duty to familiarize yourself with the rules including potential exceptions. If you do not meet the requirements or comply with the rules, you might be denied entry or be prosecuted.

Travel registration form when entering Norway

Everyone travelling to Norway must complete the registration form prior to crossing the border.This also applies to Norwegian citizens.

After completing the digital registration, you will receive a receipt which you must then present to the police at the border control. You cannot register your journey any earlier than 72 hours prior to the time of arrival.

You will find the travel registration form here (regjeringen.no). Choose your language via the drop-down menu in the upper right-hand corner.

If you have questions or require assistance in connection with the registration, please call +47 33 41 28 70. This service is operated by the Government. You can also send an email to support@entrynorway.no. 

The lines are open 24/7. Guidance in Polish, Russian, Lithuanian and Romanian is also available between 08:00-22:00.

There are exceptions to this requirement, including for:

  • Persons who are fully vaccinated or have had COVID-19 during the last 6 months, as documented via their Norwegian, Danish or Swedish COVID-19 certificate.

Requirement for presenting a negative test result upon entry to Norway

Travellers to Norway, must present documentation of a negative test for the coronavirus taken less than 24 hours prior upon entry. This also applies to Norwegian citizens and persons who are resident in Norway, unless getting hold of such documentation is not feasible or disproportionately difficult. You are exempt from providing a negative test result if you arrive from a green county or area.

The test must be taken less than 24 hours prior to entry.

If you arrive in Norway by air the test can be taken less than 24 hours prior to departure time. If your journey involves connecting flights, departure time refers to the first flight of your flight itinerary.   

Valid test methods are the standard PCR-based analysis or the rapid antigen-based test. The documentation must be issued in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, English, French or German.

There are some exceptions to this requirement, including:

  • Persons who are fully vaccinated or have had COVID-19 during the previous six months, as documented via the Norwegian COVID-19 certificate at helsenorge.no, the Danish or the Swedish COVID-19 certificate.
  • Persons in transit
  • Persons who are permanent residents of Svalbard
  • Children who are under 12 years old
  • Persons who regularly travel/commute to Norway from Sweden or Finland in order to work or study (Separate requirements apply for healthcare professionals.)
  • Personnel in critical public functions related to matters of life and health can be exempted

For a complete list of exceptions, see the COVID-19 regulations (lovdata.no).

Testing for the coronavirus upon arrival to Norway

You are required to take a test for the coronavirus upon arrival to Norway.

Persons who - without due reason - are not willing to undergo testing when arriving in Norway can choose to leave the country or be fined. 

The test must be taken at the airport or when crossing the border. You will need to take the rapid antigen-based test and then wait for the test result before proceeding.

If your test is positive you will need to take the PCR-based test within 24 hours of your arrival. If you arrive from a country outside the EEA / Switzerland and your rapid antigen-based test is positive, you will immediately need to take the PCR-based test - at the point of arrival.

There are some exceptions to the requirement, including:

See the complete list of exceptions to the test requirement in § 4d of the covid-19 regulations (in Norwegian).

Travel quarantine

Anyone returning from a red area or country must as a rule of thumb stay in quarantine for 10 days after the date of their arrival in Norway. This is referred to as travel quarantine.

Those that are fully vaccinated, have had COVID-19 and travellers from countries or areas referred to as green countries or areas are exempt from travel quarantine. See exceptions to the travel quarantine here.

Where to complete the travel quarantine will depend on which country or area you arrived from when entering Norway. See an overview of where to complete your travel quarantine here.

Violation of the quarantine duty is a criminal offence.

How to complete the travel quarantine

Your travel quarantine period is 10 days starting from the day of your arrival to Norway.

If you are in quarantine you should:

  • Stay at the quarantine hotel or another suitable accommodation if you are exempt.
  • Not go to work, school or kindergarten.
  • Not travel domestically.
  • Not seek places where it is difficult to keep a sufficient distance to other people.
  • Not use public transport (with the exception of traveling from your place of arrival to the place where you will be in quarantine, or the opposite direction when leaving Norway prior to completing your quarantine duty period. Anyone over the age of 12 should then wear a face mask.)
  • Not seek out public places such as shops, pharmacies and cafes. If unavoidable, you can conduct necessary errands in the store or pharmacy but ensure that you maintain a sufficient distance to others.
  • Avoid having visitors. Children cannot meet up with playmates other than those who are part of the same household.

You can go for a walk but keep a good distance to others. Children and young people should have the opportunity for play. Accompanying children for outdoor activities at least once a day is encouraged.

Many shops, suppliers and restaurants offer online shopping, home delivery or sound solutions for picking up goods.

Testing when in travel quarantine

You need to undergo testing for the coronavirus on day seven after arrival to Norway. If you are not implementing your quarantine duty at a quarantine hotel you will need to contact the local municipality to arrange for an appointment for testing. If you are staying at a quarantine hotel you will be offered testing at the hotel.

You will be offered a test 3 days after arrival. If the test result is negative, you will be able to go home or to another suitable place of residence to complete your remaining travel quarantine duty period. For a place of residence to be suitable, it must be possible to avoid close contact with others, with a private room, private bathroom and separate kitchen or possibility for serving food. Alternatively, you will be offered a test on day 7 of your quarantine duty period.

You can reduce the length of the travel quarantine if you test negative for the coronavirus on a test (PCR-based test) taken seven days after arrival at the earliest. 

Children and youth under the age of 18 years old can take the test (PCR-based) three days after arrival and end their quarantine of the test result comes back negative. This also applies to those who have received one dose of their vaccine and more than three weeks have since passed.

Quarantine is mandatory until you can document a negative test result.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 while in travel quarantine

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 during the time of your travel quarantine, you will need to contact the local health services for testing. If the test result is negative, you must still complete the rest of your quarantine period.

If you have lingering symptoms after completing your quarantine period you must stay at home until you have recovered (meaning you feel well and do not have a fever), even if some symptoms of a respiratory tract infection lingers.

Read more about the symptoms of COVID-19 here.

Exceptions to the travel quarantine

As a rule of thumb, you will need to enter quarantine upon your arrival to Norway but with some exceptions. Some exceptions apply both during work and leisure time, while other exceptions apply only during work.

During work refers to the time a person spends at work / school or while travelling between the place of work / school and the home or other place of residence. Leisure time refers to the time not spent at work or while travelling for work as defined above.

Even if you are exempt from quarantine duty, you should as far as possible avoid close contact with others than those you live with.

The exemption from quarantine duty ceases to apply If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 or a doctor suspects that you are infected.

Exceptions to travel quarantine rules for persons who are not travelling in connection with work

Exceptions to travel quarantine rules in connection with work

Quarantine hotel or quarantine at home?

Where you may stay during your travel quarantine will depend on which country / area you have been to. You may be exempt from completing your quarantine duty at a quarantine hotel e.g. if you are protected or if there are strong welfare considerations. See all exceptions here.

Irrespective of where you will complete the travel quarantine, you must take a PCR-based test for the coronavirus no earlier than 7 days after arrival in Norway. You can end the travel quarantine if the test result is negative.

Countries outside the EEA and Switzerland 

If you have visited a country outside of the EEA and Switzerland during the 10 days prior to entering Norway, you will need to complete parts of the travel quarantine at a quarantine hotel.

You will need to stay at the quarantine hotel and take a PCR-based test for the coronavirus on day 3 after entry at the earliest. If the test result is negative, you will be able to go home or to another suitable place of residence to complete your remaining travel quarantine duty period. For a place of residence to be suitable, it must be possible to avoid close contact with others, with a private room, private bathroom and separate kitchen or possibility for serving food.

Countries within the EEA and Switzerland 

You will not need to stay at a quarantine hotel if you have visited a country within (and not outside of) the EEA and Switzerland.

Upon entry, you must be able to document that you have not been to a country or area outside of the EEA and Switzerland during the 10 days prior to entering Norway. You must stay at home or to another suitable place of residence  where it is possible to avoid close contact with others, with a private room, private bathroom and separate kitchen or possibility for serving food. 

Overview of countries and areas that trigger quarantine duty at a quarantine hotel

How are countries and areas categorised relative to quarantine hotel duty?

The COVID-19 regulations define what countries and areas trigger quarantine duty at a quarantine hotel. This relates to the level of infection in the specific country/area. The regulations are updated on a regular basis and apply until they are changed. This means that even if the level of infection in a country changes from high to lower, you are not exempt from quarantine hotel until this has been adopted in the COVID-19 regulations. Pay attention to the above list for updates.

Allocation of quarantine hotel and registration

The municipality is responsible for organising the quarantine hotel. You will be referred to a quarantine hotel with capacity within a reasonable distance from your point of arrival. A car / bus ride of up to 2 hours is considered to be at a reasonable distance.

The municipality is responsible for organising the transport from your point of arrival to the quarantine hotel. Persons who arrive from countries outside the EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom shall not use public transport. Maintaining proper measures for infection control and prevention during the transport is important. Those arriving by car can drive to the quarantine hotel themselves.

After completing your quarantine at the quarantine hotel, the municipality will arrange transport back to the airport or to the border, if required.

When arriving at the quarantine hotel you will be registered. This is mandatory. You will also be informed about testing, routines and measures for infection control in connections with your stay. You will be offered a test for the coronavirus at the quarantine hotel. Even if your test result comes back negative, you will need to complete your quarantine period.

If you travel to Norway with your spouse, partner or children and are part of the same household, you may complete your quarantine together at the quarantine hotel.

If you are part of the same household, but do not have a family affiliation as explained above, you cannot complete your quarantine together.

Children and youth

Minor children who travel alone to Norway are not required to stay at a quarantine hotel.

Costs

The cost of staying at a quarantine hotel will be NOK 500 per night for individuals above the age of 18 and for employers. The cost for children between the ages of 10 and 18 is NOK 250 per night, while children under the age of 10 are free of charge when living with their parents.

Students and travel quarantine

The same rules apply for students as for other travellers when it comes to where to complete the travel quarantine.

If you are a Norwegian student abroad, you will be exempt from the deductible payment.

Quarantine hotel exceptions

Although you may be exempt from conducting your travel quarantine at a quarantine hotel you must follow the rules on testing and registration when entering Norway.

You can complete your quarantine duty period at home or at another suitable location if you belong to one of the following groups:

  • You arrive from a country within the EEA and Switzerland with a lower level of infection. Read more about the exception here.
  • You can document via helsenorge.no that you are protected, have access to a residence with the possibility to keep a distance to others, with a separate room, bathroom and a separate kitchen or the possibility for serving food. The police at the border are responsible for verifying the digital information. See the definition of being protected here.
  • Minor children.
  • If you arrive in Norway in connection with work and your employer provides a suitable accommodation. The accommodation should be approved by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority prior to entry. You can document this e.g. via a copy of the approval.
  • If you upon arrival can document strong welfare considerations or other compelling reasons (see further details below) and are able to complete your quarantine duty at another suitable location while avoiding close contact with others. You will need to apply for an exception to the quarantine hotel rule from the Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Read more about who can apply and how to apply here. 
  • If you are seeking asylum or are a refugee in resettlement (transfer refugee)
  • If you arrive as part of access and contact arrangements between parents and children or children living in two homes under the Children Act or the Child Welfare Services. For those who belong to this group there is no need to apply with the UDI for an exemption from implementing the quarantine at a quarantine hotel.  
  • If you commute regularly to Norway from Sweden or Finland in order to work or study and are exempt from quarantine duty as per 6b of the COVID-19 regulations (in Norwegian).

If you apply for an exemption from staying at a quarantine hotel on behalf of a combined travel party, the exemption will only apply to those in the travel party who have an approved exemption.

Some occupational groups are exempt from carrying out travel quarantine at a quarantine hotel. See the overview at Helsedirektoratet.no.

Regardless of where you complete your quarantine, you must fill out the entry registration form prior to entry.

What do strong welfare considerations and compelling reasons entail?

 If there are strong welfare considerations or compelling reasons, you must apply to the UDI for an exemption from staying at a quarantine hotel. 

The opportunity to apply for an exemption is not available if you travel out of Norway for other reasons than strong welfare reasons. If you travel out of Norway in order to attend a funeral or visit a family member abroad who is ill, you will not be granted an exception from the UDI on implementing your travel quarantine at a quarantine hotel.

For travels that arise abruptly, you should submit your application as soon as possible. For travels where it is possible to plan in advance, it is recommended that the application is submitted no later than 7 days prior to entry into Norway, to allow time for the UDI to process the application. Applications are prioritised based on the time of travel, meaning that applications received long in advance relative to the time of entry may take somewhat longer time to process.

Strong welfare considerations can for example be:

  • Sickness or disease that requires special care and facilities that the quarantine hotel cannot offer
  • Travel to Norway to visit relatives who are dying or that are acutely ill. The strict interpretation of what is considered an acute illness is seen in connection with the fact that an exception is granted for visiting the dying. This refers to mental or physical illness of high severity with possible fatal outcome.
  • Travel to Norway to attend a funeral for a close relation.
  • Travel to Norway to be present at the birth of your own child.
  • Persons returning to Norway after bringing home an adopted child.

Compelling reasons can for example be:

  • Persons who are exempt from quarantine duty during work hours and where staying at a quarantine hotel during leisure time will make it impossible to complete their work tasks during working hours, and where an application for approval of residence from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority is not practical due to unpredictable workplace locations. For example, if you work on maintenance of the emergency communications net and travel daily over long distances.
  • Students who are to complete home exams during the quarantine period.

Close relations in this context can be a spouse, cohabitant, girlfriend/boyfriend, children, siblings, parents, grandparents, in-laws or other persons with whom you have a close and personal connection.

You must be able to document strong welfare considerations or compelling reasons. You can do this by referring to a doctor's statement, obituary, invitation to a funeral or similar. If you are going to a funeral or visiting a relative who is acutely ill or dying, you must also provide documentation that indicates  the relationship. Examples of this are marriage certificate, birth certificate, cohabitation contract, photos or similar.

Frequently asked questions about quarantine hotels

Do the quarantine hotel exceptions only apply to those who are fully vaccinated?

No, the exceptions from quarantine hotels apply to the following;

  • Those who are fully vaccinated
  • Those who have received their first vaccine dose and 3 weeks or more have passed since they received the vaccine
  • Those who have had COVID-19 during the last 6 months, as documented via the COVID-19 certificate.

You must be able to document this either via the COVID-19 certificate or the test result service at helsenorge.no, or the Danish or Swedish COVID-19 certificate.

Do the  quarantine hotel exceptions apply to protected travellers from all countries?

Yes, the exception applies to travellers from all countries, as long as you can document your status as protected at helsenorge.no, or the Danish or Swedish COVID-19 certificate.

Do children need to be in quarantined if they travel alone or with parents who are protected / exempted from quarantine?

No, minor children need to stay in quarantine hotels.

If I am exempt from quarantine hotels, do I still have to take a test prior to entering Norway and at the border?

Anyone traveling to Norway must take a test at the border upon arrival unless you are exempt. You must also fill out the registration form for travellers.
If the country or area that you are travelling from triggers quarantine duty, i.e. is red, you must take a test prior to entry and at the border upon arrival to Norway.

Definition of permanent housing and suitable place of residence

Definition of permanent housing and suitable place of residence

Travels to Svalbard

Anyone arriving in Norway from a red area/country need to complete their full quarantine period in mainland Norway prior to travelling on to Svalbard. This applies to all who want to travel to Svalbard, including residents.

If you are travelling to Svalbard, you need to undergo testing during the last 24 hours prior to your departure from mainland Norway. As an example, if your flight leaves Oslo with a connecting flight in Tromsø, you should be tested for the coronavirus no more than 24 hours prior to your departure from Tromsø. The test is free of charge for residents of Svalbard. To get a free test, you must present documentation that you are registered in the population register for Svalbard.

Read more about the documentation requirements and reimbursement of test expenses for travels to Svalbard at Helsedirektoratet.no. (in Norwegian)

Advice before travelling despite recommendations

The clear recommendation at present is to not travel abroad.

Should you still need to undertake a travel that is strictly necessary, several things should be considered.

As part of the preparations, you should check what is covered by your travel insurance, including what applies if you should turn ill during your journey.

Each country may introduce measures and restrictions to prevent further transmission, e.g. transport restrictions, quarantine or other measures that might have consequences for you as a traveller. Several countries and airports have introduced control measures and have closed their borders to people who are not resident in the country.

Consider the following risk factors before travel:

  • Being infected while travelling (destination, duration, contact with other people).
  • Travel restrictions, curfews, quarantine or other measures in the country you are travelling to.
  • Capacity limitations in the healthcare services at the destination if you should turn ill.
  • Lack of possibility for return travel or medical repatriation.
  • Not be able to visit a health care institution

It is also important to familiarize yourself with the general travel advice related to vaccines for other infectious diseases as well as other preventative measures.

If you are going to travel or study in Europe, you should bring your European Health Insurance Card

Preventive advice during travel

  • Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. An alcohol-based disinfectant can be a good alternative.
  • Keep a good distance to others that are not your close contacts.
  • Cough into the crook of your elbow or a paper tissue.

Students and others who are staying in areas with widespread transmission over a longer period should follow the advice from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local health authorities and the educational institution/employer.

Links to further advice