Iceland Airport: Covid Testing Availability And Requirements

Iceland's Keflavik Airport has been conducting COVID-19 testing for arriving passengers since June 15, 2020. The testing was implemented as an alternative to the country's 14-day quarantine regulations for all travellers. The testing is supported by DeCODE Genetics, a Reykjavik-based biomedical company. While the tests are typically provided free of charge, travellers staying in Iceland for more than five days may be required to pay for an additional test at a local testing centre.

Covid-19 testing at Iceland's Keflavik airport

Iceland's Keflavik airport has implemented COVID-19 testing for all arriving airline passengers. The testing was implemented to safeguard the progress made in controlling the spread of the virus in Iceland, as the country started opening up to foreign travellers.

The testing process at the airport is relatively straightforward. After deplaning, which is done row by row to control the flow of travellers, passengers proceed to passport control and then to the arrivals hall. Those with a QR code can go straight to testing, while others can present a negative COVID-19 certificate. The test results are said to take between two and four hours to be delivered, four to six hours in busier times, and are guaranteed within 24 hours. Passengers who need to stay in Iceland for more than five days will have to pay for another test at a local test centre.

The testing process at the airport has faced some challenges. Initially, there were concerns about a lack of testing facilities in the country. To address this, the government entered into a deal with DeCODE Genetics to aid in testing. There were also reports of a mix of previously COVID-cleared departing travellers and arriving untested travellers in the same room at the airport, raising concerns about proper disinfection and social distancing.

Despite these challenges, the testing programme at Keflavik airport has been generally well-received, with travellers expressing reassurance about returning to the country. The programme is part of Iceland's efforts to safely reopen its borders and boost its economy, with tourism accounting for a significant portion of its gross domestic product and currency income.

Testing for arriving passengers

Arriving passengers at Iceland's Keflavik Airport will directly undergo COVID-19 testing. Previously, the Icelandic government required a 14-day quarantine for all travellers entering the country. However, this regulation was waived on June 15, 2020, and COVID-19 tests were provided at the airport instead.

Passengers who have a QR code can proceed straight to testing. The test results are said to take between two and four hours to be delivered, four to six hours in busier times, and are guaranteed within 24 hours. If results do not arrive within 24 hours, passengers are instructed to call and check.

Children do not need to be tested. Passengers who are staying in Iceland for more than five days may need to pay for another test at a local test centre.

The testing initiative faced some challenges, as the National University Hospital's testing capacity needed to be increased. Plans were put in place to address this issue, but they required time for implementation. Despite these setbacks, the testing protocol in Iceland's Keflavik Airport has been praised for reassuring travellers and encouraging their return to the country.

Testing for departing passengers

Passengers departing from Iceland's Keflavík Airport previously had to mix in the same room with arriving, untested travellers. However, the country has since implemented COVID-19 testing for all arriving airline passengers, effective from 15 June 2020.

The testing process for arriving passengers at Keflavík Airport is as follows: passengers with a QR code can proceed directly to testing, while those without a code must undergo a two-week quarantine. Children do not need to be tested. Results are expected within 2 to 4 hours on less busy days, 4 to 6 hours during peak times, and within 12 hours regardless of the airport's traffic. If results are not received within 24 hours, passengers must call and check.

Passengers who have been in Iceland for more than five days must take an additional test at a local testing centre in Reykjavík or other populated areas. They do not need to physically distance themselves from others while awaiting results, which are guaranteed to arrive within 24 hours.

The testing facilities at Keflavík Airport are limited, and the hospital's virology department can process around 500 samples per day, equivalent to the testing of two and a half planes of passengers. Plans to increase testing capacity are in place, but they will require new equipment, adapted facilities, and additional trained staff.

Testing for children

Children do not need to be tested upon arrival at the airport. If you are staying in Iceland for more than five days, you will need to pay for another test at a local testing centre in Reykjavik or other populated areas of the country. The process is similar, but you will not need to physically distance yourself from others afterward, and results are guaranteed within 24 hours.

There are several testing options for children near the airport. Test Covid, a private company, offers free testing in Reykjavik or Keflavik, near the airport. Another private company offers rapid testing for a fee near the airport, which is more expensive than the tests in Reykjavik but very convenient. The location is just 2 minutes away from the airport, and appointments can be made on their website.

Testing and quarantine

Iceland's Keflavik Airport offers COVID-19 testing for arriving passengers. Previously, the country mandated a 14-day quarantine for all travellers, but this was lifted on June 15, 2020, when the government decided to implement COVID-19 testing at the airport.

At the airport, passengers with a QR code can proceed directly to testing. The test results typically take between two and four hours to be delivered, although this may extend to four to six hours during busier times. The leaflet provided assures travellers that results will arrive within 12 hours, and if they do not, passengers are advised to call and check after 24 hours.

If travellers are staying in Iceland for more than five days, they must pay for another test at a local test centre in Reykjavik or other populated areas. The process is similar, but without the need for physical distancing after the test, and results are guaranteed within 24 hours.

Children do not need to be tested. Additionally, travellers can choose to present a negative COVID-19 certificate instead of undergoing testing at the airport.

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