What are the new travel rules between the UK and Norway?
Norway has given its rigid Covid-19 border rules a significant shakeup to let more people into the country - here's what you need to know about travel between the Scandinavian country and the UK under the new rules.
Travel to Norway
For almost six months, Norway restricted entry to residents and citizens of Norway and very few others in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Norway has now opened up for partners and family from the EU/EEA and the UK to visit.
Children and stepchildren (regardless of age), parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, grandchildren and great-grandchildren can now visit.
READ MORE: IN DETAIL: What you need to know about Norway's new Covid-19 rules for travel
Only partners over the age of 18 will be able to visit. You have to have been together for at least nine months, and the parties must have met in person before.
Partners will have to complete a free application with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) before travelling but do not need to provide proof of their relationship. You can take a look at the application page here.
Residents and citizens of Norway are, of course, allowed to enter.
You can take a look at the full rules for new entry requirements for family and partners here.
The UK to Norway
All travellers to Norway must fill out a registration form before departing. You can find the registration form here.
Travellers must also provide a negative Covid-19 test on their arrival to Norway, taken within 24 hours of their arrival in the Nordic country. This can be either an antigen or PCR test, although the rapid-result antigen test (sometimes known as a lateral flow test) is the more practical option of the two as PCR tests take longer to deliver results. Travel tests in the UK are not available on the NHS, so you will have to pay.
Fully vaccinated travellers are exempt from the pre-departure testing, but at present this only applies to those who were vaccinated in Norway and have a Norwegian Covid certificate.
Another Covid-test will also need to be taken at the Norwegian border. Testing at the border applies to all arrivals.
Foreign residents returning must also provide documentation, such as a rental contract, that proves they resided in the country before their departure. You can read more on the required proof here. Foreigners living in Norway will also be required to present a copy of the ticket they used to depart Norway.
New quarantine hotel rules for UK arrivals
All arrivals from the UK will be required to spend a minimum of three days in a quarantine hotel due to the spread of the Delta Covid-19 variant (first identified in India) in Great Britain.
This will cost 500 kroner per adult per night but will include testing. The price for children aged between 10-17 is 250 kroner a day.
There is no fee required when children under ten are staying in the same room as their parents.
After three days, they will be released from hotel quarantine once they return a negative PCR coronavirus test.
Once you are released from the hotel, you will be able to continue the 10-day quarantine period at home. This can be reduced to seven if you take another PCR test and it comes back negative.
From Norway to the UK
The UK has a Covid-19 traffic light system that gives each country a designation- green, amber or red- based on infection numbers and vaccination rates.
Norway has been placed on the amber list. The UK will reassess its travel and entry rules on June 24th.
To enter the UK from Norway, you will need to provide a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours. In Norway, testing is handled individually by each of Norway's municipalities. You can use this link to find info on testing in your municipality.
Testing provided by the municipality is free. However, it can take some time to deliver results, so you may need to book privately for around 1000 kroner for faster results. You can also take a private drop in test at the airport you are travelling from.
Once you arrive in the UK, you will need to undergo a ten-day quarantine period at home or with friends or family. You will also need to fork out around £200 per person for compulsory Covid tests on days two and eight of quarantine. You can find the list of approved test providers here.
You may be able to end quarantine early if you pay for extra private Covid testing through the UK's test to release scheme.
Restrictions in Norway
Norway is currently on step three of its four-step plan to reopen society, so some coronavirus measures are still in place.
Municipalities can implement their own rules, so it's worth checking the local rules of the area you are travelling to.
This also applies to face masks.
You can read about Norway's current national and local Covid rules here.
READ ALSO: Revealed: How Norway will further relax Covid-19 restrictions
Restrictions in the UK
The UK is in the process of lifting lockdown. Pubs and restaurants are open for indoor and outdoor hospitality.
Face masks are required on public transport and indoor public spaces; there are exemptions for those with certain medical conditions.
You can read more info on the UK's roadmap for lifting lockdown here.
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Travel to Norway
For almost six months, Norway restricted entry to residents and citizens of Norway and very few others in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Norway has now opened up for partners and family from the EU/EEA and the UK to visit.
Children and stepchildren (regardless of age), parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, grandchildren and great-grandchildren can now visit.
READ MORE: IN DETAIL: What you need to know about Norway's new Covid-19 rules for travel
Only partners over the age of 18 will be able to visit. You have to have been together for at least nine months, and the parties must have met in person before.
Partners will have to complete a free application with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) before travelling but do not need to provide proof of their relationship. You can take a look at the application page here.
Residents and citizens of Norway are, of course, allowed to enter.
You can take a look at the full rules for new entry requirements for family and partners here.
The UK to Norway
All travellers to Norway must fill out a registration form before departing. You can find the registration form here.
Travellers must also provide a negative Covid-19 test on their arrival to Norway, taken within 24 hours of their arrival in the Nordic country. This can be either an antigen or PCR test, although the rapid-result antigen test (sometimes known as a lateral flow test) is the more practical option of the two as PCR tests take longer to deliver results. Travel tests in the UK are not available on the NHS, so you will have to pay.
Fully vaccinated travellers are exempt from the pre-departure testing, but at present this only applies to those who were vaccinated in Norway and have a Norwegian Covid certificate.
Another Covid-test will also need to be taken at the Norwegian border. Testing at the border applies to all arrivals.
Foreign residents returning must also provide documentation, such as a rental contract, that proves they resided in the country before their departure. You can read more on the required proof here. Foreigners living in Norway will also be required to present a copy of the ticket they used to depart Norway.
New quarantine hotel rules for UK arrivals
All arrivals from the UK will be required to spend a minimum of three days in a quarantine hotel due to the spread of the Delta Covid-19 variant (first identified in India) in Great Britain.
This will cost 500 kroner per adult per night but will include testing. The price for children aged between 10-17 is 250 kroner a day.
There is no fee required when children under ten are staying in the same room as their parents.
After three days, they will be released from hotel quarantine once they return a negative PCR coronavirus test.
Once you are released from the hotel, you will be able to continue the 10-day quarantine period at home. This can be reduced to seven if you take another PCR test and it comes back negative.
From Norway to the UK
The UK has a Covid-19 traffic light system that gives each country a designation- green, amber or red- based on infection numbers and vaccination rates.
Norway has been placed on the amber list. The UK will reassess its travel and entry rules on June 24th.
To enter the UK from Norway, you will need to provide a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours. In Norway, testing is handled individually by each of Norway's municipalities. You can use this link to find info on testing in your municipality.
Testing provided by the municipality is free. However, it can take some time to deliver results, so you may need to book privately for around 1000 kroner for faster results. You can also take a private drop in test at the airport you are travelling from.
Once you arrive in the UK, you will need to undergo a ten-day quarantine period at home or with friends or family. You will also need to fork out around £200 per person for compulsory Covid tests on days two and eight of quarantine. You can find the list of approved test providers here.
You may be able to end quarantine early if you pay for extra private Covid testing through the UK's test to release scheme.
Restrictions in Norway
Norway is currently on step three of its four-step plan to reopen society, so some coronavirus measures are still in place.
Municipalities can implement their own rules, so it's worth checking the local rules of the area you are travelling to.
This also applies to face masks.
You can read about Norway's current national and local Covid rules here.
READ ALSO: Revealed: How Norway will further relax Covid-19 restrictions
Restrictions in the UK
The UK is in the process of lifting lockdown. Pubs and restaurants are open for indoor and outdoor hospitality.
Face masks are required on public transport and indoor public spaces; there are exemptions for those with certain medical conditions.
You can read more info on the UK's roadmap for lifting lockdown here.
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