The experience in Reykjavik was MUCH easier, I’ve detailed it in this update
I enjoyed all the feedback I received on My Experience Entering Iceland with only a CDC Vaccination Card! It was a wonderful trip and I was sad to come home. Lots more pictures to come, like the one below, but I wanted to address a really big question I was asked over and over again on that post.
How did I get my COVID test to re-enter the United States?
The USA still requires a negative COVID test within 3 days of departure to board a flight. Even if you’re vaccinated. Yes, that’s annoying. But oh well, gotta do what you gotta do.
Here’s what I did:
- I went to the Icelandic COVID testing website:Â https://www.landlaeknir.is/um-embaettid/greinar/grein/item42633/covid-19-border-testingÂ
- I found the city in which I was staying (Akureyri)
- I called the health clinic listed on the website. It took a few times until I found the right person, but I let them know what I needed. It took them a while to understand what I meant, but I just explained that I needed to pay for a COVID test for border control in the USA with the certificate in EnglishÂ
- The lady took some information from me and I received a text message with a barcode
- I showed up at the testing center (where photos weren’t allowed) with a mask on and my barcode
- The wait in line was short, efficient, and an attendant scanned my barcode and I went into the testing room
- I got a brain poke via the nose and a throat gag test thing. I’ve been COVID tested before, no big deal
- I showed up at another health clinic 4 hours later, paid for the test (approximately $190), and picked up my test results
It wasn’t that big of a deal
Like many things in Europe, there’s a process. You have to go through the process. It did not seem like you could just show up at a random place and get a COVID test, you need to go through one of the official clinics and get a barcode.
Hope this was helpful! Iceland was incredible and I’m already planning my next trip back to this amazing place.
If you’re vaccinated, have a documented positive test that’s older than 14 days, or have a positive antibody test, there has never been a better time to come to Iceland!
We’re considering going in July because we’ll be vaccinated. We’d have about 6 nights there. We’d want to strike a balance between seeing a lot and not having to change hotels 6 times. Is there an itinerary you would recommend?
Working on a post about that right now!
Hey Andy, thanks for the info. I was wondering, how much was the COVID test? We will need to do that in August before returning to the US.
Thanks, Jenna
I paid around $180 for mine but others report paying $60-70 in Reykjavik
Hi! After you received the bar code are you able to get tested in any clinic? Also when you said you went to another clinic 4 hours later did they send you to that clinic or are you able to pick up your results in any clinic?
I do not know if my barcode would have worked anywhere else. I told the clinic I needed a paper printout and they told me where to go to pick it up and the time it would be available.
Good afternoon. I’m going to end my travels in Akureyri on my trip to Iceland in July. Can you tell me the name of the clinic that you went to in order to get your test? I looked at the site you mentioned, but can’t seem to find the one it lists on Google Maps. So you just showed the print out upon your return to the US at customs? Or was it before you boarded the plant in Iceland?Thanks!
It goes by the name HSN, which has clinics all over the country. The address and location in the link I sent are the exact place I went to. You’ll have to show the printout before you’re allowed to board the plane for your return flight.
Not sure if you know the answer to this or where I can find the answer. I am vaccinated and will be arriving this Friday and leaving Monday. Will my covid test at the airport on Friday suffice for my return trip on Monday? Can I get the paperwork from that test to present to the US Border? Or will I need to get another test somewhere else?
The entry test does not have an option to print out the results, it just shows up as a notification, so I do not believe it meets the qualifications for re-entry testing for the USA.
The website to sign-up for testing mentions two different tests (PCR vs Rapid AG). Which one did you take? Do both give results in 24 hours? Does the USA accept either for a return flight?
Rapid test is fine, had my results from a more recent trip in about an hour
For anyone doing this – you can actually get the bar code as Andy describes in his Reykjavik post (through the official website travel.covid.is), select the Reykjavik location and present that barcode in Akureyri (and I presume other testing centers as well listed here: https://www.landlaeknir.is/um-embaettid/greinar/grein/item42633/covid-19-border-testing).
We showed up to get tested at The Akureyri clinic (open 9-11 daily) and on the window outside they ask you to do that.