It seems like we may all be misreading it, and the Iceland government only intends to exempt people vaccinated from border measures like testing & quarantine, and not allowing in foreign citizens who would otherwise not be allowed in.
Very possible, the earlier version exempting EEA vaccinations stated that it's only to waive testing and quarantine requirements, but passenger still needs separate entry permit, I'm not sure what the rules for that are.
You’re correct. I’m not sure how omaat and these other websites didn’t catch that. Unless they have insider info that this will change but so far it is not the case and it will be a huge deal if it does since the EU wants to have a European policy for who’s allowed to enter.
I've been following the Icelandic situation very closely for a year now. Here's what I know, and how I'm reading this news:
Facts (using EU for EU, EFTA, etc.):
1. Iceland has been open to
EU citizens for a number of months now, with double testing, quarantine, etc. No need for a special permit or anything. Plenty of tourists, a few of whom I know of personally.
2. Recently Iceland has relaxed the testing and quarantine requirements for
EU citizens with proper documentation of past infection or a certificate of vaccination.
3. For the vax to be accepted for EU pax, it had to be on the list (significantly, Moderna was not included), and
issued in the EU.
Now, yesterday's announcement, the way I read it:
1. #3 above now applies to
everyone, for vaccinations issued
anywhere. Provide proper documentation, and enter without restrictions.
2. Moderna is now acceptable
3. This announcement is clearly (IMO) aimed at Americans and their tourist dollars. The EU tourists have not been coming in numbers anywhere close to what they were hoping for.
4. The big question is regarding the documentation, as the CDC card clearly doesn't qualify based on what we know at this point.
Icelandair has been maintaining a fantastic blog laying out every change in plain English. Of course that's not an official government website, but it's been extremely accurate so far. Here's
their latest update (bold theirs, red mine):
New rules: Iceland's border opens to all vaccinated and previously infected travelers
From March 18, 2021, all travelers - regardless of origin - are welcome to visit Iceland if they can show either:
certificate of full vaccination against COVID
certificate of previous COVID infection
This includes travelers from non-Schengen countries (including from UK, USA, Canada, Asia).
And finally,
the official government announcement:
Exemption from border measures for vaccinated individuals to be extended to non-Schengen countries