Denmark extends temporary requirement for COVID-19 testing prior to entry
The current travel restrictions have been extended through 31 January. All persons who are not resident in Denmark must take a COVID-19 test prior to entry into Denmark. Entrants who are resident in Denmark must take a test no later than 24 hours after entry.
The current travel restrictions have been preliminarily extended through 31 January. Since 27 December 2021, there has been a general requirement that all persons entering Denmark must have been tested with a PCR test (72 hours prior to entry) or a rapid test (48 hours prior to entry). The requirement also applies for vaccinated persons but not for previously infected people. However, persons resident in Denmark may choose between taking a test abroad before departure to Denmark or taking a test up to 24 hours after entry. Exemptions also apply for certain groups of people, e.g. children, people resident in the border regions, entrants from Sweden in transit from Bornholm who did not stop while in Sweden, entrants for the purpose of freight transport and persons in transit through Denmark who will be departing the country within 24 hours of entry (e.g. Swedish air passengers using Denmark as a hub). See all of the exemptions Questions and answers regarding entry into Denmark (coronasmitte.dk)
Violation of the requirements is punishable by a fine of DKK 3,500 for first-time offences.
The purpose of the test requirements is to prevent the arrival of new transmission chains via travellers in the coming period of time, during which the spread of infection with the Omicron variant is expected to increase globally. When infection rises globally, the risk of importing additional transmission chains to Denmark from abroad increases. Furthermore, testing travel-lers before boarding can reduce the risk of infection on board aircraft. The recommendation of SSI for testing of all entrants regardless of vaccination status is based on studies which have shown that the first and second vaccine shots provide significantly less protection against the Omicron variant than against previous variants.
The test requirements will preliminarily remain in force until 12:00 a.m. on 1 February 2022.