Visit Svalbard informs: Tourists from outside of the Nordics are prohibited from travelling to Svalbard until March 26th in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19

Updated: 13.03.2020, 14:31

Because of the current global situation regarding the Corona virus, tourists from outside of the Nordics are prohibited from traveling to Svalbard until March 26 to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The Norwegian government has appealed to Norwegian municipalities, public organisations, businesses and all citizens to take measures to limit the spread of the virus. Schools, universities, day care centres and public offices will be closed, and public and private services will be limited. Therefore, we are appealing to visitors to re-schedule their trip to Svalbard for later in 2020 when things have taken a turn for the better.
Visit Svalbard also believes it is important to continue to protect the citizens of Svalbard from any threat of the virus spreading. We will continue to update this page as matters develop.

We look forward to welcoming you to Svalbard later in the year.

If you're already in Svalbard and have arrived from a country outside of the Nordics:

If you're already in Svalbard and have arrived from a country outside of the Nordics (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) you'll automatically be put into quarantine in your hotel room. We ask you to respect the quarantine, and you'll be continually updated by the hotel staff.

If you already have a plane ticket to travel from Svalbard to the mainland today (friday 13.03.) you'll be able to travel as planned, but you'll be asked to stay in quarantine up until pick up at your hotel.

For guests currrently in quarantine in Svalbard who are not leaving today (friday 13.03.) you'll receive updated information throughout the day as this comes in.

The Norwegian health authorities have implemented strict bans on travel to and inside the country. From Thursday 12 March until Thursday 26 March 2020, the following rules apply:

• Everyone who comes to Norway from outside the Nordic countries should be quarantined, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not. Retroactive from 27 February.

• Domestic transport is to continue as normal as possible for the moment.

• Everyone is strongly encouraged to avoid leisure travel.

• Avoid travel that is not strictly necessary (both domestic and abroad), and avoid public transport if you can.

• Avoid other places where you can easily get close to others.

• Avoid close contact with others.

• For updated information and travel advice, see The Norwegian Institute of Public Health

For Nordic citizens that have booked a trip to Svalbard we want to inform you about the following:

Tourists’ experiences will be largely affected by these measures, as both attractions and museums are closed, and some activities are cancelled.
For updated information about activities please contact the activity provider in question directly.

Tourist information temporarily closed until March 26th, 2020:

Due to the Norwegian Health Authority’s decision to implement strict bans on travel to, and inside the country, we need to close the Tourist Information.
We are available for digital chat on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/svalbard.norway/) and advice through our email info@visitsvalbard.com
Our phone will not be in service throughout this period.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you and will be happy to help you digitally!

Information about AirBNB:

Restrictions and quarantine rules are also in effect for AirBNB guests.

General information:

Due to the coronavirus situation, most attractions, ski resorts, and venues are now closed, and most activities and events are cancelled. Please check the relevant home pages for more information.
If you have questions about the coronavirus (COVID-19) while travelling in Norway, please call the national information telephone at (+47) 815 55 015.
If you are experiencing symptoms like fever, sore throat, chest pain and breathing difficulties, please stay in your hotel room and contact guest service by telephone or call the 24-hour Norwegian medical service at +47 79 02 42 00 for guidance and assistance.

You can also find more information on these pages:

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)

The safety of our guests and employees is a high priority for us and therefore we have introduced measures to prevent the infection of the coronavirus, Covid-19. We follow advice from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI), the World Health Organization (WHO), and local authorities, and will take immediate action if necessary. We encourage everyone who visits our facilities to follow routines to avoid infecting others.

Our employees have been instructed in how they relate to the situation and how to limit infection. We avoid hand-greeting, and avoid situations where you are exposed to sneezing or coughing. The cough and sneeze etikette is as follows:
• Use disposable handkerchiefs when coughing or sneezing and discard immediately after use
• If you do not have a handkerchief available, use your elbow or hands and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Other measures:
• We have increased the use of antibacterial spray.
• We encourage both staff and guests to be extra thorough with hand hygiene:
• Wash your hands in warm water with soap for at least 20 seconds
• Wipe your hands with disposable cloths or paper
• Use alcohol-based hand disinfection when you do not have access to water