General Updates
Iceland
Effective 1 January 2023, the following changes have been made to the processing fees of the Directorate of Immigration:
- The fee for an application for Icelandic citizenship increased from 25,000 to 27,000 ISK.
- The fee for notification of Icelandic citizenship increased from 12,500 to 13,500 ISK.
- The fee for an application for a residence permit, renewal of a residence permit and provisional residence permit increased from 15,000 to 16,000 ISK.
- The fee for expedited processing of applications for residence permits on the basis of employment increased from 45,000 to 48,000 ISK
- The fee for the re-issuance of a residence permit increased from 7500 to 8000 ISK.
- The fee for the reissue of residence cards for family members of EEA/EFTA nationals who are not EEA or EFTA citizens rose from 4500 to 4800 ISK.
COVID-19 Updates
European Union
- On 4 January 2023, the Member States of the EU agreed on a coordinated precautionary approach in the light of COVID-19 developments in China.
- The Member States agree to recommend to all passengers on flights to and from China to wear a medical mask, or FFP2/N95/KN95 respirators.
- The Member States agree to issue advice to incoming and outgoing international travellers coming from or destined for China, as well as to aircraft and airport personnel, regarding personal hygiene and health measures.
- The Member States are strongly encouraged to introduce, for all passengers departing from China to Member States, the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test taken not more than 48 hours prior to departure from China.
- The Member States are encouraged to complement these measures with:
- Random testing of passengers arriving from China on arrival in the Member States, as appropriate, and the sequencing of all positive results to strengthen surveillance of the epidemiological situation.
- Testing and sequencing of wastewater from airports with international flights and aircraft arriving from China.
- Continuing to promote vaccine sharing and the uptake of vaccines, including booster doses, particularly among vulnerable groups.
France
- Effective 1 January 2023, all air passengers from China aged six years or older must wear a mask.
- Effective 5 January 2023, any passenger aged eleven or over, coming from China by direct flight or with a stopover, must present to the air transport company before boarding:
- the negative result of an antigen or PCR test carried out less than 48 hours before boarding;
- a declaration of honour attesting the traveller:
- has no symptoms of COVID-19 infection;
- is not aware of having been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the fourteen days preceding the flight;
- undertakes to undergo an antigen test or a possible biological examination on arrival;
- undertakes to remain reachable for no more than 15 days after arrival in France and, if the result of a virological screening biological examination carried out on arrival in France concludes that there is a COVID-19 infection, to respect an isolation of seven days after arrival in France and, if aged eleven years or older, to carry out another test at the end of this period.
Germany
- The German government has announced that travellers from China will require at least a rapid antigen test to enter Germany. Random entry checks will also be carried out on entry.
Italy
- Effective 28 December 2022, travellers arriving from China must undergo a COVID-19 antigen test on arrival. In the event of a positive result, they must undergo a PCR test and quarantine until a negative result is obtained.
Spain
- Effective 31 December 2022, travellers arriving from China are required to undergo a diagnostic COVID-19 test at the port of entry.
- Effective 3 January 2022, all travellers arriving from China must hold an EU Digital COVID Certificate or equivalent.
- In the case of vaccination certificates, the vaccination guidelines established in the Vaccination Strategy against COVID-19 in Spain will be accepted.
- In the case of a negative diagnostic test certificate, the molecular nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) will be accepted, whose sample has been obtained within 72 hours prior to departure; and the antigen detection tests included in the common list of rapid antigen detection tests for COVID-19, agreed by the European Union Health Security Committee, whose sample has been obtained within 24 hours prior to departure.
- In the case of a recovery certificate, those issued by the competent authority or by a medical service at least 11 days after the first NAAT diagnostic test or antigen detection test with a positive result, carried out by health professionals or qualified personnel. The certificate will be valid for 180 days after the date of the first positive diagnostic test result.
- Finally, if they do not have an EU Digital COVID Certificate or equivalent, passengers must have a diagnostic test certificate of active COVID-19 infection with a negative result, such as those referred to above.
United Kingdom
- Effective 5 January 2023:
- Passengers arriving from China to England from 5 January 2023 will need to show a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test taken no more than 2 days prior to departure.
- In addition, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is launching surveillance from Sunday 8 January which will see a sample of passengers arriving in England from mainland China tested for COVID-19 at the point of their arrival.
