Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe, with a population of only 368,792 and an area of 103,000 km2. Two third of Iceland’s population is concentrated in Reykjavík, which is its capital and largest city.
Despite of being one of the Schengen members with greater area, Iceland is among the countries with least visa applications received. It is part of the EEA and the EFTA, but not part of the EU. The country also became a Schengen member in 2001, and since then and on, all world travelers have access to Iceland with only a Schengen visa.
Fun fact about Iceland: Mosquitoes do not exist in Iceland!
Who Needs a Schengen Visa to Enter Iceland?
Whether you need a visa to enter Iceland, it all depends on your nationality. Please note that you will need a visa to Iceland or any other member country of the Schengen zone, if:
- You are the national of a third-world country that has not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states
- You are the national of a third-world country that has signed a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states, but you were previously rejected from entering Iceland or any other Schengen country.
Pay attention to the fact that Schengen visas permit you to stay in Iceland for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. If you need a visa to stay in Iceland for a longer period, apply for an Icelandic National Visa instead.
What Documents Are Required for an Iceland Schengen Visa Application?
You have to meet several criteria to get a Schengen Visa to Iceland. You will need to prove to the Icelandic visa processing authorities in your country of residence that you meet the Iceland visa requirements by submitting the required documents for a Schengen visa to Iceland.
These documents are as following:
- Icelandic visa application form. Download the form, answer to all the questions and print it. Do not forget to sign it at the end.
- Two identical passport photos. Your photos should be taken according to the photograph requirements for Icelandic Schengen visa application; otherwise your application will be rejected.
- Your valid passport. Make sure your passport has been issued within the last 10 years, and has a validity of three more months beyond your planned stay in the Schengen Area. Moreover, it should also have at least two blank pages in order for the Icelandic embassy / consulate to be able to affix the visa.
- Copies of your previous visas (if applicable).
- Iceland Travel Health Insurance. As when traveling to every other Schengen country, you will need to purchase health insurance worth €30,000 minimally, covering medical emergencies in Iceland and the whole Schengen territory.
- Round-trip Flight Itinerary. A document that shows you have a booked flight, to enter and leave Iceland. This document should specify flight numbers, dates, and your details.
- Proof of accommodation. I.e. a hotel reservation in Iceland.
- Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.
- Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Iceland. You must prove that you own an amount of subsistence of around 29€ per each day that you plan to spend in Iceland. You will also need to prove you have at least 145€ per each entry to Iceland, in addition to the per-day-required-amount.
- A cover letter. A personal letter in which you explain why you are applying to visit Iceland, how long you plan to stay, when will you leave and other details.
Additional Icelandic Visa Requirements Based on Your Employment Status
Depending on your current employment status, you are required to submit some additional documents. The Iceland visa requirements based on your occupational status are as follows:
If employed:
- Employment contract
- Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
- Leave permission from the employer
- Income Tax Return (ITR) form or
If self-employed:
- A copy of your business license
- Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
If a student:
- Proof of enrollment
- No-objection certificate from school or university
- Advertisements
If retired:
- Pension statement of the latest 6 months
If applicable:
- Proof of regular income generated by property, for the last 6 months
Additional Icelandic Visa Requirements for Minors
All minors applying to get a short-stay visa to Iceland, or parents applying for their minor child to get a visa, will need to complete the following additional Icelandic Visa Requirements in their application file:
- Birth certificate of the minor traveling to Iceland.
- Iceland application form signed by both parents.
- Family court order. In cases where only one parent has full custody over the child.
- Certified copies of ID / passport of both parents
- If the minor will be travelling alone with another person:
- An original and copy of the accompanying person’s passport page containing the holder’s data, and expiry date, a recent photograph and valid visa copy.
- A notarized parental authorization to travel to Iceland, signed by both parents / guardians
*Note: When applying at the Icelandic embassy/consulate in home country, the guardian or parent should accompany their under-age children.
Additional Requirements Based on the Purpose of Entry to Iceland
According to your purpose of entry to Iceland, you will need to provide some additional documents, to support your application. Following find the additional Iceland visa requirements based on your purpose of traveling to Iceland.
Iceland Airport Transit Visa Requirements
If you are traveling to a non-EU/EEA country, but your plane has to land at one of the Iceland airports, then you may need an Iceland Airport Transit Visa.
Not all nationals of countries under the Schengen visa regime need an Iceland Airport Transit Visa. Actually, the nationals of very few of these countries do. Check the list of the nationals that need an Iceland Airport Transit Visa, to find out if you need to apply for one.
When applying to obtain an Iceland Airport Transit visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
- A valid visa (if needed) for the final country one is travelling to.
- The flight ticket for the final country you are travelling to.
Iceland Transit Visa Requirements
If you need to disembark at one of the Iceland harbors to take another vessel to your destination country, or you are a crewmember of a ship, then you will have to apply for an Iceland Transit Visa.
When applying to obtain an Iceland Transit visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
- A valid visa (if required) for the final country you are travelling to.
- The ticket for the final country you are travelling to.
- Original and photocopy of Seaman’s book (required only for seafarers).
- Letter from the inviting Shipping Company. Issued by the inviting Shipping Company in the Schengen country in which the seafarer will disembark (required only for seafarers).
- Employment contract. Contract with the navigation company/ship in order to board the ship (required only for seafarers).
Required Documents for an Iceland Visitor Visa
When applying for a visa to visit family members and/or friends in Iceland, you should submit:
- Proof of invitation by the relative/friend residing in Iceland, inviting you to visit.
- Invitation letter from your host in Iceland with a copy of their passport and/or residence permit for Iceland.
Iceland Business Visa Requirements
The Iceland Business Visa is the visa type you need to apply for if you intend to visit Iceland under the purpose of engaging in business activities, e.g. a conference, negotiation or exploratory business visit.
When applying to obtain an Icelandic Business visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
- Invitation letter from the Icelandic company you will be visiting and their detailed address accompanied with the dates of your visit.
- A letter from your employer. In this letter should be stated why you will be traveling to Iceland.
- An outline of your itinerary. It should include the purpose of visit, names and addresses of the companies he/she intends to visit, period & place of intended stay, statement about who covers the costs of the trip.
Iceland Study Visa Requirements
If you plan to attend a study course, a training or internship in Iceland as a student, and you are the national of a country under the Schengen visa regime, then you will have to apply for an Iceland Study Visa.
When applying to get an Icelandic Student visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
- No objection letter from the educational institution where you are currently enrolled (if applicable).
- Internship agreement. Signed between the company in Iceland, the establishment of origin and the trainee.
Iceland Medical Visa Requirements
In case you are planning to travel to Iceland to receive medical treatment at an Iceland hospital or clinic, which treatment may last up to 90 days, then you should apply for an Iceland Medical Visa.
When applying to get a visa to receive medical care in Iceland, you must provide the following additional documents:
- A local medical report. Issued from a doctor / clinic / hospital in your home country, confirming that you need medical treatment in Iceland.
- A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in Iceland, confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation. It should also confirm that the hospital can perform the specific medical treatment and that you will be accepted accordingly.
- Proof of financial arrangement made.
- Official confirmation of the treatment/appointment by the receiving medical institution (hospital/clinic) in
Iceland Visa for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes Requirements
If you a member or a film crew traveling to Iceland for movie scene shooting, or you wish to attend a cultural / sports / religious event, then you will have to apply for a short-term Iceland Visa for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes
When applying to get an Icelandic visa under the purpose of attending a Cultural / Sports / Religious Event in Iceland you must provide the following additional documents:
- Event Information. As:
- Invitation letter from the relevant body in Iceland with details upon the nature of events or activities that are to be held in Iceland.
- Entry tickets to the event.
- Enrollment conditions.
- Detailed program of the event in Iceland.
- Other documents that present Names of the applicants (crewmembers) and other relevant information about the event.
- Proof of previous performances. Participation in previous festivals and ceremonies (cultural, religious), sports competitions, winners certificates, proof of world/international ranking (sports).
Iceland Visa Requirements for the Wife/Husband of an Icelandic Citizen
If your spouse (husband or wife) is an Icelandic national, and you wish to visit Iceland for a short-stay, then you can apply for an Iceland Visa for the Wife/Husband of an Icelandic Citizen.
When applying to get an Icelandic visa as the spouse of an Icelandic national/citizen, you must provide the following additional documents:
- Proof of Icelandic citizenship (ID card or consular card or certification of Icelandic nationality or naturalization order).
- Icelandic marriage certificate.
- Icelandic family record book.
Icelandic Visa for Members of Official Delegations Requirements
You will need to hold an Icelandic Visa for Official Visits when traveling to Iceland as a member of official delegations who, following an official invitation, participate in meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange programs, as well as events held in the Iceland by intergovernmental organizations.
When applying to get an Icelandic visa as a member of an official delegation, you must provide the following additional documents:
- The official invitation copy.
- Evidence about the purpose of journey (negotiations, meetings, event by intergovernmental organizations, consultations).
How to Apply for an Icelandic Short-Stay Visa?
The exact steps to complete an Icelandic short-stay visa application are as follows:
- Choose the right visa type you need to enter Iceland according to your purpose of visit.
- Check where you need to file your application.
- Fulfill the application form for an Icelandic short-stay visa.
- Gather the Iceland visa requirements.
- Make a visa appointment.
- Attend the interview.
- Wait for the procession of your application.
Where to Apply for an Icelandic Short-Stay Visa?
Different Icelandic authorities around the world issue short-stay visas to the island country. Therefore, depending on how Iceland has regulated visa submission in your country of residence, you may have to apply at one of the following Iceland diplomatic bodies:
- The Icelandic Embassy
- An Icelandic consulate
- A Visa Application Center to which Iceland has outsourced visa submission
- The Embassy / Consulate of another Schengen country to which Iceland has outsourced visa submission
Who Can Apply for a Schengen Visa at the Icelandic Embassy / Consulate / VAC?
If you are planning to visit solely Iceland, and no other Schengen member country, then file your Schengen visa at the appropriate Icelandic body in your country of residence.
In the other case, if you are planning to visit other Schengen countries as well, submit your short-stay visa application at an Icelandic Embassy / Consulate / VAC, one of the following statements must correspond to your situation:
- You will be spending more days in Iceland, than in the other countries.
- You will be spending an equal amount of days in each country, but you will enter the Schengen Zone through Iceland.
Moreover, you will be permitted to file an Iceland short-stay visa application at an Icelandic Embassy / Consulate / VAC only if you are:
- A citizen of the country from where you are applying.
- A foreign citizen on a permanent / temporary residence permit in the country from where you are applying.
You cannot apply for a short-stay Icelandic visa from a country in which you are currently on a visa.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Icelandic Visa?
The processing time for an Iceland short-stay visa may take up to 15 days. This period may be extended up to 30 days in special cases or even up to 60 days in exceptional cases, when the Icelandic consulate may have to consult with other Schengen consulates, or when another country is representing Iceland on visa issuance.
To make sure you get your Icelandic short-stay visa on time, submit your application as soon as possible, though no earlier than three months prior to your trip to Iceland.
How Much Does It Cost to Apply for an Icelandic Visa?
An Icelandic Schengen Visa fee is €80 for adults and €40 for children under the age of 12. Moreover, according to applicant’s nationality, purpose of visit and some other factors, there are some categories of applicants exempt from paying the fee, and others that need to pay a lower amount as well.
Check the list of the Icelandic Schengen Visa fees, to see if you belong to any of these categories!
How Long Can We Stay in Iceland Without a Visa?
If you are the national of a visa-exempt country, you can enter Iceland and stay there up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Still, if you wish to remain there longer, you will need to undertake some actions, according to your nationality, as explained below:
- Nationals of EU / EEA member have to register at the relevant Icelandic authorities.
- Nationals of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of South Korea, the United States of America need to obtain a residence permit at the relevant Icelandic authorities, within three months of arrival in Iceland.
- Nationals of the rest of the Iceland visa-exempt countries will have to apply for an Iceland National visa for long-stays from their country of residence.
Whereas, the nationals of countries that still have not signed a visa-free agreement with Iceland and the other Schengen members, must obtain a visa before heading to Iceland, or any other Schengen member country.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand the 90/180 Schengen Visa Rule. Avoid breaking this guideline because remaining too long in the Schengen area may result in penalties.
Can I Extend My Schengen Visa in Iceland?
Yes, you can extend your Icelandic Schengen visa and submit it to the Directorate of Immigration, but only in exceptional cases where new facts and special reasons arise after entry in Iceland, as i.e. humanitarian reasons or force majeure.
Please read How to Extend a Schengen Visa in Iceland to understand in what circumstances and under what conditions you can extend your Icelandic Schengen Visa.
Can My Icelandic Schengen Visa Be Revoked?
Yes, your Iceland visa can be revoked in case the competent Icelandic authorities conclude that:
- You have given wrong or misleading information in your application.
- The conditions for issuing the visa are no longer met.
Please note that failure of the visa holder to provide the border officer with the entry requirements may also lead to a decision to annul or revoke the visa, though not automatically.
