By
If you’re a citizen of one of the countries that need a visa to visit Iceland, the process might seem a little overwhelming at first. Rest assured, though, the Iceland Visa requirements are easier than you think. In this article, we make sense of the legal jargon and provide a clear picture of the most crucial part of your journey to the land of fire and ice.
Visa Requirements and the Schengen Area
Traveling around Europe is as easy as pie if you stay in the Schengen area. This is an area of 29 countries that have agreed to keep borders open between them, eliminating the need for border controls and allowing free movement. Since Iceland is an island, you can’t hop on Ring Road 1 and drive to mainland Europe, but the Schengen treaty applies to all points of entry to the member countries.
So, is Iceland in Schengen? Yes! Iceland has been a member of the Schengen treaty since 2001, which means that the Iceland travel requirements are non-existent for those with the right to stay in or visit a Schengen country. This is important since it will play a central role in the rest of the article.
Types of Visas for Iceland
Unless you have an Icelandic passport or come from a country that has visa-free travel to Iceland, you will need to apply for a visa. Most Icelandic visitors come to stay for tourism. Still, some might come for other reasons, which may prompt a different approach. Below, are the most common visas for traveling to Iceland and how they differ.
Tourist Visa
If you want to visit Iceland as a tourist, you’ll have to apply for a Schengen Visa. You will have to do so at the embassy of the country that will be your main stay – which will likely be Iceland for most of our readers.
This visa is valid for up to a 90-day stay within a period of 180 days. If you want to come and go multiple times, you can apply for a double- or multi-entry Schengen visa, but the Iceland visa requirements for these are a little different.
Business Visa
One great aspect of the Iceland visa requirements is that the Schengen visa applies to both business and tourism, you just need to check another box on the application form. It’s classified as a “short stay” visa that allows the holder to do tourism, conduct business, and/or studies for up to 90 days. This does not, however, allow the holder to work in Iceland. That is a different category with a different process, even if the holder intends to work for 90 days or less.
Student Visa
Being a student for a short period in Iceland will only require a Schengen Visa, just like stated earlier.
If you want to study for longer than 90 days, a student visa would allow you to study in Iceland as well as work for up to 15 hours a week without a work permit. To get this visa, you also need to get a residency permit at the Directorate of Immigration in Reykjavik.
Family Visit Visa
When visiting family, the Iceland visa requirements in Iceland can be easier to get and put less stress on you as an applicant. You will, once again, have to apply for a Schengen Visa, but it’s an easier process. Your family member in Iceland must fill in an “invitation form” to ensure that your main intent is to visit them. This doesn’t change the terms of the Schengen visa; it just clarifies the intent of your visit.
Work Visa
Now, this is a little trickier than the other visas. To work and live in Iceland, the process is slightly more complicated, but not necessarily harder. You will have to send your application to the Directorate of Immigration which in turn will send it to the Directorate of Labor since both departments need to make a judgment on your case. But do you need a passport to visit Iceland for work? Yes, to live and work in Iceland still requires you to have your passport with you, even if it is your new country of residence.
Standard Visa Requirements
The most basics of the basics when it comes to Iceland Visa requirements is that you must have:
- a valid passport that’s not older than 10 years and valid for at least three months after your stay
- a passport photo that is 35 x 45 mm
- a valid reason to visit
- something that shows your intent to leave at the end of your visa (round ticket, money to buy a return ticket, proof of employment in country of residence, proof of real estate or property, proof of family ties or similar)
- the means to stay for the period you’re applying for (roughly EUR 145 per entry and EUR 30 per day)
- travel insurance policy that covers at least EUR 30,000
- the right visa application form (or forms, depending on the type of visa)
- a clean criminal record with regards to Icelandic law (meaning if you have been in prison for something that would be punishable by prison for more than three months in Iceland, it will reflect negatively on your application)
If you have been abroad and had to take care of these things yourself, none of it will come as a surprise to you. If you’re new in the traveling world, it might seem a little overwhelming, but it’s standard practice and not overly complicated in real life.
According to Iceland visa requirements you must also give biometric data (a fancy word for fingerprints) and hand in that little passport photo with your application. These are important and in line with the Iceland entry requirements since the information you give along with your application will be matched with what you provide at the border.
Specific Requirements Based on Visa
Depending on your visa type, you will have to meet further requirements. Having your passport in Iceland with the right visa is crucial to your current and future visits, so stay tuned.
Tourism Visa
On top of the standard Iceland Visa requirements, you will also have to provide an itinerary for your stay along with proof of accommodation. The itinerary can be a rough draft and doesn’t have to be followed to the tee, it’s more there to ensure that you have a plan for your stay. The proof can be from any of the accommodation options in Iceland like camping spot reservations, hotel bookings, or a confirmation from whomever you’re staying with.
Business Visa
If you travel in business, you’ll have to add a confirmation letter or copy of an invitation letter from the company you’re doing business with. If you’re coming for a conference, an invitation letter from the host or a booking confirmation from the organizer will work well.
Student Visa
If you’re coming for a seminar or conference as a student, the same thing applies as with the business visa. If you come to study courses, proof of enrollment will be needed from the applicable institution.
Work Visa
For work visas, you must fit into one of four categories:
- Special Skills
- Shortage of employees in the industry
- Athlete employed by a sports club under the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland
- Specialist knowledge/special skills in the industry
For all of these, you must be 18 years or older and be given a permit to work in a specific role for a specific company.
Where to Apply for a Visa to Iceland
When you’ve made your plan and are ready to apply, you must contact the Icelandic Embassy in your country of residency. Since Iceland is a small country, they can’t have an embassy in every country in the world, so they will often appoint one of their Nordic country friends to deal with this instead. Often, this will be the Danish Embassy, but it could be the Swedish or Norwegian Embassy too. You can check this out on the Icelandic government’s website.
When to Apply for a Visa to Iceland
When you apply for your visa, you must apply between 15 days and 6 months from the start of your visit. If you apply earlier or later than that period, your application will likely be rejected on that technicality. If you have a very specific reason and keep an open and honest dialogue with the processing facilities, you might be allowed to apply later than 15 days before your visit, but don’t count on it.
If you, by any chance, happen to be employed on a ship going around the world, you can apply up to 9 months before your stay.
Make an Appointment for a Visa to Iceland
Having all the documents to fulfill the Iceland visa requirements is great, but they won’t do much good in a neat folder on your desk. Make an appointment at the applicable office (embassy or representative) and follow the instructions they provide in your booking. Iceland Visa for US Citizens, for example, can apply at an Icelandic embassy, while many others will have to make appointments at embassies of representative states.
Always make sure to get there well before your time slot to ensure that you don’t miss it. Many places can be fully booked in periods, and you don’t want to miss your opportunity to see Iceland because of tardiness.
Fees and Processing Time
Do you need a visa for Iceland? Yes, and you also need to pay for it. Luckily, the fee is a not-out-of-this-world EUR 80 if you’re an adult, EUR 40 for kids between 6 and 12 years old, and free for kids under 6. The fee is applied to each individual visa.
Once you’ve gone through the process, left fingerprints, provided photos, and paid the fee, you won’t have to wait longer than a few weeks for your response. The normal processing time varies between 15 and 30 days but could take as long as 60 days under extraordinary circumstances.
Tracking Application
When you’ve handed in the application and met all the Iceland Visa requirements, you can track the application with whoever handles the application. Iceland has authorized VFS to deal with their applications in most countries, and you can track how the application goes via their website. All you need is the code you received from the application center and an internet connection.
Post-Application Process
When all is said and done, you will either receive a granted visa or a refusal. If the visa is granted: good for you! Enjoy the holiday. If it’s rejected, you can either re-apply for a new visa or appeal the decision within 15 days of receiving the refusal.
A refusal will always come with a reason, so if you choose to appeal the decision, you should do so with supporting documentation as a response to the refusal reason(s). Appealing a decision must be done with the representative who refused it, so if you applied at a Danish Embassy, you must also appeal at the same embassy. Iceland will unfortunately not meddle with the decisions made by their representatives in the matter.
ETIAS in Iceland – Upcoming changes
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will come into effect in 2025. This will make applying for a visa and traveling way easier since it will be an online application form that will cost only EUR 7 and be processed within minutes. You will need to submit the same documentation as with the traditional Schengen Visa, but you won’t have to make appointments and the visa fee will be a fraction of what it is now.
If you fulfill the Iceland Visa requirements, ETIAS will allow you to visit Iceland for 90 days within a 180-day period. But it will be eligible for 3 years and you won’t have to re-apply every time you visit. The Iceland passport requirements mentioned earlier under “standard visa requirements” apply to the ETIAS process too.
FAQs
Below, you will find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Iceland’s visa requirements:
Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Iceland?
No, US citizens will get a visa on arrival that will allow them to enter Iceland for holiday or business purposes. But please note that the latter does not refer to local employment).
Can I Work in Iceland with a Tourist Visa?
No, a tourist visa falls under a short-stay visa, which does not allow you to work in Iceland as an employee. A Tourist visa gives you entry to either visit family and friends, travel around the island on a holiday, or attend business meetings, etc. for your job back home.
How Long Does it Take to Process an Iceland Visa?
Processing times will vary based on the visa you’re applying for, but it normally takes up to 15 days for a tourist visa to Iceland. If an application requires further examination or further documentation is needed, it can take between 45 to 60 days. Most recommend applying at least 180 days before your departure date (it’s always better to be safe than sorry).
What Should I Do if My Visa Application is Rejected?
This process can vary slightly depending on which type of visa you applied for, but when it comes to a tourist visa application, you can appeal the decision. This appeal needs to be directed to the Icelandic Immigration Appeals Board and must be submitted within 15 days from the date that you received the rejection letter. Otherwise, you will have to reapply and start the process all over again.
Will ETIAS Completely Replace the Schengen Visa?
No, ETIAS is merely a travel authorization system that will aid in pre-screening processes for the short-term stays of those who already come from visa-exempt countries. ETIAS will not make much of a difference to those from a country where they currently have to apply for a Schengen Visa.
Get Your Iceland Visa and Start Your Adventure
Congratulations! You have made it through the article and are now armed with all the knowledge you need to visit or stay in Iceland; whichever way you choose. When you’ve been granted a visa, it’s time to explore the country, so make sure to rent a car in Reykjavik and see all the wonders this island has to offer!
