If you are a citizen of the United States, Canada, or any of the countries in the European Union, you do not need a visa to enter Iceland. However, all visitors to Iceland must have a valid passport.

Iceland is part of the Schengen Area, which means that once you have entered the country, you can travel freely throughout the Schengen Area without having to go through border control again. The Schengen Area includes 26 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway Poland Portugal Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland.

If you are planning to stay in Iceland for longer than 90 days or if you are not a citizen of one of the aforementioned countries), you will need to apply for a tourist visa from the Icelandic embassy or consulate nearest to you. The application process is relatively straightforward and typically takes about two weeks. We will base our discussion today on – Do I Need A Visa For Iceland. But, other resources which you can find on our website include some frequently asked questions such as: who needs visa for iceland and iceland visa requirements for indian citizens

Do I Need A Visa For Iceland

You’ve probably heard of Iceland’s stunning natural beauty. With its snow-capped mountains, pristine waterfalls, and otherworldly landscapes, it’s no wonder that this Nordic country is a popular tourist destination. But what you may not know is that Iceland is also a great place to live and work. If you’re thinking about relocating to Iceland, you may be wondering about the visa process. Do you need a visa to live and work in Iceland? The answer is: it depends. In this blog post, we’ll go over the different types of visas available for Iceland and when you need to apply for one. Read on to learn more.

Overview of Iceland’s visa requirements

All travelers to Iceland must have a valid passport. Visitors from the United States, Canada, Australia, and most European countries do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

Iceland is part of the Schengen Area, which means that visitors from Schengen countries do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Schengen countries include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland.

Citizens of some non-Schengen countries (Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Romania) also do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

Other nationals not mentioned above are advised to check with their nearest Icelandic embassy or consulate to inquire about visa requirements.

How to apply for a visa

Assuming you are not a citizen of Iceland, you will need a visa to enter the country. The type of visa you will need depends on the purpose and duration of your trip.

If you are planning to stay in Iceland for less than 90 days, you will need a Schengen Visa. This type of visa allows free movement between all countries in the Schengen Area, of which Iceland is a member.

To apply for a Schengen Visa, you must submit the following documents to your nearest Icelandic embassy or consulate:
-A completed application form
-Your passport or travel document, valid for at least 3 months after your planned return from Iceland
-Two photographs taken within the last 6 months that meet the requirements specified by the embassy or consulate
-Proof of travel insurance that meets the requirements specified by the embassy or consulate
-A confirmation of accommodation for your stay in Iceland, such as a hotel reservation or rental agreement
-Evidence of sufficient financial means for your stay in Iceland, such as bank statements or payslips
-Other documents as specified by the embassy or consulate, such as a letter of invitation from someone in Iceland

What type of visa do I need?

There are a few different types of visas that you could need in order to visit Iceland, depending on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. If you’re a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, or Liechtenstein, you won’t need a visa at all to enter Iceland – just a valid passport. For everyone else, it depends.

If you’re just planning on staying in Iceland for up to 90 days for tourism purposes, then you’ll need to apply for a Schengen Area Short-Stay Visa. This type of visa allows you to travel freely throughout the Schengen Area – which includes Iceland – for up to 90 days within any 180 day period. You can apply for this type of visa through your nearest Icelandic embassy or consulate.

If you’re planning on staying in Iceland for longer than 90 days, or if your purpose for visiting is something other than tourism (like study or work), then you’ll need to apply for a different type of visa through the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration. More information on that can be found on their website.

When to apply for a visa

If you are a citizen of the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, you do not need a visa to enter Iceland. However, you will need a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date from Iceland.

Citizens of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need a visa to enter Iceland. However, they will need a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond their planned departure date from Iceland.

All other visitors to Iceland must have a valid passport and a visa. The type of visa required depends on the purpose of your visit and your country of citizenship.

The general rule is that you should apply for a visa at least three weeks before your planned trip to Iceland. However, please note that processing times may vary depending on your country of citizenship and the embassy or consulate where you submit your application.

Exceptions to the visa requirements

There are a few circumstances in which you do not need a visa to enter Iceland, even if you are coming from a country that is typically required to have one. These exceptions include:

-If you are coming to Iceland for less than 90 days and your sole purpose is tourism or business
-If you are coming to Iceland as part of an official government delegation
-If you are coming to study in Iceland for less than three months
-If you are employed by a foreign company but working in Iceland for less than three months
-If you are a member of the armed forces of a NATO country

No, you do not need a visa to visit Iceland. All you need is a valid passport and you can stay in the country for up to 90 days. If you plan on staying longer than that, you will need to apply for a residence permit. But other than that, there are no special requirements or restrictions for visitors from most countries. So pack your bags and enjoy your trip!

Do I Need A Visa For Iceland

Schengen Visa for Iceland

Iceland is a member of the Schengen cooperation which exempts travelers from border controls travelling between 26 EU and EFTA states (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland). A uniform Schengen visa issued by one of the Schengen states is valid for travel within the whole Schengen area. Schengen visa should be applied for at an Embassy representing the state where the main destination is within the Schengen area.

All persons requiring visas, must apply for a visa at the applicable embassy/consulate before travelling to the Schengen area. See a list of embassies/consulates which handle applications for Iceland.

The validity of a uniform Schengen visa is up to 90 days.

Who needs a visa to travel to Iceland?

For a list of who needs a visa to travel to Iceland, visit the website of the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration.

How to apply for a visa to Iceland

The Icelandic Embassy in London has authorized VFS Global to run the Icelandic Visa Application Centres in the UK. Applicants should hand in their applications at the VFS visa application centres. See detailed information on how to apply for a visa to Iceland.

Transit visa

The citizens of the following countries need a transit visa when passing through an airport in Iceland*:

• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• The People’s Republic of Congo
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Iran
• Iraq
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Somalia
• Sri Lanka

* This does not apply if the above-mentioned citizens have a residence permit in a Schengen country or if they have “Leave to remain in the United Kingdom for an indefinite period” or “Certificate of entitlement to the right of abode”, and the permits are valid three months longer than the intended transiting through an airport in Iceland.

All travellers

There are no COVID-19 related travel restrictions for Iceland.

If you’re fully vaccinated

Entry requirements for Iceland are the same for all travellers, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

Proof of vaccination status

You don’t need to provide proof of your vaccination status for entry to Iceland.

If you’re not fully vaccinated

Entry requirements for Iceland are the same for all travellers, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

If you’ve had COVID-19 in the past year

Entry requirements for Iceland are the same for all travellers, regardless of your COVID-19 recovery status.

Children and young people

There are no specific entry requirements for children and young people.

If you’re transiting through Iceland

Transiting is when you pass through one country on the way to your final destination.

Check with your airline before departing.

Exemptions

There are no exemptions to Iceland’s entry requirements.

Check your passport and travel documents before you travel

Passport validity

If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements.

Your passport must be:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

Contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

Visas

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training.

If you are travelling to Iceland and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days

To stay longer, to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons, you will need to meet the Icelandic entry requirements. Check with the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration what type of visa and/or work permit you may need.

If you are travelling to Iceland for work, read the guidance on visas and permits.

If you stay in Iceland with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

Passport stamping

Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through Iceland as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.

You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets.

You may also need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• show you have enough money for your stay

If you are resident in Iceland, read our Living in Iceland guide for passport stamping information.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

UK Emergency Travel Documents are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Iceland.

Check with your travel provider to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.