Iceland, aka the island of fire and ice, is one of the most visited tourist sights in the world. Located in the far northwest of Europe, the country can be distinguished easily for its unique nature. You can find some part of the island freezing while another part enjoys the heat from volcanos, hot springs, etc. It is considered the cleanest country in Europe, thanks to the clean geothermal energy generated from springs. Surrounded by the ocean, tourists can witness the bustling oceanic life. Spectating whales has become the favorite activity of tourists.
For this article, we will talk about technical procedures regarding the Iceland visa policy. There can be questions like how to apply for Iceland visa? how to get Iceland visa? What are Iceland visa requirements? How much is Iceland visa fee? , etc. Do not worry, and we will cover all of them.
Iceland visa policy
Iceland visa policy can vary based on the relation with a particular country. We can put countries into two groups based on the visa status of Iceland. They are:
1. Visa-free countries: EU countries, Australia, Antiga and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Uruguay, Vanuatu. The nationals of these countries can visit the country without holding any visa
2. Visa required countries: Rest of the world countries.
Based on your nationality, you might need to apply for Iceland visa. However, what types of visas are there? To answer that, we can divide visas for Iceland into 3 major groups:
1. Short-stay visas (Schengen visas). It is comprised of Iceland tourist visa, Busines/Congress/Trade fair visit visa, Cultural, Scientific, Sports Events Visa and Visiting Family and Friends Visa
2. Long-stay visas (National visas): Iceland work visa, Iceland student visa, Family reunion visa, Self-employment visa, and Au pair visa.
3. Airport transit visa is the visa for those who travel to a third country by entering the national borders of Iceland.
Iceland visa policy dictates that to get a visa for Iceland, one should meet Iceland visa requirements and apply to the nearest embassy. Note that in some countries you will need to visit other countries' embassies. You can check it on the website of Directorate of immigration. We advise you to check the Iceland visa fee there too.
Iceland short-stay visas and requirements
These visas are designed for short stays of up to 90 days. Depending on the type of visa, additional requirements can be set, but most remain the same. If you do not know how to get Iceland visa you have to present the following documents:
- Iceland visa application form – this is the same application that you fill for the Schengen visa
- Two photos – should meet the requirements of passport format and it should include the full face. The background should be white or light-colored. Head coverage should not exceed 70-80% of the photo. The photo should cover your eyes. The person must show no facial expression. The Colour of the clothes is recommended to be different from the background (ideally a uniform)
- Passport– Your passport should have a validity of a minimum of three months after the date of returning. It should contain two pages that are not used
- Photocopies – Applicant should duplicate the main page and copies of previous Schengen visas if he travelled to Schengen before
- If the country you reside in and your citizenship is different, you should present a passport copy. If not, then a resident permit and national ID should be submitted. Bear in mind that your documents should be valid at least 3 months after the date of your travel
- Ticket booking – Dates of entry and leaving Schengen area should be shown
- Insurance for the travel – Minimum coverage of insurance should not be less than 30 000 euro
- The document that proves your accommodation for the travel – If you are going to stay in a hotel, it should be a hotel reservation. If you rent a house, a tenancy agreement should be presented
- A document for identifying the civil status of the applicant – a document that shows your marital status, birth certificate of your children, death certificate of your spouse
- Financial prove that you have enough financial means during your stay in Iceland. Bank statement proving that the applicant can spend 28.83€ euros for a day during his/her stay in Iceland
- A document that shows your professional status can be a school certificate, employment contract, pension contract, or anything that shows you receive the pension
- If a minor travel unaccompanied, he or she will need to present a letter that shows his/her parents or family guardians' consent. If his/her family accompanies a minor, then his birth certificate or travel authorization provided and signed by the holder(s)
One should meet the predefined requirements (above) to get Iceland tourist visa. Iceland visa fee for Schengen visas is 80 euros for adults. Child between 6-12 years of age, it is 40 euros and free for those younger than 6. For Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine, the visa fee reduced to 35 euros. Processing time, on the other hand, varies from 5 to 30 days.
Iceland long-stay visas and requirements
Long-stay visas or national visas are visas that enable people to spend more than 90 days in Iceland. They are Iceland work visa, Iceland student visa, Family reunion visa, Self-employment visa, and Au pair visa. The followings are asked to be presented to get the visa:
Proof of fee is paid.
Iceland visa application form for a long-stay visa.
- Copies of passport. It should remain valid for a minimum of 3 months after your arrival.. Copies should depict a personal information page that demonstrates the applicant's signature, visas, and stamps
- The size of the passports photo should be (35mmX45mm) and it should not be older than 6 months
- Documents indicating the nature of the travel. They can be an invitation from a host, a document that confirms stay in an artist residency, documents provided by a court, or a written statement that indicates the purpose of the travel and stay.
- Financial proof that you have enough financial means during your stay in the country. Confirmation of health insurance for the duration of the stay.
- Financial proof that the applicant can afford his return ticket.
In some cases, the Directorate of Immigration can ask you to present your criminal record.
There can be additional documents that can be asked based on your visa type preference. For the student visa, the applicant should meet the followings requirements as well:
A document proving that the applicant got admitted by a university in Iceland
- Letter of admission provided by the university
- Must show language of planned education
- The start and completion date should be indicated
Proof for language efficiency
- If the study is carried out in English, IELTS, or TOEFL
- If the main language for the study is Icelandic, the official language certificate proving proficiency in Icelandic
To get more specific information on requirements for each national visa type we advise you to check the official website of The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration.
To enhance your chance of getting admitted, you can use some tips. Here are some tips that will help you to get a national visa:
- Locate the embassy and inquire about the information on the specific visa type you are interested in.
- Gather the required documents and fill in Iceland visa application make a visa appointment with the embassy well before your planned departure
- Present the receipt that proves the applicant paid the visa fees to the consular for your interview
- Do not be late. Make the interview on time or a few minutes earlier.
What about fees? How much is the Iceland visa fee for a long stay? Well, it depends on the type. The numbers are around 80-100 euros. The average processing time for national visas can vary depending on the type of visa. However, generally, you can get your long-term visa in 10-60 days.
