There are three different types of visas to Iceland:
As Iceland belongs to the list of Schengen countries, you should apply for an Iceland Schengen visa to make your temporary trip. Reasons to apply for this type of visa can be tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips, medical examination or treatment, short-term education, exchange programs, and many other non-permanent nuances.
If you want to study in Iceland for more than 90 days (such as bachelor's, master's, doctoral, etc.) or work permanently in an institution located here, you can also apply for an Iceland national visa, if you have official invitations or letters of acceptance from those educational and business institutions.
The Schengen visa entitles the holder to visits of up to 90 days every 6 months in the entire Schengen area.
The Schengen area is an area comprised of 26 European states that have abolished passport control at their shared borders and have adopted a common visa policy.
Austria |
Liechtenstein |
Belgium |
Lithuania |
Czech Republic |
Luxembourg |
Denmark |
Malta |
Estonia |
The Netherlands |
Finland |
Norway |
France |
Poland |
Germany |
Portugal |
Greece |
Slovakia |
Hungary |
Slovenia |
Iceland |
Spain |
Italy |
Sweden |
Latvia |
Switzerland |
If your citizenship country does not have a visa exemption agreement with Iceland and you want to come to Iceland for a short stay, for a business trip, holiday, family or friends visit, you will be required to apply for a Schengen visa beforehand. This short-stay visa is valid only for up to 90 days stay within a 180-day period in Iceland and all other Schengen area member states. The start date of the 180-day period is the day you enter Iceland or another Schengen country.
The main purposes of the visit for a Schengen visa are tourism, business, family visit, participating in cultural (scientific, sporting) events, study (up to 90 days), work (up to 90 days).
If you intend to visit Iceland with the purpose of tourism for a period shorter than 90 days, depending on your nationality, you might be required to obtain an Iceland Tourist visa first.
The Iceland Tourist visa permits you to stay in Iceland and realize your tourist activities for a maximum period of 90 days at most per 180 days.
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Two Photos
4. ID Card Copy
5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
6. Photocopies
7. Travel Itinerary
8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)
9. Proof of Financial Means
10. Overseas Medical Insurance
11. Cover Letter
12. For Minors:
*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.
The average processing time for an Iceland Tourist visa is 5-30 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Since 02 February 2020, the fee for Schengen visas has been 80 EUR, to be paid upon submission of the application. Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.
According to the agreement signed between The EU and Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine, visa fee reduced to 35 EUR for the citizens of these countries.
Visa fees are waived by all Schengen states for the following categories of persons, regardless of their nationality:
You will apply for an Iceland Tourist visa in Iceland visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
An Iceland Business visa gives you the authorization to enter Iceland and stay here for a maximum period of up to 90 days within six months, as permitted. It permits its holder to engage in business-related activities such as attending meetings or conferences, conducting or attending the training, conducting internal audits, installing equipment, or performing other temporary services for a client, local affiliate, or branch office.
Under the Business visa category, other following cases would be applicable:
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Two Photos
4. ID Card Copy
5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
6. Photocopies
7. Travel Itinerary
8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)
9. Proof of Financial Means
10. Overseas Medical Insurance
11. Cover Letter by Your Company
12. Documents Reflecting the Nature of the Business Trip and the Existence of Business Relations
*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.
The average processing time for an Iceland Business visa is 5-30 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Since 02 February 2020, the fee for Schengen visas has been 80 EUR, to be paid upon submission of the application. Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.
According to the agreement signed between The EU and Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine, visa fee reduced to 35 EUR for the citizens of these countries.
Visa fees are waived by all Schengen states for the following categories of persons, regardless of their nationality:
You will apply for an Iceland Business visa in Iceland visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
The Iceland Cultural/Scientific/Sports Visa enables you to enter Iceland for cultural, scientific, or sports purposes, such as attending cultural events.
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Two Photos
4. ID Card Copy
5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
6. Photocopies
7. Travel Itinerary
8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)
9. Proof of Financial Means
10. Overseas Medical Insurance
11. Documents Reflecting the Nature/Purpose of the Journey and Stay of Artist/Member of Cultural/Sports Association in Iceland: Artist/Athlete Member of Cultural/Sports Association in Your Country Travels to a Cultural/Sports Event Organized in Cooperation with an Iceland Cultural/Sports Association
12. Cover Letter
13. For Minors:
*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.
The average processing time for an Iceland Cultural visa is 5-30 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Since 02 February 2020, the fee for Schengen visas has been 80 EUR, to be paid upon submission of the application. Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.
According to the agreement signed between The EU and Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine, visa fee reduced to 35 EUR for the citizens of these countries.
Visa fees are waived by all Schengen states for the following categories of persons, regardless of their nationality:
You will apply for an Iceland Cultural visa in Iceland visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
A short stay family/friend visit visa allows you to travel to Iceland to visit family or friends for up to a maximum of 90 days within 180 days.
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Two Photos
4. ID Card Copy
5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
6. Photocopies
7. Travel Itinerary
8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)
9. Proof of Financial Means
In case of sponsorship:
10. Overseas Medical Insurance
11. Proof of Visit / Accommodation:
12. Cover Letter
13. For Minors:
*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.
The average processing time for an Iceland Family Visit visa is 5-30 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Since 02 February 2020, the fee for Schengen visas has been 80 EUR, to be paid upon submission of the application. Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.
According to the agreement signed between The EU and Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine, visa fee reduced to 35 EUR for the citizens of these countries.
Visa fees are waived by all Schengen states for the following categories of persons, regardless of their nationality:
You will apply for an Iceland Family Visit visa in Iceland visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
A transit visa allows visa holders to stay in the international transit area of an Icelandic airport, without access to the national territory, during stopovers or flight connections. Entry clearance requirements depend on the citizenship and resident status of the applicant (sometimes in a third country). You must confirm with your travel agent or airline whether your flight is scheduled via another airport. If you leave the airport’s international transit area (for instance, if you change the terminal), you will have to apply for a Schengen Visa – Category C.
You do not need a Transit visa - if during a stopover at Iceland airports, they do not leave the International Airport Area and if the final destination is a non-Schengen member State.
However, if for some reason you need to enter the Schengen area during your stopover (for example, to change terminals or if your final destination is one of the Schengen countries), you may require to apply for a Schengen visa – Category C, therefore please plan for this accordingly. You must apply for an Iceland transit or tourist visa well before you travel!
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Two Photos
4. ID Card Copy
5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
6. Photocopies
7. Travel Itinerary
8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)
9. Proof of Financial Means
10. Overseas Medical Insurance
11. In Case of Transiting through Sea (Seaman)
12. For Minors:
*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.
The average processing time for an Iceland Transit visa is 5-30 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Since 02 February 2020, the fee for Schengen visas has been 80 EUR, to be paid upon submission of the application. Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.
You will apply for an Iceland Transit visa in Iceland visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
Even if your country is exempt from visa requirements if you intend to stay longer than 90 days you will need to apply for a long-stay visa from your home country before coming to Iceland.
The national visa grants entry to Iceland on the basis that you will be applying for a residence permit. It enables you to enter Iceland as a potential resident and stay while you apply for residency. You will need to convert your visa into a residence permit within three months of arriving in Iceland.
In some cases, you can directly apply for a residence permit from your country. You can check this information with Iceland diplomatic missions in your country.
This visa is designed for applicants wishing to take up employment in Iceland and high skilled persons who are candidates for a Blue Card of the European Union.
The EU Blue Card allows third-country nationals with a university degree to take up employment in Iceland commensurate with their qualifications. Please note that potential Blue-Card holders need to earn a gross salary of 52.000 EUR or MINT profession (Mathematics / Informatics / Natural Sciences / Technology) require at least 40.560 EUR and shall have found a position in their field of study.
All documents need to be submitted in 3 sets (1 x Original and 2 x copies) in order to have 2 complete application sets of documents. Original documents will be returned after the application process has been finalized. Documents that are not in the Icelandic or English language require a translation.
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Three Photos
4. ID Card Copy
5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
6. Photocopies
7. Proof of Employment in Iceland
a) Employment contract or Contract/binding job offer
b) Deputation Order
8. Job Description
9. Proof of Qualification
a) General Employment:
b) EU Blue-Card Candidate:
10. Curriculum Vitae (CV) of Professional Career, Specifying the Certificates, Diplomas, and Qualifications You Have Obtained
11. Proof of Accommodation
12. Police Record
13. Proof of Financial Means (in case of a company is not sponsoring for travel)
14. Medical Insurance
*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.
The average processing time for an Iceland Employment (National) visa is 10-60 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Iceland Employment (National) visa fee is 80-100 EUR (it may vary depending on your nationality and country of residence).
You will apply for an Iceland Employment (National) visa in Iceland visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
This visa is intended to permit foreign nationals to obtain a long-term visa, allowing them to stay in Iceland for a longer period. This visa applies to those who are admitted to the state college or state university in Iceland.
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Three Photos
4. ID Card Copy
5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
6. Photocopies
7. Details from Your University in Iceland:
a) Confirmed University Admission
b) Confirmed Language Course with Conditional University Admission
8. Knowledge of Language, for cases of Confirmed University Admission and Confirmed Admission to a Preparation Course for University
9. Proof of Accommodation in Iceland
10. Proof of Economic Solvency
11. Medical Insurance
12. A Certificate of Criminal Record
*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.
The average processing time for an Iceland Study (National) visa is 10-60 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
When you submit your application for an Iceland Study (National) Visa, you will also need to pay a certain fee. Iceland Study (National) visa fee is 80-100 EUR (it may vary depending on your nationality and country of residence).
You will apply for an Iceland Study (National) visa in Iceland visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
This visa is intended to permit foreign nationals to obtain a long-term visa, allowing them to stay in Iceland for a longer period. This visa applies to family members of Iceland nationals and wishing to obtain a permit for long-term residence in Iceland.
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Three Photos
4. ID Card Copy
5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
6. Photocopies
7. Details of Spouse
8. Marriage Certificate
a) Iceland Marriage Certificate:
b) Foreign Marriage Certificate:
9. Divorce Decree of Previous Marriages or Death Certificate of Former Spouse (if the applicant has been previously married)
10. Proof of Accommodation in Iceland
11. Proof of Sufficient Means of Substance
12. Health Insurance will Only Be Requested Where Applicable
*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.
The average processing time for an Iceland Family Reunion National visa is 10-60 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
When you submit your application for an Iceland Family Reunion National Visa, you will also need to pay a certain fee. The fee is required in order to cover the expenses for the processing of your application. Iceland Family Reunion visa fee is 80-100 EUR (it may vary depending on your nationality and country of residence).
You will apply for an Iceland Family Reunion visa in Iceland visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
Iceland Self-employment (Entrepreneurial) Visa can be granted to third-country nationals investing in the national economy of Iceland, whose who are or intend to become stockholders or shareholders, with management or administration powers in companies that are Iceland legal entities.
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Three Photos
4. ID Card Copy
5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
6. Photocopies
7. Company Profile
a) Head Office
b) New Office
8. Business Plan
9. Concept
10. Capital Requirements
Investments
Non-recurring Additional Start-up Costs
Operating Funds
Capital Budget
11. A Certificate of Criminal Record
12. Personal Details
13. Medical Insurance
*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.
The average processing time for an Iceland Entrepreneur visa is 10-60 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
When you submit your application for an Iceland Entrepreneur Visa, you will also need to pay a certain fee. The fee is required in order to cover the expenses for the processing of your application. Iceland Self-employment visa fee is 80-100 EUR (it may vary depending on your nationality and country of residence).
You will apply for an Iceland National Entrepreneur visa in Iceland visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
This visa is intended to allow foreign nationals to obtain a long-term visa, allowing them to stay in Iceland for a longer period. This visa applies to young people welcomed temporarily into a family, where he/she is lodged and fed in return for light everyday family tasks, to perfect his linguistic knowledge and increase his general culture through an improved familiarity with the country while participating in the life of the host family.
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. Three Photos
4. ID Card Copy
5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
6. Photocopies
7. Invitation Letter from Host Family Clarifying the Following:
8. Agreement with the Host Family
9. Knowledge of Icelandic Language
10. Au Pair / Host Family Questionnaire
11. Motivation Letter (Why Do You Wish to Go to Iceland?) in Icelandic or English
12. Documents Reflecting Your Previous Education and Skills
13. A Certificate of Criminal Record
14. Medical Insurance
*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.
The average processing time for an Iceland Au Pair visa is 10-60 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
When you submit your application for an Iceland Au Pair Visa, you will also need to pay a certain fee. The fee is required in order to cover the expenses for the processing of your application. Iceland AU Pair visa fee is 80-100 EUR (it may vary depending on your nationality and country of residence).
You will apply for an Iceland National Au Pair visa in Iceland visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
Yes. Once you have entered the Schengen territory, a single-entry visa allows the holder to circulate within the Schengen territory multiple times. However, if the holder of this visa leaves the Schengen territory, he/she cannot re-enter again without a new valid visa.
You must meet certain requirements to enter Iceland, even if you are not required a visa:
This visa gives permission to its holder to enter the Schengen Area (all 26 member States) as many times as they wish, within a period of 1, 3, 5 years. However, even in this case, the visa holder is limited to remaining in the Schengen Area no longer than 90 days within a 180-day period.
If your Iceland visa application is rejected, you will be notified by your mission that your application has been unsuccessful. You will be informed of the grounds on which it was rejected and have one month to appeal the decision by writing to the Icelandic mission. Your application will then be reconsidered. You can also apply for a visa again if your circumstances have changed.
All applicants must appear in person in the Embassy/Consulate or Visa Application Center for the submission of the documents since the identity needs to be verified and biometric data must be collected. Please contact local Iceland representatives for more precise information.
All fees are non-refundable and will not be refunded if your visa application is not successful.
Yes. You can study in Iceland with a Schengen Visa, if your education program is less than 90 days, you do not need a national visa.
No, you generally cannot work in Iceland with a Schengen Visa. If you come to Iceland as a temporary foreign worker, you need to apply for a national visa in advance.
It is possible to extend the validity of visas only in exceptional cases, such as a natural disaster. This must be done at the Foreigners’ Office covering your area of residence.
A Schengen visa is issued for a maximum period of stay of three months and cannot be extended. The visa must be applied for, by the traveler personally, at the Icelandic Foreign Mission abroad, which is responsible for the place of residence and cannot be extended in Iceland, nor converted into a residence permit.