Visa Policy for Iceland
For a foreign citizen to enter the country without encountering problems, the visa policy of the country has to be followed. Iceland visa policy shares the same features as all 25 countries in the Schengen Area since Iceland has signed the Schengen Agreement.
Visas are required for foreign nationals to enter Iceland if they have a certain nationality and intend to stay for a certain period of time. Iceland visa policy favors visa-free entry, but the period of visa-free stay varies based on the nationality of those who travel there.
A valid passport or national ID card issued by one of the Schengen countries is required at border checkpoints for smooth entry as per the Iceland visa policy. In order to obtain a visa-free stay of up to 90 days for purposes of tourism, business, transit, or medical treatment, those nationals from visa-exempt countries for Iceland must show a passport that is valid for at least three months after their slated entry date.
Nevertheless, it must be noted that these same citizens will require a valid electronic travel authorization (ETIAS) in order to travel to Iceland for the same period of time. The same citizens will have to apply for a Schengen visa from an Icelandic government diplomatic office prior to traveling to Iceland for a longer period of time or for other purposes.
The visa requirement for Iceland remains the same for all other nationalities regardless of the purpose or duration of stay in Iceland. Find additional information regarding Iceland visa policy in the following section.
Tourist Visa Policy for Iceland
Iceland is accessible to tourists according to their nationality, but they must meet the requirements in advance. In exchange for presenting a valid Schengen ID card upon arrival at border control, Iceland visa policy offers visa-free entry to citizens of other Schengen member countries for an unlimited period of time.
The rest of the visa-exempt citizens of Iceland are allowed a maximum tourist stay of 90 days without any visa requirements if they present a valid passport at the Icelandic border. In contrast, the European Union will introduce by 2022 a system for securing online travel authorizations, the ETIAS, that will become obligatory for all visa-free tourists outside the Schengen Area wishing to visit Iceland for 90 days.
The ETIAS free visa waiver application can be applied for online and approved by the board. It will allow citizens of these countries to travel to Iceland as often as they like and for up to 90 days per entry into any Schengen country. Iceland visa policy requires all other foreign citizens to apply for a Schengen tourist visa at Iceland's embassy or consulate before visiting the country for tourism.
You should apply for this document a few weeks before you need it so that there is enough processing time before the trip.
Iceland Schengen Visa
The Icelandic embassy in over 150 countries requires visas from citizens of those countries, commonly known as a Schengen visa, in order for them to enter Iceland and stay there. Our recommendation for people who are citizens of visa-exempt countries is the same whether the trip is for business or pleasure (touring, transit, etc.)
Iceland visa policy recommends that travelers begin the application process several weeks before they intend to arrive in the country in order to ensure enough time for the visa to be processed and approved. The Icelandic embassy overseas closest to the applicant must be scheduled for a visa appointment by the applicant.
You will need to apply for a Schengen visa for Iceland at the embassy appointment, stating whether you need a tourist, work, or study visa, or whether you need a resident visa. If you're visiting Iceland for any reason, you will need a valid passport and other supporting documentation.
The Iceland visa policy is mostly centered around the Schengen Agreement. Last but not least, Icelandic Schengen visa applications will be processed only after applicants have paid the Schengen visa fee. Here is a list of the countries that require a Schengen visa for Iceland.
- Afghanistan
- Aland Islands
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bonaire
- Botswana
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Christmas Island
- Cocos Islands
- Comoros
- Congo
- Cook Islands
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guernsey
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Isle of Man
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Mayotte
- Mongolia
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- New Caledonia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- North Korea
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestinian Territory
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Pitcairn Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Reunion
- Russian Federation
- Rwanda
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Helena
- Saint Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Sint Maarten
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Swaziland
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tokelau
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Uganda
- United States Virgin Islands
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Wallis and Futuna
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Visit iVisa.com to learn more about the Iceland Schengen Visa
Iceland ETIAS
Citizens of over 90 countries are not required to get a visa for travel to Iceland at the moment. All of the other 25 Schengen states that have signed an agreement for passport-free travel have access to Iceland borders with a valid ID card, as Iceland is one of the Schengen countries that has a passport-free agreement.
The maximum stay allowed for tourists, transistors, businesspeople, and medical tourists without a visa is 90 days. Visitors from outside the Schengen Area need a passport currently valid for at least 3 months from their date of entry. A major change to the Iceland visa policy is that from 2022 onwards, this requirement will change substantially, you must also provide an approved ETIAS authorization to enter Iceland for the same purposes and period of stay as today.
In Iceland, an ETIAS approved for multiple entries is an online visa waiver that allows multiple stays up to 90 days, with each stay allowing the holder to enter the Schengen zone, during its validity. This visa is valid for 3 years from its date of issuance, so it does not need to be renewed every time you visit the continent.
Travelers with a visa-free status who wish to visit Iceland for a period or purpose not covered by an ETIAS must apply for an Icelandic Schengen visa at the embassy well before they expect to arrive in Iceland. Here is a list of all the nationalities that are eligible for Iceland ETIAS.
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Cyprus
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
Learn More About the ETIAS
Diplomatic visas are issued only upon presentation of travel documents from Kosovo, Palestine, Taiwan, the Vatican, the Order of Malta, and certain international organizations (Council of Europe, EU, NATO, Red Cross, UN). This is a type of Schengen Visa for Iceland. It allows its holder to stay in Iceland and the rest of the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within a six-month period.
See if you need a visa to enter Iceland