If you are looking into moving to Iceland or need professional consulting please visit www.xpert.is. This topic only applies to visitors / tourists.
Depending on where you come from, the allowed stay varies from three months to indefinitely. More information can be found at the Directorate of Immigration''s webpage or down below:
Who does not need a visa
Nationals of the following countries are exempted from the obligation to carry a visa on arrival in Iceland for a stay of up to three months in all within the Schengen area. The total stay within the Schengen Area must not exceed three months in any period of six months.
The validity of the passport or recognized ID card must be at least three months beyond the proposed stay, except for citizens of EEA/EFTA countries. Those documents only need to be valid beyond the stay in Iceland.
Further details on identification documents recognized as travel documents in place of passports when entering or leaving Iceland are available here (in part in Icelandic). Additionally, Croatian citizens can use Croatian Identity Card instead of a passport when entering or leaving Iceland.
In addition, holders of diplomatic passports, official passports or service passports issued by Turkey are exempt from the obligation of obtaining a visa. Holders of diplomatic passports and service passports issued by South Africa and Diplomatic and official passports issued by Pakistan are exempt from the obligation of obtaining a visa. Holders of diplomatic passports issued by Russia are exempt.
Nationals of the following countries need an Airport transit visa when transiting/passing through an airport in Iceland: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, The People's Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka. This does not apply however, if the above mentioned nationals have a residence permit in a Schengen country or specific types of permits issued in Great Britain, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, United States, Canada, Japan, Monaco, San Marino or Switzerland and the permits are valid three months longer than intended transiting/passing through an airport in Iceland. For further details on types of permits see appendix 4 in the regulation on visas.
Recognized refugees and stateless persons residing in an EU country and holding travel documents issued by that country.
Students who need a visa to travel to Iceland, but reside in an EU country which applies EU decision 94/795/JHA of November 30, 1994, when on a field trip accompanied by a teacher from their school.
A foreigner holding a residence permit issued by a Schengen state does not need a visa.
A
Albania (This applies only to holders of biometric passports)
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Austria
Australia
B
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Bosnia Herzegovina (This applies only to holders of biometric (red) passports, not blue passports or passports issued by the Coordination Directorate (Koodinaciona uprava)
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
C
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
D
Denmark
Dominica
E
Estonia
El Salvador
F
Finland
France
G
Germany
Great Britain – Including holders of passports for:
- British nationals (Overseas),
- British overseas citizens (BOC),
- British overseas territories citizens (BOTC),
- British protected persons (BPP),
- British subjects (BS).
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
H
Honduras
Hong Kong (Only applies to those who carry HKSAR passports)
Hungary
I
Ireland
Israel
Italy
J
Japan
L
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
M
Macao (Only applies to those who carry MACAOSAR passports)
Macedonia (This applies only to holders of biometric passports)
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova (This applies only to holders of biometric passports)
Monaco
Montenegro (This applies only to holders of biometric passports)
N
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Norway
New Zealand
P
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Portugal
Poland
R
Romania
S
Samoa
San Marino
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Serbia (This applies only to holders of biometric (red) passports, not blue passports or passports issued by the Coordination Directorate (Koodinaciona uprava)
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
South Korea
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Switzerland
Sweden
T
Taiwan
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Trinidad & Tobago
U
United Arab Emirates
United States of America
Uruguay
V
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Who needs a visa
Citizens of the following countries need a visa to visit Iceland:
A
Afghanistan
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
B
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
C
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Comoros
Congo
Côte d’Ivoire
Cuba
D
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
E
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
F
Fiji
G
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
H
Haiti
I
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
J
Jamaica
Jordan
K
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
L
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
M
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Mali
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Micronesia
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar (Burma)
N
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
O
Oman
P
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines, The
Q
Qatar
R
Russia (Except for holders of diplomatic passports)
Rwanda
S
São Tomé & Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa (Except for holders of diplomatic and service passports)
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Syria
T
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey (Except for holders of diplomatic and service passports)
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
U
Uganda
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
V
Vietnam
Y
Yemen
Z
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Application - basic requirements
As a rule, applicants shall appear in person when lodging an application.
The applicant shall submit the following documentation:
- Application form, completed and signed by the applicant. If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
- A passport size photograph (35X45 mm).
- Travel document. The travel document must be valid at least three months beyond the proposed stay. The document cannot be over 10 years old and must have at least two blank pages.
- Proof of financial support. Either submit applicants bank statement or a guarantee form from the reference person in Iceland “Guarantee form for visits” along with the reference persons bank statement or paystubs.
- Documentation showing applicants ties to home country, e.g. verification from applicants employer of employment upon return or confirmation from applicants school of continued studies upon return.
- Medical Insurance. The insurance coverage must be at least 30.000 Euros.
- Documentation confirming the purpose of travel:
- Letter of invitation from the reference person (host) in Iceland, if the purpose of the trip is a visit to friends or family. For a family visit, documentation of the family relationship is required.
- For a business trip, confirmation/invitation from a company in Iceland.
- For tourists, hotel booking and tour booking, as applicable.
- If the intention is to attend a meeting or seminar, confirmation/invitation from the applicable conference organizer/institution.
When lodging an application, the applicant shall allow the collection of his fingerprints and pay the visa fee.
Please note that these are only the basic requirements. Please check the website of the applicable embassy/consulate, where you intend to lodge your application, as there you will find the complete list of requirements and the application procedure.
Where you can apply for a visa
Embassies and Consulates issuing visas on behalf of Iceland.
Except for the Embassies in Beijing and Moscow, Icelandic embassies and consulates do not issue visas.
If you intend to apply for a visa for travel to Iceland in one of the following countries, you should contact an embassy or consulate in the respective country. Please note that many embassies use service providers for receiving applications. Applications are submitted at Visa Application centers, but visas are issued by the embassies. Information is on the website of the applicable embassy. In most cases the embassies and consulates are authorised to issue visas without consulting the Directorate. In some instances, the applications are forwarded to the Directorate, which will then decide on the granting of a visa. If all required documentation is supplied and it is deemed that no further documentation is required, the processing time for a visa is approximately 2 weeks.
Information on how to apply for a tourist visa is here.
Country |
City |
Embassy / Consulate |
Algeria |
Algiers |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Angola |
Luanda |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Argentina |
Buenos Aires |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Armenia |
Yerevan |
French Embassy |
Aruba |
Oranjestad |
Cabinet of the Covernor |
Australia |
Sydney |
Royal Danish Consulate General |
Australia |
Canberra |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Azerbaijan |
Baku |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Bahrain |
Manama |
German Embassy |
Bangladesh |
Dhaka |
Swedish Embassy |
Belarus |
Minsk |
French Embassy |
Bolivia |
La Paz |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Brazil |
Brasilia |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Brazil |
Rio de Janeiro |
Royal Norwegian Consulate General |
Brunei |
Bandar Seri Begawan |
French Embassy |
Bulgaria |
Sofía |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Burkina Faso |
Ouagadougou |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Cambodia |
Phnom Penh |
French Embassy |
Canada |
Ottawa |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Chile |
Santiago |
Swedish Embassy |
China |
Guangzhou |
Royal Danish Consulate General |
China |
Hong Kong |
Consulate General of Finland |
China |
Shanghai |
Royal Danish Consulate General |
China |
Beijing |
Embassy of Iceland |
Colombia |
Bogota |
Swedish Embassy |
Croatia |
Zagreb |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Cuba |
Havana |
Swedish Embassy |
Curacao |
Willemstad |
Cabinet of the Covenor |
Cyprus |
Nicosia |
German Embassy |
Dominican Republic |
Santo Domingo |
French Embassy |
| Ecuador | Quito | VFS Global on behalf of the Royal Danish embassy Bolivia |
Egypt |
Cairo |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Ethiopia |
Addis Ababa |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Fiji |
Suva |
French Embassy |
Georgia |
Tiblisi |
French Embassy |
Ghana |
Accra |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Great Britain |
London |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Guatemala |
Guatemala City |
Swedish Embassy |
India |
New Delhi |
Royal Danish Embassy |
India |
Bengaluru |
VFS Global on behalf of the Royal Danish Embassy |
India |
Chennai |
VFS Global on behalf of the Royal Danish Embassy |
India |
Kolkata |
VFS Global on behalf of the Royal Danish Embassy |
India |
Mumbai |
VFS Global on behalf of the Royal Danish Embassy |
Indonesia |
Jakarta |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Iran |
Teheran |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Ireland |
Dublin |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Israel |
Tel Avív |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Japan |
Tokyo |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Jordan |
Amman |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Kenya |
Nairobi |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Korea (DPR) |
Pyengyang |
Swedish Embassy |
Korea (Republic of Korea) |
Seoul |
Swedish Embassy |
| Kosovo | Prishtina | Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Kuwait |
Kuwait City |
German Embassy |
Lebanon |
Beirut |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Macedonia |
Skopje |
French Embassy |
Malawi |
Lilongwe |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Malaysia |
Kuala Lumpur |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Mali |
Bamako |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Mauritius |
Port Louis |
French Embassy |
Mexico |
Mexico City |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Mongolia |
Ulan Bator |
German Embassy |
Morocco |
Rabat |
Swedish Embassy |
Mozambique |
Maputo |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Myanmar |
Rangoon |
German Embassy |
Namibia |
Windhoek |
Embassy of Finland |
Nepal |
Kathmandu |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Nigeria |
Abuja |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Palestine |
Ramallah |
Danish Representative office |
Pakistan |
Islamabad |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Peru |
Lima |
Embassy of Finland |
Philippines |
Manila |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Qatar |
Doha |
French Embassy |
Romania |
Bucharest |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Russia |
Arkhangelsk | VFS. Global on behalf of Embassy of Iceland |
Russia |
Moscow |
Embassy of Iceland |
Russia |
Murmansk |
Consulate of Finland |
Russia |
St. Petersburg |
VFS. Global on behalf of Embassy of Iceland |
Saudi Arabia |
Riyadh |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Serbia |
Belgrade |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Singapore |
Singapore |
Royal Danish Embassy |
South Africa |
Pretoria |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Sri Lanka |
Colombo |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Sudan |
Khartoum |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Tanzania |
Dar es Salaam |
Swedish Embassy |
Thailand |
Bangkok |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Trinidad and Tobago |
Port-of-Spain |
Embassy of the Netherlands |
Tunisia |
Tunis |
Embassy of Finland |
Turkey |
Ankara |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Turkey |
Istanbul |
Royal Danish Consulate General |
Uganda |
Kampala |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Ukraine |
Kiev |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
United Arab Emirates |
Abu Dhabi |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
United Arab Emirates |
Dubai |
Royal Danish Consulate General |
UK |
London |
Royal Danish Embassy |
USA |
New York |
Royal Danish Consulate General |
USA |
Houston |
Royal Norwegian Consulate General |
USA |
San Fransisco |
Royal Norwegian Consulate General |
USA |
Washington |
Swedish Embassy |
Uzbekistan |
Taskent |
French Embassy |
Vietnam |
Hanoi |
Royal Danish Embassy |
Vietnam |
Ho-Chi-Minh City |
German Consulate General |
Zimbabwe |
Harare |
Royal Norwegian Embassy |
Schengen area
Iceland has fully implemented the Schengen Agreement since March 25th 2001, which ended internal border checkpoints and controls.
Schengen countries:
Austria
Belgium
Czech republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland