Check Visa Policy of Iceland for your Country

Visa policy for Iceland

The visa policy of a country determines what a foreign citizen needs to be able to enter its borders without problems.

As Iceland has signed the Schengen Agreement and forms a part of the Schengen Area, it shares the same visa policy as all of the other 25 countries in this passport-free zone.

Whether or not a foreign national needs a visa to visit Iceland depends on their nationality and the length and purpose of the intended stay.

Those who do not need a visa to enter Iceland can travel to the country for varying periods of visa-free stay depending on their nationality.

Citizens of all Schengen member states are granted freedom of movement to Iceland by implying presenting a valid national ID card at border checkpoint.

All other visa-exempt nationals for Iceland are required to present a passport with a minimum validity of 3 months from the date of arrival, to be granted a visa-free stay of up to 90 days for purposes of tourism, business, transit, or medical treatment.

However, it should be noted that from 2022, these same citizens will be required to hold an approved electronic travel authorization (ETIAS) to visit Iceland for the same periods of stay.

If these same citizens wish to visit Iceland for a longer period of stay or other purposes, they will be required to apply for a Schengen embassy visa from an Icelandic government diplomatic office in advance of travel.

All other nationalities are required to apply for an embassy visa for Iceland no matter the purpose or intended length of stay in the country.

You can find additional information related to visa types for Iceland in the boxes below.

Tourist Visa Policy for Iceland

In order to visit Iceland as a tourist, travelers must ensure that they meet the necessary requirements according to their nationality.

Iceland allows visa-free entry to citizens of other member countries of the Schengen Area for an unlimited period for tourism, if they present a valid Schengen ID card upon arrival at border control.

All other visa-exempt citizens for Iceland are granted a maximum tourist stay of up to 90 days without a visa, if they present a valid passport at Icelandic border control.

However, by 2022 the European Commission will introduce an online travel authorization system called ETIAS, which will become mandatory for all visa-free travelers from outside of the Schengen Area to travel to Iceland for tourism for the same period of stay.

Available through a simple online application, an approved ETIAS visa waiver will permit these citizens to travel multiple times to Iceland or any other country inside the Schengen Area for tourism for a maximum stay of 90 days with each entry.

The visa policy for Iceland states that all other foreign citizens must apply for a Schengen tourist visa from an Icelandic embassy or consulate to visit the country for tourism.

This document needs to be applied for at least a few weeks in advance of travel to allow sufficient processing time before the planned trip.

See below for a full list of nationalities that need a tourist visa for Iceland.

ETIAS for Iceland

The ETIAS is an electronic travel authorization that will be implemented in 2022 for visa-free travelers who do not need a visa for Iceland but are not part of the Schengen Area.

This online visa waiver system is being introduced in order to improve the external border security of the Schengen zone by pre-screening visa-exempt citizens before they arrive in Iceland.

Once implemented, it will be mandatory for these foreign nationals to pre-register an electronic ETIAS application, which can be completed in a few minutes with basic personal data, information about their trip, and passport details.

Applicants for an ETIAS for Iceland will also need to answer a few security-related questions and pay a processing fee using a valid credit or debit card before the application form can be submitted.

Once the Iceland ETIAS application has been successfully processed, the approved travel authorization will be electronically linked to the traveler’s passport.

An approved ETIAS authorization allows multiple entries to Iceland and the Schengen Area for up to 90 consecutive days with each entry.

It is valid for 3 years from approval, or until the associated passport expires, and permits travel for tourism, medical treatment, business, or transit purposes.

If an ETIAS-eligible traveler wants to visit Iceland for other purposes or periods of permitted stay, they will need to apply for a consular visa from an Icelandic diplomatic mission.

Find below the list of all the nationalities that will be required to apply for an ETIAS.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required

At the moment there are over 150 nationalities that are required to present a valid embassy visa, also known as a Schengen visa, in order to be able to enter and remain inside Iceland.

This is a mandatory requirement for these citizens regardless of the purpose of the trip (tourism, business, transit, etc) or the length of intended stay in the country.

It is recommended that travelers who need to obtain a consular visa for Iceland start the application process several weeks in advance of their intended arrival date in the country, to permit sufficient time for the visa to be processed and approved.

The first step in applying for an Icelandic embassy visa is to make a visa appointment at the nearest overseas diplomatic office of Iceland to the applicant.

At the embassy appointment, it will be necessary to fill out an application form indicating which type of Schengen visa for Iceland is required, whether a tourist visa, work visa, study visa, resident visa, or another visa option.

It will also be necessary to present a passport with a minimum validity of 3 months, alongside a variety of other supporting documents depending on the intended purpose of the trip to Iceland.

Finally, applicants will be required to pay a Schengen visa fee before the Icelandic embassy visa application can be submitted and processed.

Find a complete list of embassy visa-required nationalities for Iceland below.

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Visa Not Required

At the moment, citizens of over 90 countries are exempt from a visa to travel to Iceland.

As Iceland is one of the Schengen countries that have signed an agreement for passport-free travel, all citizens of the other 25 member states are able to cross its borders for an unlimited period of time by presenting a valid ID card.

Visa-exempt foreign nationals who are not from the Schengen Area are required to travel with a current passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of entering Iceland, to be granted a maximum stay of 90 days for tourism, transit, business, or medical treatment.

By 2022 this requirement will change when it will also become compulsory for these travelers to present an approved ETIAS authorization to gain entry to Iceland for the same purposes and periods of permitted stay.

An approved ETIAS for Iceland is a multiple entry online visa waiver which allows the holder multiple stays of up to 90 days in Iceland and the Schengen zone with each entry during its validity.

It is valid for 3 years from the date of issue, meaning there is no need to apply before every trip to Europe.

Visa-free travelers who wish to visit Iceland for periods or purposes not permitted with an ETIAS are required to submit a Schengen visa application at an Icelandic embassy well in advance of their intended arrival in the country.

Below you can find a comprehensive list of all of the visa not required nationalities for Iceland.