Iceland Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most nationalities need a Schengen short-stay visa to visit Iceland for tourism, business, or family visits. A Schengen visa allows up to 90 days within any 180-day period. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Iceland visa at a glance
- Government fee
- EUR 90 adult / EUR 45 child 6-12 — passed through at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- Up to 15 days, up to 45 in some cases
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
- Visa types
- 2
Do you need a visa for Iceland?
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can enter Iceland visa-free. Check the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you need a visa.
Iceland visa types
- Schengen short-stay visa
- Tourism, business, family visits — Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
- Transit visa
- Passing through Iceland to a third country — Per the transit rules
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Iceland depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the consulate or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can enter Iceland visa-free.
Visa-required nationalities need a Schengen short-stay visa for tourism, business, or family visits.
Documents required for a Iceland visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportSchengen short-stay visa · 3+ months validity beyond intended stay, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed Schengen visa application formSchengen short-stay visa · Completed and signed Schengen visa application form.
- Recent passport photoSchengen short-stay visa · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itinerarySchengen short-stay visa · Proof of travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodationSchengen short-stay visa · Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of sufficient fundsSchengen short-stay visa · minimum EUR 30,000 in travel insurance recommended.
- Travel medical insurance with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000Schengen short-stay visa · Travel medical insurance with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000.
- Valid passportTransit visa · 3+ months validity beyond intended transit.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit windowTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit window.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
Iceland visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- EUR 90 adult / EUR 45 child 6-12 — passed through at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
- Official processing
- Up to 15 days, up to 45 in some cases
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Iceland visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check whether your nationality is visa-exempt for Iceland. If exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Icelandic consulate for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for an Iceland visa above.
Submit your application to the consulate or visa application center
Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
official ETA is up to 15 days, up to 45 in some cases. Apply at least 7–10 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Iceland's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the consulate portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Iceland is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Iceland visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Iceland visa questions, answered.
More for your Iceland trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.