Iceland has signed the Schengen Agreement and so shares the common visa policy of the Schengen countries. Citizens of visa-exempt nationalities are currently able to visit Iceland and the Schengen zone for a stay of up to 90 days without obtaining a travel document.
From May 2023, it will be mandatory for these same nationalities to obtain an ETIAS Europe visa waiver before they can travel to Iceland and the Schengen Area for short stays. The ETIAS is not an Iceland visa, but an electronic travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors.
An ETIAS online visa waiver for Iceland is a multiple entry travel authorization that allows the holder to visit any of the Schengen countries for up to 90 consecutive days with each entry.
Holders of an approved ETIAS Iceland visa waiver are able to travel to the Schengen zone for purposes of business, transit, tourism, or medical treatment multiple times during its 3-year validity.
Those not eligible for ETIAS Iceland need a Schengen travel visa to visit the country and are required to make a visa appointment at the nearest Icelandic diplomatic office.
Applicants should then download, print, and complete a Schengen visa application for Iceland to bring along to the consular appointment alongside a valid passport.
Iceland Schengen visa requirements state that it is necessary to bring the following supporting documents to the visa interview:
- Proof of travel insurance which covers medical care in the Schengen Area
- Evidence of hotel reservations, a rental agreement, or an invitation letter from friends and family in Iceland
- Proof of return flight bookings, or a ticket to an onward destination
- 2 photographs of the applicant taken with the past 3 months, passport-style.
It is also necessary to meet the funds requirements to obtain a Schengen visa for Iceland and supply either:
- A bank statement which shows the traveler has enough money in their account to cover the stay
- A Sponsorship Letter from a third party confirming they will be financially supporting the trip to Iceland, accompanied by a bank statement from the sponsor
- A combination of a bank statement from the traveler and a Letter of Sponsorship.
For the visa to be approved, it is also necessary to supply additional supporting documents depending on the applicant’s employment status and the type of Schengen visa the applicant requires.