How to apply for Iceland Visitor Visa from the United States
Since Iceland is a member of the Schengen Visa Agreement, all persons requiring visas, not holding a valid Schengen visa in their travel document must apply for a visa at the applicable embassy/consulate before traveling to Iceland. If you intend to apply for a visa to travel to Iceland in the United States, there are five offices in the United States that issue visas on Iceland’s behalf. Therefore, please be sure you are applying for your Schengen visa through the correct Embassy or Consulate-General.
Embassies/consulates representing Iceland in the United States
- By Denmark in New York and Chicago
- By Sweden in Washington DC
- By Norway in San Francisco and Houston
Please note that many embassies use service providers for receiving applications. Visa Application Centres accept applications, but the embassies issue visas. 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. All applicants must book an appointment and visit the visa application center in person.
Kindly make an individual appointment for each applicant traveling with you i.e., family member, group of friends or colleagues.
When can I apply?
“You should apply well in advance and at the latest 15 days before you plan to travel. You can submit your application up to three months before your planned departure.” - States their website, but in my opinion, it would be wise to apply at the beginning of the 3-month window.
Application Fee
The visa fee is EUR 60. Children under six years do not pay a fee. Children from the age of six years and below the age of 12 years shall pay a visa fee of EUR 35. Except for children, please note that you pay the fee when registering the application in the portal. Applicants exempted from the visa fee requirement will have the fee refunded.
Service fee
The Visa application center Travisa/ VFA charges a USD 33 service fee.
Procedure
If Denmark represents Iceland
The Danish Consulate General has commissioned VFS Global to operate the Danish Visa Application Centres in the US. Visa applicants must register their application online.
Upon registration and payment of the visa fee, the applicant must print out the Visa Self Service Cover Letter and submit it with the required documents on the checklist. No two-sided copies are allowed.
If Sweden represents Iceland see here
If Norway represents Iceland Applicants travelling to Iceland should select Royal Norwegian Consulate General New York for their online application and choose to submit their documents to the VFS office in San Francisco or Houston.
Step 1 :
Create a user account on Application Portal
Step 2 :
Create a new Visa application.
Note: Your application details are saved for 15 calendar days in case no activity is observed. Once you schedule an appointment, your application will be available until your appointment date.
Step 3 :
Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation by email, with a cover letter attached. The cover letter will verify that you have filled in the application form and paid the fee. You need to print this letter and submit it together with the other necessary documentation.
Note: The application is not submitted until you have handed in the documents on your checklist.
Step 4 :
After you have received the Cover letter and filled in the application form on the portal, you must hand in your application documents in person at your nearest VFS global office. To hand in the documents, you must schedule an appointment with the embassy or the Visa Application Centre. Once you have booked the date, you will receive a confirmation by email.
Step 5 :
Documents for Iceland Schengen Visa Application:
- Your Appointment Letter received through email after taking an appointment
- Signed cover letter
- Receipt for the Application
- Copy of your Application Form.
- Document Checklist (must be signed)
- 1 photo; the photo should be of passport format – a recent whole-face capture with a light background
- Passport, valid for 3 months beyond the planned date of return from Schengen area. Also, you must carry copies of your Passport (Make a copy of Bio Page)
- Copies of previous Schengen Visa
- Proof of legal residence in the the United States (B1/B2 Visas are not recognized)
- Travel Medical Insurance
- Flight Itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Iceland
- Hotel reservation for the whole duration of the intended stay in Iceland.
Note : A new rule states that the hotel reservation should be on Applicant’s Name. - Documents confirming employment, private business, or studies
- Documents confirming financial means or income of applicants in United States
- Bank Statements of the last three months or statement from the employer or last year’s tax return
If employed:
- Employment contract
- Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
- No-objection certificate from employer
- Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary
If self-employed: - A copy of your business license
- Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
- If applicable: Regular income generated by property proof of the latest 6 months
In case the applicant is not paying for the trip and someone is sponsoring the applicant then you will need the following documents in addition to the above list
- Sponsorship letter
- Copy of Sponsor’s main passport page
- Sponsor’s documents confirming employment, private business, or studies
- Sponsor’s documents confirming financial means or income
- Sponsor’s bank Statements of last three months or statement from the employer or last year’s tax return
- Proof of Marriage( original document in English, or certified translation) in case sponsor is a spouse
Step 6 :
After you have handed in your documents to the embassy or Visa Application Centre, the embassy will process your application. Please see the embassy website for information about case processing times.
To get the latest update and track your application, click here
Click on “Track your application” tab - It will prompt you to enter the reference number and last name. (Note: It’s really tricky, just enter the numerals without the hyphen)