Iceland Visa - Everything You Need To Know - (Indian Passport Holders)

Iceland is a Schengen country. As a result, EU nationals and nationals of other visa-exempt countries can simply enter the country and stay there for up to 90 days. However, not every country has that luxury. Most other nationals require a special permit known as the Schengen Iceland visa to enter the country. As far as India is concerned, you will need an Iceland visa for Indians to enter the country.

The consular section of the Iceland embassy in India does not issue visas. As a result, the Icelandic visa is issued by the Danish embassy in India. To apply for it, your application must be made to the Denmark Embassy or one of the Denmark visa application centres. You will simply have to mention your port of entry as Iceland. Before starting the application, you must ensure that you are eligible for the type of permit you are applying for. After this, you may proceed as follows. 

1. Obtain all the documents required as per the visa type you are applying for. 
2. Go to the ApplyVisa portal of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and register an account.
3. Proceed to fill the online application form. Keep in mind that the Iceland visa application form is the same as the one used for Denmark visa.  
4. Proceed to pay the visa fees as required. 
5. Book an appointment at one of the Visa Application Centres (VAC). You can do this by visiting the website of the VAC and booking online, or calling them. 
6. Visit the respective VAC with the appointment confirmation and the documents. You will have to submit your biometrics here as well.

Please note that you may be able to book the appointment directly at the Denmark Embassy in New Delhi. However, due to the ease of access for people residing in wide locations in India, it is strongly advised to submit the application at a VAC. Also, note that if you have submitted your biometrics to the Schengen Visa Information System (VIS) in the past 5 years, you are not required to submit them again. In this case, you do not have to physically submit the application at the VAC. you may send the application through a third party provided that they hold an authorization letter from you. 

Ensure that you submit only genuine documents and the correct information. Submission of fake documents and wrong information can get your application rejected. Visa rejection will affect your future travel. 

Based on the duration, the purpose of the visit, and so on, there are various types of Icelandic visa as follows - 

• Short term  - This is also known as the Schengen C type, or the Iceland Schengen visa. This type of permit is issued for a duration of up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Based on the purposes, these can further be classified into - 
• 1. Transit - This type of permit that is issued for people travelling through Iceland as a part of their main journey to another country. 
  2. Tourist - This is issued for the for individuals looking to take part in tourism-related activities. 
  3. Business - This category is issued for people visiting the country for the purpose of taking part in business activities. 
  4. Visit - The visit permit is issued for people entering Iceland to meet their family members or friends living in the country. 
  5. Study/Cultural/Sports - This category is granted for people entering Iceland to take part in short term studies, research, cultural and sporting events, etc. 

• Long term - Also known as the D type Schengen, these permits are issued for a duration of longer than 90 days. They can be classified into the following based on the purpose - 
  1. Study - Issued for students taking part in education and other academic activities such as enrolling in courses, research, internship, etc. 
  2. Work- This is apt for individuals who are entering Iceland to take part in work-related activities. 
  3. Family reunification - This is issued for people who are visiting the country to unite with their spouse, family, etc and stay with them for a long period.
  4. Religious workers - This category is for individuals entering the country to take part in religious activities.  

Despite how the name suggests, both the long term and short term are Schengen visa, and as a result, they can be used to travel within the Schengen region.  

As per the Iceland Schengen visa requirements, the general documents required for the Icelandic permit are as follows. There may be additional documentation requirements as per the specific type of visa.

• A passport valid for at least 6 months from the expected date of travel 
• 2 photographs
• Travel itinerary 
• Confirmed round trip flight tickets 
• Proof of accommodation 
• Travel medical insurance covering 30000 Euros  
• Proof of occupation 
• Documents to show proof of sufficient funds

The Schengen visa photo requirements Iceland are as follows - 

• 35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription are permitted
• Headgears are allowed only for religious reasons
• Facial hair is permitted

The Iceland visa processing time India varies upon several factors. These include the type of permit, the duration of stay, the number of entries, the volume of applications at the embassy, and so on. It can also depend on your previous travel history. Normally, it takes around 15 working days to process the visa. However, in certain cases, it may go up to 30 days, and in extreme cases can even take 60 days. As a result, you must apply for it well in advance, but no more than 3 months before the date of travel.

The Iceland visa fee for India varies mainly upon the foreign exchange rates of the currency. It also varies depending on the type of the visa, the duration of stay, entry type, biometric charges, as well as any other service charges. It is, therefore, necessary to know the exact amount before applying.

Since the Iceland embassy does not issue Iceland visa for Indian citizens, visa handling is entirely done by the Denmark embassy. As a result, the applications must be made to the embassy of Denmark, New Delhi, or one of the VACs situated across India. Even if the applications are made at the VAC, the processing is done by the embassy only. 

While you wait for a response from the embassy, you can check the Iceland visa application status by visiting the website of the VAC, and use the tracking portal provided. You may enter your Iceland Schengen visa tracking number and name to know the staus. You may also check the status by contacting the respective travel agency. Also, you can opt for SMS notification services provided by the VAC.