Visa field guide · IS
Plan your Iceland application
visa.government.is, or the Nordic mission that represents Iceland near youSee the common routes, understand the hand-offs, then confirm every requirement on the official website.01 / ROUTES
Choose the route that matches your trip
These are starting points—not an eligibility decision. Open the official route before you apply.- ↗Short-stay Schengen visa
Visits up to 90 days when Iceland is the main destination, applied for via visa.government.is or a representing Schengen state.
- ↗Residence and work permit
Employment, study or longer stays, decided by the Directorate of Immigration, which has issued work permits directly since July 2026.
02 / JOURNEY
What the application journey usually looks like
The exact order can vary by visa, nationality and application location. “If asked” steps are conditional.- 01Check who represents Iceland in your region
Iceland issues visas directly at only a handful of missions; elsewhere a VFS Global centre or a representing Schengen state handles the file.
- 02Apply via visa.government.is or that mission
visa.government.is is the online starting point once the correct mission or centre is identified.
GUIDELENS HELPS HERE - 03Book the VFS or embassy appointment
Appointments are booked with whichever office - Icelandic, VFS or representing state - is named for that country.
- 04Attend and give biometrics
Fingerprints and a photo are collected in person unless a valid exemption applies.
IF ASKED - 05For work or study, apply through the Directorate of Immigration
Employment and study routes go through the Directorate of Immigration rather than the visa system.
- 06Track the decision with the deciding authority
Since 8 July 2026 the Directorate of Immigration decides work permits itself, without a separate Directorate of Labour step.
03 / BEFORE YOU START
Four things to know before you start
- Few direct missions
- Iceland runs its own visa-issuing missions in a small number of cities, including Beijing, Tokyo, New Delhi, London and Washington.
- Wide representation network
- Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany and Portugal each represent Iceland for visa purposes in different regions.
- One authority for work permits now
- A July 2026 law change moved work-permit decisions from the Directorate of Labour to the Directorate of Immigration.
- Employer role in work permits
- An employer must show the role could not be filled by someone already in the Icelandic, EEA or EFTA labour market.
04 / PRACTICAL GUIDE
Iceland visa details that differ from the regional guide
Iceland's small mission network means most applicants apply through a VFS Global centre or another Nordic country's embassy, and a 2026 law change reshaped its work-permit process.- 01
Confirm representation before applying
Where Iceland has no mission, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and several other Schengen states represent it in different countries; check the assigned mission before starting.
Government of Iceland · Where to apply for a visa ↗ - 02
Apply online through visa.government.is
Once the correct mission or centre is confirmed, the online Schengen visa application is completed through this portal before the appointment.
Government of Iceland · Schengen visa ↗ - 03
Work permits now sit fully with the Directorate of Immigration
As of 8 July 2026, amendments to Icelandic law moved responsibility for deciding work permits from the Directorate of Labour to the Directorate of Immigration.
Government of Iceland · Residence permit based on work ↗ - 04
Keep the Schengen rule in view
For a multi-country trip, apply to the country that is the main purpose or longest stay. Use the first country only when stays are equal. The 90 days in any 180-day period are counted across the whole Schengen area.
European Commission · Applying for a Schengen visa ↗
05 / PREPARE
Information worth gathering before you open the form
Not every item applies to every route. Use the official checklist generated for your application.Passport and previous travel-document details
Travel dates, itinerary and accommodation
Travel medical insurance for the Schengen stay
Evidence of funds and the purpose of the trip
Employment, study or sponsor information where relevant
Translations and route-specific documents requested locally
06 / OFFICIAL
Continue with the official authority
You remain responsible for reviewing and submitting your application.