Iceland Schengen Visa

Iceland, among the most popular Nordic nations, is located in North Atlantic Ocean and is well-known for its active and dormant volcanoes, hot springs, lava fields, and vivid culture. To enjoy all of them or to visit this Nordic island nation for work, education, and more, however, a visa would be required.

UAE residents holding a passport of another nation that doesn’t have a visa-free entry tie-up with the Nordic countries would need to apply for an Iceland Schengen visa. UAE nationals, however, don’t need to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa.

This article will provide all the details about who needs an Iceland Schengen visa, the mandatory requirements, application process, processing time, as well as the need to secure travel insurance for your Schengen visa for Iceland.

Do You Need Schengen Visa for Iceland?

As mentioned earlier, if you reside in the UAE but your passport is of a nation that does not have the visa-free entry system for Schengen nations, you would need to secure an Iceland Schengen visa to travel to the country for up to 90 days.

This doesn’t apply to UAE nationals, as the citizens can have visa-free entry to the Schengen region without requiring a short-stay or tourist visa. However, if the intent of the visit is a year-long course or business, even the UAE nationals would need an Iceland Schengen visa.

Requirements to Apply for Iceland Schengen Visa

To apply for a Schengen visa to Iceland, you would be asked to provide the following mandatory documents to the visa processing authority in the UAE –

• Iceland Schengen visa application form (the form must be printed, filled up accurately, and signed by the user) 
• 2 passport-sized photos as per the guidelines laid in the photograph requirements by the Schengen visa application centres 
• Valid passport – the passport should not be older than 10 years and have validity for more than three months beyond the stay in Iceland. It should also have at least two blank pages to attach the visa. 
• Flight itinerary that should specify the flight numbers, dates, and other travel details
• Travel insurance documents – to travel to the Schengen region, you should have travel insurance that offers coverage of at least EUR 30,000
• Proof of accommodation (hotel bookings, letter of invitation from a host, and more) 
• Proof of income to demonstrate that you possess adequate funds to support yourself financially through the entire stay in Iceland. The document could include any (or both) of the following –
  • Bank statement – no older than 3 months 
  • Sponsorship letter – to be provided by the third party who is financially supporting your trip to Iceland. This letter should be affixed with the three-month bank statements of the sponsor.
• Cover letter stating the reason for which you are applying for the Iceland Schengen visa, the duration of the stay, the date of departure from Iceland, and more 

Note: The above-mentioned is the list of basic paperwork, as additional documents can be requested by the visa authorities. 

The following are the additional documents that you would need to provide, based on your employment status –

For Employed Individuals

• Employment contract
• Leave permission from the employer
• Current bank statement not older than 6 months

For Self-employed Individuals

• A copy of trade licence
• Company bank statement for last 6 months

For Students

• Proof of enrolment 
• NOC from the college or university

How to Apply for Schengen Visa for Iceland?

To apply for an Iceland Schengen visa in Dubai, you can follow the steps mentioned below –

• Connect with the Danish embassy and verify if the embassy manages the visa application process itself or has outsourced it to a third party 
• Make an appointment at the authorised visa centre 
• Attend the interview and carry all the mandatory documents, organised in the manner requested. 
• Await the response – the process often takes at least 15 days to get completed 

The Danish Embassy represents Iceland in the UAE, and the embassy has delegated the task of visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. You can submit your Iceland Schengen visa application at their Visa Application Centre in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. 

The Visa Application Centre in Abu Dhabi accepts applications from individuals holding a residence permit issued by Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. Dubai’s Visa Application Centre, on the other hand, welcomes visa applications from Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah.

The Visa Centres are open from Sunday to Thursday from 09:00 am to 05:00 pm. You can file your Iceland Schengen visa application from 09:00 am to 03:00 pm.

Address and Contact Details

• Abu Dhabi – Level 25, Shining Tower, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, 26th Street, Near Khalidyah Mall
• Dubai – Joint Visa Application Centre, Waafi Mall, Level 2, Falcon, Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2
• Contact Details – 04-2055666; info.Icelanduae@vfshelpline.com

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Iceland Schengen Visa?

It is mandatory for you to secure travel medical insurance to complete your Iceland Schengen visa application process. Moreover, this travel insurance plan must necessarily have medical coverage of at least EUR 30,000 and must be valid across all the Schengen countries. 

A travel insurance plan can offer you financial cover in case of a medical emergency, delay in trip, or any other such difficult situation.

The following are the key benefits of travel insurance for Iceland Schengen visa –

• Meets the Visa Application Requirements – Travel insurance is mandatory to successfully process your Iceland Schengen visa
• Covers Emergency Medical Expenses – You can get instant cashless benefits if a medical emergency arises on your trip to Iceland. You can avail of treatment in the top hospitals mentioned in the network list. Since the insurance provider will directly pay the bill, you would not need to spend thousands of Euros at medical care facilities even for a trivial emergency.
• COVID-19 Cover – With most travel insurance companies offering plans with COVID-19 coverage, everything from the RT-PCR test to quarantine and the medical treatment are covered if the policyholder is diagnosed with COVID-19
• Travel Inconvenience Coverage – Your travel insurance can offer financial cover in case of theft, personal liability, or trip curtailment
• Loss of Luggage Cover – If you lose your personal belongings or luggage in your destination country for the trip or during transit, this cover will provide you compensation so that you can purchase the required items from the country

The following are the types of travel insurance available for your Iceland Schengen visa – 

• Single-Trip Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa – This travel insurance is designed particularly for travellers going to Iceland on a single trip. This type of travel insurance, necessary for a Type C single-entry Schengen visa, can be purchased by solo travellers, a group of friends/family, and senior citizens who are going to Iceland only once a year.
• Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa – This travel insurance type is suitable for people who visit Iceland frequently. Whether your purpose of visit is related to business, family visits, or leisure trips, you can get this travel insurance if you make multiple visits to Iceland annually.

Processing Time for the Iceland Schengen Visa

The processing time for tourist Schengen visa for Iceland depends on the application centre and their working process. The general time taken is at least 2 weeks to receive your Schengen tourist visa to Iceland, although there could be special circumstances under which you could receive your Iceland Schengen visa in 30 days or 60 days.

When Should You Apply for Schengen Visa to Iceland?

It is advisable to apply for a Schengen visa to Iceland as soon as your trip details are confirmed. Till now, the time by which you could submit your Iceland Schengen visa application was 3 months before the date of departure. However, as per the recent updates in the Schengen visa rules, you can submit the visa application 6 months before your date of departure.

Schengen Visa to Iceland Fees

Have a look at the Schengen visa to Iceland fees for different categories of individuals – 

How Long is Your Iceland Schengen Visa Valid?

Short-stay or Type C Schengen visas for Iceland have a validity period of up to 90 days, while the long-stay or Type D Schengen visas for Iceland are valid for 6 months to 5 years.

1.) Type C Visa

The Type C Iceland Schengen visa enables you to travel to Iceland for up to 90 days for tourism, family visit, business, short educational course, internship, and more. You can be given a single, double, or multiple entry Iceland Schengen visa as per the intent of your trip. 

• A single-entry Iceland Schengen visa has a validity of 90 days and expires as soon as you exit the region (or after 90 days, whichever comes earlier) 
• With multiple or double-entry Schengen visa to Iceland in Dubai, you can enter the region multiple times or twice, respectively. The total number of days for which you can stay in the region, however, is 90 days (within a 180-day period). 

2.) Type D Visa

The validity of this visa type can extend up to 5 years. Moreover, there is no 90-day limit on this visa. The duration for which this visa will be valid will be based on the intent of your trip, which could be temporary long-stay, work, studies, and more. 

You can extend your stay Iceland Schengen visa in exceptional cases where there are some valid reasons to stay in Iceland. 

Key Takeaways

As a UAE national, you don’t need an Iceland Schengen visa from Dubai if you are travelling to this Schengen nation for up to 90 days. However, you would need an Iceland Schengen visa if your stay will extend beyond the specified period, whether due to work, higher education, and more. 

To apply for a visa, you would be required to provide a valid passport, passport-sized photographs, proof of financial means, residential visa in the UAE, cover letter, flight itinerary, proof of accommodation, and travel insurance. 

The Danish Embassy, representing Iceland in the UAE, has delegated the Iceland Schengen visa application process to VFS Global. You can submit your forms either at Dubai or Abu Dhabi’s Visa Application Centre. 

The Visa Centre in Abu Dhabi receives applications from individuals holding a residence permit issued by Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. The Visa Centre in Dubai, on the other side, can receive Iceland Schengen visa applications from Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah.

You can secure the best travel insurance plan for your Iceland Schengen visa from policybazaar.ae. Our online portal offers excellent travel insurance plans (compiled from the leading insurance providers in the emirates) at affordable premium rates due to various offers and discounts on our site. Moreover, you can connect with us at any time to get assisted by insurance experts in selecting a travel insurance plan that meets your requirements.

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