How to Apply for an Iceland Tourist Visa from India

This is the tourist route only, set out in the order you will do it, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. If you are moving to Iceland to study or work, the process starts with the Directorate of Immigration instead; our Iceland visa page for Indians covers those routes.

Do you need an Icelandic visa, or will another Schengen visa do?

Indian citizens are required to obtain a Schengen visa before travelling to Iceland. There is no visa on arrival and no Iceland eVisa. If you already hold a valid Schengen visa issued by another Schengen state, the Embassy says you can use it instead of a separate Icelandic visa.

If you need a new visa for this trip, the Embassy of Iceland handles every application from India. It issues visas through VFS Global: you lodge the file at a VFS centre, and VFS forwards it to the Embassy in New Delhi.

How do you apply for an Iceland tourist visa, step by step?

1. Fix your dates. You can apply up to six months before travel. For the March-June peak season, apply early, because securing a VFS appointment can take several days.
2. Complete the online application at visa.government.is. Print the Schengen application, sign it, and keep the confirmation of submitting the online form; the checklist asks for both.
3. Book a VFS appointment at the centre that suits you.
4. Collect the documents listed in the next section.
5. Lodge the application at VFS and pay the visa fee and the VFS service fee; VFS lists cash or card for its service fee.
6. Respond quickly to requests. If the Embassy finds a document missing, it must be e-mailed within 5 days of your VFS appointment.
7. Collect your passport at the centre, or choose the optional courier return.

Which documents prove a genuine tourist trip?

The Embassy's Tourism, Business and Visiting family and friends checklist groups neatly into four questions the officer asks.

Who are you? A passport valid for a minimum of 3 months from the date you leave the Schengen area, issued within the previous 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages, plus copies of earlier Schengen stamps if any. One passport-style photo, 3.5 x 4.5 cm, white background, no more than 6 months old.

What is the trip? A cover letter stating the purpose, duration, accompanying persons, transport and accommodation; a round-trip flight reservation with PNR number and traveller name; and hotel reservations, a holiday rental, or the host's sponsorship or private accommodation proof.

Can you pay for it? An original personal bank statement for the last three months with all pages stamped and signed by the bank, showing 8000 ISK per day for a hotel stay or 4000 ISK per day if a third party bears the expenses. Add the Indian ITR acknowledgment for the last two assessment years. Travel medical insurance must cover all Schengen countries and the entire trip with at least 30,000 USD (30,000 EUR); an insurance card is not sufficient.

Will you return? Employed applicants show pay slips for the last three months, the employment contract and a leave letter. Self-employed applicants show company registration including the GST number, a business bank statement and ITR. Students show an enrolment certificate; retired applicants show three months of pension statements; sponsored applicants show a sponsor letter and the sponsor's photo ID. Minors need notarised consent of the non-travelling parent(s) and copies of both parents' passports or ID, or a birth certificate.

How much does an Iceland tourist visa cost in rupees?

The rupee amount follows the current exchange rate and can change without notice. Neither the visa fee nor the VFS service fee is refunded.

Which VFS centre can you use?

VFS Global accepts Iceland applications in 16 cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Kochi, Goa, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Puducherry and Pune. There is no state-wise split: the Embassy in New Delhi (33 B. S. Radhakrishna Marg, Chanakyapuri) covers all of India, and its jurisdiction also includes Australia, Nepal, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Iceland's honorary consuls general in Chennai and Kolkata do not handle visas.

How long does it take, and how many are refused?

Processing usually takes 15 calendar days from when the Embassy receives the application, not counting the transport time from the VFS centre, and may be extended in specific cases. The European Commission's statistics show a refusal rate of 25.7% for short-stay Schengen applications lodged at Icelandic consulates in India in 2025 (2,793 visas not issued; 10,906 applications lodged), compared with 16.3% in 2024. That is a measure of past outcomes, not a forecast for your file, but it is a good reason to submit a complete, consistent application and avoid paying for non-refundable travel before the decision.

Can frequent travellers get a multiple-entry visa?

Yes, under an EU rule for Indian nationals that also applies to Iceland. If you live in India, apply in India and have obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years, you can receive a two-year multiple-entry visa. If your passport expires sooner, the visa ends three months before the passport does. Consulates may shorten validity in individual cases or issue multiple-entry visas valid up to 5 years in justified cases. The Embassy's checklist is clear that only applicants who fulfil the criteria for a multiple-entry visa will be granted one.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for an Iceland visa fully online from India?

No. The form is completed online at visa.government.is, but the printed, signed application and documents must be lodged at a VFS Global centre in India, which forwards them to the Embassy of Iceland in New Delhi. There is no Iceland eVisa.

How much bank balance do I need for an Iceland tourist visa?

The checklist asks for a bank statement showing 8000 ISK per day for a hotel stay, or 4000 ISK per day if a third party bears the expenses. The statement must cover the last three months, with all pages stamped and signed by the bank.

Is a cover letter mandatory for an Iceland tourist visa?

Yes. The checklist asks for a cover letter stating the purpose of travel, duration, accompanying persons, and transport and accommodation details.

Does Iceland accept any travel insurance policy?

The policy must cover all Schengen countries for the entire trip with at least 30,000 USD (30,000 EUR) for all risks, and it must state the validity period and coverage area. An insurance card is not sufficient, and VFS links an approved insurance list.