Iceland tourist visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a Iceland tourist Schengen visa when you apply from United States.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇮🇸 Iceland·····✈·····🇺🇸 from United States
To
Iceland
Type
C · TOURISM
Apply at
USA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededTourism — short stay (Type C) · applying from United States.
Documents ready00 / 10
Competent authority
Embassy of Iceland in Washington D.C. (Iceland resumed issuing its own visas in the USA; Sweden previously represented Iceland). Applications accepted at VFS Global centres in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago and Houston.
Application centre
VFS Global (New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Houston)
Recommended — commonly expected even when not on the official list
Cover letterA letter of introduction stating who you are and why you are travelling.
Fees
Consular (Type C)
€90
Service fee
$35
Est. total (adult)
$135
Long stay (Type D)
—
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in USD · centre: VFS Global.
Fee notes
VFS Global (Chicago, Houston, NY, SF, DC). Some Nordic cross-representation. D not confirmed.
Timeline
medium confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
3–9 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
Roughly 2-6 weeks typical; VFS releases slots in unpredictable batches with no waitlist. Worse in peak summer.
Application centre
VFS Global (US, e.g. Washington DC, NY, Chicago, Houston, SF, LA, Miami). Decided by the Embassy of Iceland in Washington, D.C.
Timeline notes
Small consular network; single deciding post (Embassy Washington DC) can create a processing bottleneck.
Funds to show
high confidenceThe amount you must be able to prove, per the Schengen Borders Code reference amount. It depends only on the destination — not on your nationality or where you apply.
Per day
ISK 8000
Minimum
ISK 40000
In EUR ≈
€55 / day
self-funded (per person per day)
ISK 8000 / day
expenses borne by a third party (per person per day)
ISK 4000 / day
Floor
total minimum ISK 40,000 for each entry
Notes
Reference amount ISK 8,000 per person per day; halved to ISK 4,000/day if stay expenses are borne by a third party. Absolute minimum ISK 40,000 per entry, plus funds for the return journey. EUR equivalent approx at ~145 ISK/EUR.
Consulates apply discretion and may expect a buffer above this figure — treat it as a floor, not a guarantee.
Funds source ↗⚠ Special cases & caveats
- US citizens and other Schengen visa-exempt nationalsNo Schengen visa required for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period; only a valid passport is needed.
- All non-immigrant US residentsUS Resident Alien Card, visa or EAD must be valid at least 3 months after the intended departure from the Schengen area.
- First-time Schengen applicantsPersonal appearance for biometrics is required; those who gave fingerprints in the last 59 months may be exempt.
- Nationals of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Georgia (non-biometric), Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, KosovoReduced visa fee USD 43 instead of USD 105.
- Gambian nationalsHigher visa fee USD 130.
- Minors (under 18)Birth certificate and notarised consent from both parents/legal guardians, plus copies of parents'/guardians' passports.