Iceland joined the Schengen territory in 2001 and is now counted in the Schengen area. Icelandic or Schengen visas are easy to obtain and can be acquired in as little as 15 days.
If you are an African citizen trying to acquire a visa for Iceland, you have come to the right place. The process just requires you to fill out your application and submit a few documents, after which you will have to give an interview.
This may seem exhausting initially, but I have done my best to include only the most essential details and exclude unnecessary information so that you can get all the information for an Iceland visa for Africans.
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Different Types of Iceland Visas
You can apply for different visas based on your reason for travel. Some of the common Iceland visas are listed below:
- The Tourist or Travel Visa can be applied for if you plan to stay for a short period of up to 90 days for recreation, education, or health-related issues, just to name a few. You can travel all over the Schengen area with this visa.
- The Business Visa can be applied if you plan to visit for work-related purposes. This also offers a stay of up to 90 days in the country. Be advised that you will need additional documents for a business visa which will be covered later in the article.
- The Transit Visa can be applied if you just have to stop in Iceland to catch another plane. You should get the information on whether you will stay in the country before applying for any visa since you must provide a visa at the airport.
Other types of visas include:
- Iceland cultural, sports, and religious event visa,
- Iceland medical treatment visa
- Iceland long-stay visa
Pre-requisites For Visa Application
Before applying for the visa, you must have the following documents. If you do not have any of these documents, don’t panic. Make a copy of any replacement records that you believe are relevant to the situation:
- A Valid Passport. Ensure your passport has been issued within ten years and has a validity of 3 more months after your return from the trip. Keep a copy of the first page that holds your information.
- Two Passport-sized Photographs. Make sure your photos are taken according to the requirements mentioned by the Schengen visa application website.
- Icelandic Visa Application Form. Make sure you have filled in all the required fields; otherwise, and your application will be subject to rejection even if you missed the least essential field.
- Proof of Financial Stability. You need to provide your bank statements and records. Also, keep a copy of the letter of employment.
- Proof of Accommodation. This can differ based on where you will be residing during your stay. If you are staying with a known accomplice, you need a letter of invitation from them. If you are staying at a hotel, you need proof of reservation.
- Proof of valid return to your country. This is required as you can stay within your time limit in the country and have genuine proof that you will return to your country, like booking a return flight, its date, and flight number.
- Iceland Travel Health Insurance. You need to have Schengen health insurance worth at least 30,000 Euros.
- A letter stating your reason for traveling to the country.
- Proof of sufficient funds for your stay in Iceland.
- If you are traveling with your family, you must be able to provide certain proofs like marital and birth certificates of the children if you have any.
Several other documents are required based on your employment status.
- If you are employed, you are required to have the following:
- Your employment contract
- Bank statements for the last six months
- A leave approved by your employer
- If you are a business owner, you need to provide the following:
- Certificate of Registration
- Tax forms
- If you are a student, you need to have the following:
- Proof of admission
- Consent of guardians and the board of education
If you possess all these documents, you don’t have to worry about anything. If you think you might not have one of the documents nor a substitute for that particular record, you should contact the visa application center.
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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply?
Here is a step-by-step guide on applying for a visa and all the requirements for an Icelandic visa.
1. Fill out the Application Form
Go ahead and download the application form from the Schengen visa website. Once you have filled in all the necessary details, go to the visa application center near your location along with all your documents, as mentioned above.
2. Book an Interview
You are now required to make an appointment with a consulate or the embassy for an interview. This can be done online, or in some cases, you might need to make an appointment in person.
On the interview day, ensure you are on time and arrive on time. Otherwise, you might need to make another appointment. Double-check that you have all the documents in advance.
Your interview is a crucial phase of the process. All the documents, including your passport, application, and other questioning, will be done on this day.
You are going to be asked questions like,
- What is the nature of your visit?
- How long are you planning to stay?
- Who are you staying with? etc.
Respond to each question honestly. All the data you provided will be investigated, and if any detail is different than what you mentioned, your application might be canceled.
3. Visa Collection
After your interview, it will now be up to the embassy to decide whether your application will be accepted or rejected. This procedure typically takes up to 15 days.
After this duration, your passport will be returned and collected by yourself, or you can request a representative to collect it and mail it to you for a small extra charge.
Your passport will determine whether or not your visa is approved. If it is approved, it will be attached to your passport. Otherwise, if it is rejected, it will be mentioned in the passport and the reason for rejection.
When is the best time to apply for the visa?
Every embassy has its proposed period within which you can apply for a visa. The earliest you can submit your application is six months before your trip, and the latest you can submit is two weeks before your trip.
How costly is a visa?
The short-stay visa costs 80 euros for an adult, and for children under 12, it costs 40 euros. Children under the age of 6 are not required to pay a fee. The long-stay visa costs around 60 euros. You can either pay your fee during registration for the interview or the interview. This fee is non-refundable.
How Much is Bank Balance Required For Iceland Visa?
For African citizens wishing to obtain a visa for visiting or residing in Iceland, the required bank balance is 4,000 Icelandic Krona (ISK). This amount must be maintained for at least three months before applying for the visa.
Please note that this amount does not cover your expenses during your stay in Iceland; it is simply a requirement to be met before submitting your application.
Can I Apply For An Iceland Visa Online From Africa?
Unfortunately, an online system has yet to be available for applicants from African countries. However, submitting your application by post or in person at one of the Icelandic embassies in major African cities is possible.
The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration has also recently launched a pilot project allowing visitors from certain countries outside Europe to apply online and receive their visa via email.
The online visa process still needs to be launched in Africa, but in futrure, there are chances that EEA laws will soon allow African citizens to apply for online visa. But still, you can download the visa application online from the Iceland Visa website.
Can I Go To Iceland With A Green Card?
Yes, if you are a permanent resident of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA). In that case, you can use your Green Card as a valid form of identification while traveling in and around Europe. However, if you are traveling outside the EEA, you must obtain a valid passport and an Icelandic visa.
You can contact the Iceland Visa website’s support team for further information and queries. You can also get more details for Green Card on this website.
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Do I Need A Visa For Iceland From South Africa?
South African citizens require a valid visa to enter and reside in Iceland. The type of visa depends on the purpose of your visit. Whether it’s tourism or study. But generally, all foreign nationals require some form of entry clearance before entering Iceland.
Applications can be submitted by post or at any Icelandic embassy in major South African cities.
