Can I travel to Iceland with a US green card? In case you missed it, holders of US green cards have access to many countries on the planet even if they do not have a visa to those countries, so if you own a US green card, you may be wondering whether you can travel to Iceland with the document without requiring a visa. In this post, we will address this issue and provide alternatives to the green card for entry into the Northern European country.
Can I Travel to Iceland With A US Green Card?
Holders of US green cards cannot travel to Iceland or any other European Union country with only that. While a green card can increase your chances of entering Iceland, you will need more than that. The good thing about having a green card is that you have the opportunity to travel to many countries where the US government has a visa liberalization policy, but holders of green cards cannot access Europe without any other document to aid their travel.
Based on travel trends dating back several decades, the number of US citizens and green card holders tracking to the EU has steadily increased, with 2020 being the only year there was a downturn due to Covid. If they will need more than passports and green cards, how are they doing it? Keep reading to know more.
How To Gain Access Into Iceland With A Green Card?
For starters, US citizens enjoy visa free access to Europe, but they will need to provide a valid US passport once they arrive in Iceland or any other Schengen country. This remains the case, but the new policy set to go into motion by 2024 is the ETIAS visa waiver program. Once this document becomes mandatory, holders of US citizenship will have to apply for it and get it at least 96 hours before traveling to Iceland.
However, the same is not the case for US residents who own green cards. To access Iceland or any other Schengen country in Europe, they will need to apply for a Schengen Visa.
Who Needs A Schengen Visa From The US?
Temporary or permanent residents in the US who come from countries that are not in the Schengen visa free countries will need visas to enter Iceland for short trips. As long as they are not permitted to enter Europe visa free based on their nationality, they will need to apply for a Schengen visa whether or not they hold a residency permit issued by the US Department of State.
So as you can see, holders of Green cards cannot travel to Iceland with only their cards but must also show a visa at the airport once they arrive in Reykjavik.
Here is a summary of persons that will not need visas if they have green cards.
Foreign passport holders from countries that are listed on the Schengen visa free list
Dual citizens currently living in the US come from a country with a visa-free regime with the EU and Schengen zone.
Dual citizens who come from an EU country
How Long Can US Green Card Holders Stay in Iceland With A Schengen Visa?
Green Card holders who enter Iceland with a Schengen visa can enter Iceland and stay for up to 90 days.
Bear in mind that the visa is valid for 180 days and becomes active from the day the Iceland Embassy issues it in the US. With this visa, they can travel to any part of the country as long as they are not doing anything Illegal.
What Are The Documents Required To Get The Visa?
A complete visa application form
Valid passport inside by their national government
Cover letter explaining their intention
Invitation letter if a host in Iceland invites them
Travel medical insurance with a minimum of €30,000 coverage
Proof of financial sustenance
Round trip travel Itinerary
Proof of accommodation
Civil Status certificate
Parental consent for minors
Visa fee receipt
These are the documents the Iceland embassy will request before they can issue the visa to you.
How Can Citizens Enter Iceland?
As for bonafide, US citizens can visit Iceland by applying for the ETIAS visa waiver online. The process takes only a few minutes to complete, and the approval document will be sent to their verified email within 24 hours. If you want to apply for Etias, kindly visit VisaHQ to complete the form once the policy becomes active. And ensure you fill out the form correctly and pay the application fee with a credit or debit card.
Can I travel to Iceland with US green card? No, you cannot, as you will need a visa.