Passport and Visa regulations

Iceland is an associate member of the Schengen Agreement, which exempts travellers from personal border controls between 22 EU countries.
For residents outside the Schengen area, a valid passport is required for at least three months beyond date of entry.

For information on passport and visa requirements as well as the Schengen area regulations, visit the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration.

Healthcare

Medical care can be obtained by visiting a Health care centre. Citizens of EEA countries must bring their EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card), otherwise they will be charged in full.
Non-EEA citizens are not covered by the EEA regulations and will be charged in full, we recommend you purchase travel and health insurance before you visit.
Emergency number: 112

No vaccination certificates are required. There are no snakes or dangerous wild animal in Iceland.

Icelandic water and swimming pools

When travelling in Iceland you may notice an “eggy” smell when running hot water that is simply a naturally occurring smell from the geothermal water source.
Iceland’s drinking water is ranked top 10 cleanest water in the world, the water is naturally free of elements such as chlorine, calcium, and nitrate. 

Iceland is privileged with many natural resources and geothermal water is one of them, filling our natural hot springs, nature pools, swimming pools and baths all around the country.
We recommend that you go for a swim at least once during your stay in Iceland.

Climate

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland enjoys a cool, temperate maritime climate, cool in summer and fairly mild in winter.
However, the weather is very changeable, and visitors should be prepared for the unexpected.
View more at the Icelandic Met Office at en.vedur.is.

You can get sun, rain, heavy wind, calm wind and even sleet all on the same day all year round.

Money

The Icelandic monetary unit is króna (ISK).
Credit cards from major card companies like VISA, Mastercard, and American Express are generally always accepted in Iceland.
However, it’s important to remember that acceptance may vary depending on the individual business, so checking in advance is a good idea.
What are the fees to use my credit card in Iceland?
Most if not all shops in Iceland accept card payments so you do not need to withdraw Icelandic cash from an ATM. (ATM  = Hraðbanki)

Notes from visitors from USA

Iceland uses cards with the chip-and-PIN system, which requires a 4-digit PIN for purchases. 
If you have a traditional “swipe and sign” card, you may wish to inquire about getting a chip-card from your bank or a major credit card issuer before travelling.

Iceland uses Northern European electrical standards (50 Hz/220 volts) so converters may be required for small electrical appliances brought from home.

Iceland uses the standard Europlug socket with two round prongs.

Electricity

Iceland uses Northern European electrical standards (50 Hz/220 volts) so converters may be required for small electrical appliances brought from home.

Iceland uses the standard Europlug socket with two round prongs.