Entry Requirements & Customs

Passports

All visitors to Iceland must carry a passport, valid at least 3 months beyond the return date. All U.S. citizens regardless of age (even newborns) must have a passport to travel abroad. For an up-to-date, country-by-country listing of passport requirements around the world, go to the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov and click the link for "Country Specific Information."

Visas

If your trip to Iceland is under 90 days, no visa is required for passport holders in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries. Iceland is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, which includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Germany. Citizens of these countries do not need a visa. If you are from a country not listed here, check with the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration (www.utl.is) to see if you need a visa and what the requirements are. In most instances, other Scandinavian embassies will handle visa applications on behalf of Iceland. If you need a visa, it must be secured in advance of your trip.

If you travel to Iceland without a visa and are not from the Schengen Area, the total stay within the Schengen Area must not exceed 3 months in any period of 6 months. If you do need a visa, it will normally apply to the entire Schengen Area.

Work

A visa does not grant the right to work in Iceland. If you are from a European Economic Area (EEA) country, you can apply for Icelandic jobs without first securing a work permit. For more information, check with the Directorate of Labour (tel. 515-4800; www.vinnumalastofnun.is/english).

Medical Requirements

No inoculations are compulsory for travel to Iceland.

Customs

For complete listings of permitted items, visit the Directorate of Customs website at www.tollur.is, or call tel. 560-0300 (daily 8am-3:30pm).

What You Can Bring into Iceland:

• All riding and angling gear must be disinfected, including gloves, boots, and waders. You'll need proof of disinfection from an authorized vet, or the gear will be disinfected upon arrival at your expense. For more information, contact the Agricultural Authority (tel. 530-4800; www.lbs.is).

• Alcohol: Travelers at least 20 years of age may bring 1 liter of wine or 6 liters of beer, plus 1 liter of spirits. If you're not carrying spirits or beer, you can bring in 2.5 liters of wine.

• Currency: There are no limits on foreign currency.

• Food: You may bring up to 3kg of food into Iceland, but no raw eggs, raw meat, or milk.

• Pets: All animals require a permit from the Agricultural Authority. Permits are hard to get, and the animal must undergo 4 weeks of quarantine, so traveling with pets is usually not an option.

• Tobacco: Travelers 18 or older may bring up to 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco, but no "moist snuff."

What You Can Take Home from Iceland:

Icelandic law forbids the export of birds, bird eggs, bird nests, eggshells, many rare minerals, all stalactites and stalagmites in caves, and 31 protected plant species. In other words, leave nature where you found it. Objects of historical or archaeological interest may not be taken out of the country without special permission.

• U.S. Citizens: For specifics on what you can bring back, download Know Before You Go online at www.cbp.gov or contact the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (tel. 877/287-8667) to request the pamphlet.

• Canadian Citizens: For a clear summary of Canadian rules, pick up the booklet I Declare, issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca).

• U.K. Citizens: For information, contact HM Customs & Excise at tel. 0845/010-9000 (from outside the U.K., 020/8929-0152), or consult their website at www.hmce.gov.uk.

• Australian Citizens: A helpful brochure available from Australian consulates or Customs offices is Know Before You Go. For more information, contact the Australian Customs Service (tel. 1300/363-263; www.customs.gov.au).

• New Zealand Citizens: Most questions are answered in a free pamphlet available at New Zealand consulates and Customs offices: New Zealand Customs Guide for Travellers, Notice no. 4. For more information, contact New Zealand Customs (tel. 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).