I. What does airport transit mean according to Schengen rules?
II. Who needs Airport Transit Visa to transit through an airport in Iceland?
III. What residence permits allow holders to transit through member states‘ airports without Airport Transit Visa?
I. What does airport transit mean according to Schengen rules?
For the purpose of Schengen rules airport transit means only a transit from a flight from a non-Schengen member state through an airport in Iceland and onwards to another non-Schengen member state.
Example:
A person travelling from New York to Iceland and onwards to London needs Airport Transit Visa in accordance to the conditions stated below (part II and III). Such passengers (also those who do not require Airport Transit Visa) should ensure that their luggage is checked through to the final destination.
A person travelling from New York to Iceland and onwards to Berlin (or any other airport in the Schengen area) is not considered to be in transit for the purpose of Schengen rules. Such persons will be entering the Schengen area in Iceland and therefore need a [Uniform) Schengen Visa before arriving in Iceland.
Please note that holders of refugee travel documents from the USA and Canada are exempted from the requirement for a visa in some Schengen member states, but not all.
Holders of such documents need a Schengen visa when travelling through Iceland (even if they do not leave the airport), if their country of citizenship is on the list of countries whose citizens need a visa to visit Iceland.
II. Who needs Airport Transit Visa to transit through an airport in Iceland?
Citizens of the following states need a valid Airport Transit Visa [Issued by Iceland] to transit through an Icelandic airport, with or without changing the airplane, unless they are holders of a residence permit listed below in part III.
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
The People's Republic of Congo
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Ghana
Iran
Iraq
Nigeria
Pakistan
Somalia
Sri Lanka
III. What residence permits allow holders to transit through member states‘ airports without Airport Transit Visa?
Exempt from needing Airport Transit Visa are citizens of the states listed above in part II if they are:
- holders of residence permits issued by a Schengen member state
- holders of the following residence permits issued by:
Great Britain
Leave to remain in the United Kingdom for an indefinite period
Certificate of entitlement to the right of abode
Ireland
Residence Permit and re-entry visa
Liechtenstein
Livret pour étranger B
Livret pour étranger C
- holders of the following residence permits issued by the following states and the holder has the right to return to his/her country of residence:
Andorra
Tarjeta provisional de estancia y de trabajo
Tarjeta provisional de estancia y de trabajo
Tarjeta de estancia
Tarjeta temporal de residencia
Tarjeta ordinaria de residencia
Tarjeta privilegiada de residencia
Autorización de residencia
Autorización temporal de residencia y de trabajo
Autorización ordinaria de residencia y de trabajo
Autorización privilegiada de residencia y de trabajo
Canada
Permanent resident card
Japan
Re-entry permit to Japan
San Marino
Permesso di soggiorno ordinario (validità illimitata)
Permesso di soggiorno continuativo speciale (validità illimitata)
Carta d’identità de San Marino (validità illimitata)
United States of America
Form I-551 Alien registration receipt card
Form I-551 Alien registration receipt card
Form I-327 Re-entry document
Resident alien card (valid 2 or 10 years or unlimited. Only sufficient if the holder has not resided outside of USA for longer than one year).
Permit to re-enter (valid 2 years. Only permits holders return if he/she has not resided outside of USA for longer than two years).
Valid temporary residence stamp in a valid passport (valid for one year from date of issuance).