The Icelandic government has announced that starting February 10, 2025, it will begin accepting Schengen visa applications directly in Canada. Previously, Denmark represented Iceland in Canada, meaning applicants had to submit their Schengen visa applications through the Danish embassy. Under the new arrangement, however, applications for Iceland Schengen visas can now be made at VFS Global locations in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa.
Once the applications are submitted at these Canadian locations, they will be forwarded to the Icelandic Embassy in Washington DC for processing. After the embassy processes the applications, the decisions will be sent back to VFS for pickup. This change is expected to make the visa application process more accessible for foreign nationals residing in Canada who need a Schengen visa to enter the Schengen Area.
This decision will not affect Canadian passport holders, as they are allowed visa-free entry to the Schengen Area for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
In 2023, Canadian residents filed a total of 35,087 Schengen visa applications, with 32,416 of them being approved. The most common countries to receive these applications were France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, with France receiving 11,260 applications, Switzerland 4,619, and the Netherlands 4,418. On the other hand, Malta, Latvia, and Slovakia had the fewest applications from Canadian residents, with Malta receiving only eight, Latvia 20, and Slovakia 40.
