Consular affairs

The Consular Affairs Unit of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs safeguards the interest and safety of Icelandic citizens abroad. The Unit can be reached all year round, 24 hours a day, via number + 354 545 0 112.

People intending to travel to Iceland should inquire with the Directorate of Immigration whether they need to obtain a visa prior to arrival. The processing time of Schengen visas is 10 working days so be sure to file an application in good time.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for certifying documents, but documents are received and processed at the District Commissioner of Greater Reykjavík, Hlíðasmári 1, 201 Kópavogur. Questions regarding Apostille and chain authentications are not answered via phone, only via email [email protected].

Apostille authentication confirms the authenticity of a signature and stamp on a public document issued by an Icelandic authority to be used in a foreign country that is part of the Haag-Convention.

Chain authentication is a formal certification for authenticity, used in the following instances:

• For Icelandic documents that are to be used in a foreign country which is nota part of the Haag convention
• For foreign documents that are to be used in Iceland and is issued by a country which is not a part of the Haag convention.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs authenticates documents by attaching an Apostille certificate to it or in the case of chain authentication by the Ministry's stamp.

Please note that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs does not Apostille certify documents issued outside of Iceland.

The following documents can be authenticated:

• Original documents that are signed and stamped by an Icelandic authority. Such as Registers Iceland, Iceland Revenue and Customs, Icelandic Medicines Agency, etc.
• Icelandic documents that have been notarised by a District Commissioner (notarius publicus) with an official stamp and signature. Including, but not limited to documents such as power of attorney, purchase of real estate abroad, doctors’ notes, adoption papers, university diplomas, etc.
• Original foreign documents issued by a country that is not a party to the Haag convention and has been signed and stamped by the Ministry for Foreign affairs for said country.

Fee per authentication is 2.700 ISK.

Fee for postage is 2.000 ISK.

The documents are ready after 14:00, two working days after the Ministry recieves them.

Please be adviced that due to circumstances out of our control documents from Vietnam will take a considerable longer time to process. For further information please contact [email protected].

If you have an Icelandic kennitala you can fill out your request online at Ísland.is

If you do not have an Icelandic kennitala you fill out a request form for authentication at the District Commissioner of Greater Reykjavik front desk or send a request by e-mail to [email protected].

The request must include:

• Contact information, including name, phone number and e-mail address of applicant.
• Receiving country where documents will be used.
• Number of documents to be authenticated.

Payment must be made in **advance.**Payment can be made by:

• Bank transfer to account: 0303-26-269, kt: 670269-4779. A receipt must be sent to [email protected]
• *For international bank transfers*: IBAN IS80 0303 2600 0269 6702 6947 79 SWIFT ESJAISRE
  Bank name: Arion Bank, Borgartún 19, 105 Reykjavík
• Account of: Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Reykjastræti 8, 101 Reykjavík
• Credit card at the front desk of the District Commissioner of Greater Reykjavík.

**Please note that if documents need to be translated into Icelandic the process is as follows:**

• Have the document translated by a translator certified in Iceland.
• Get the translation notarized by a District Commissioner in Iceland.
• Request authentication at the District Commissioner of Greater Reykjavik.

Consular assistance is the assistance that Icelandic citizens who are in distress or other difficulties can obtain from the Icelandic Consular service in the Icelandic Foreign Ministry or Icelandic foreign missions (embassies and consulates).

Assistance can take the following form

• helping people to help themselves, i.e., advice and information
• the reissuing of lost or stolen Icelandic passports
• measures in connection with serious illness or death of an Icelandic citizen abroad
• measures in connection with major accidents and disasters involving Icelandic citizens abroad.

Contact the Consular service for further information about Consular assistance. tel + 354 545 0 112.

• Icelandic and Foreign Diplomatic Missions