Tax Refund

You can have your value-added tax (VAT) refunded at Keflavík Airport at Arion bank which is located in the arrivals hall of the airport.
Passengers are to fetch their refund before checking in and must be ready to show the goods for which they are claiming a refund. Opening hours match flight schedules.
Rules on VAT refunds
Value-added tax (VAT) may be refunded to parties with permanent residence overseas for goods they have bought in Iceland, provided the conditions of the regulation are met. Conditions for reimbursement according to regulation are that the purchaser of the goods has permanent residence in a country other than Iceland. As proof of permanent residence overseas, the purchaser must submit his passport or other ID that provides proof of domicile in another country. Foreigners with permanent residence in Iceland are not entitled to VAT refunds according to the regulation.
All the following conditions must be met in order to receive a refund.
The purchaser must take the product with him out of the country within three months from the date that the product was purchased. The purchase price of the item including VAT must be at least ISK 6,000. The item must be shown together with the requisite documentation on departure. VAT may be refunded on goods on the same receipt if their total purchase price is ISK 6,000 or more, including VAT, even if one or more items do not reach the required minimum amount. On departure from Iceland through Keflavík International Airport, the buyer shall present the goods, together with the reimbursement documentation, to the refunding entity, who will execute the refund, provided that the conditions set in the regulation are met in other respects. The refunding entity may not refund the VAT unless the buyer can provide adequate evidence of permanent residence overseas.

Security control and rules

How can I speed up the security screening?
Be ready to show the security staff your passport/boarding pass.
Be ready to place your hand luggage in plastic trays on the conveyor in front of the scanner.
We recommend that you have already:
laced cosmetics, perfumes, and other liquids (each unit less than 100 ml) in clear plastic bags.
The bags should be packed so that they are easily accessible, as they must be scanned separately.
removed laptops and other larger electronics from the bag. taken off coats and jackets,
removed belts, and emptied pockets.
You may be requested to remove your shoes and have them scanned.

What happens if prohibited items are found in my hand luggage?
If prohibited items (e.g. sharp items, liquids in containers larger than 100 ml or more than 10 such units) are found during the security check, you will not be allowed to take them through the security gate.
Once you have reached the security screening, it is too late to put prohibited items in previously checked-in luggage.
Facilities to store prohibited items are not available in airports in Iceland.

Check-in

Check-in by airline operator
If an airline does not offer self-service check-in, the passenger goes to a traditional check-in desk where an employee of the airline operator will handle the check-in and receive hold luggage. The check-in desks are numbered, and passengers can find their flight’s number on the screen in the check-in hall when they arrive. Airline operators generally open for check-in two and a half hours (2.5 hrs) before the scheduled departure.
Online check-in
Passengers check-in through the website of the airline and receive a boarding pass on their smartphone or for printing at home. On arrival at Keflavík Airport, passengers go directly up to the departures area if carrying hand luggage only. Icelandair passengers with hold luggage for check-in go first to the self-service check-in station to get stickers for the luggage, then to the self bag drop-off. easyJet passengers with hold luggage for check-in go directly to the airline operator bag drop-off. Bag drop-off options Self bag drop-off
Once passengers have self-checked in, they can go to the self bag drop-off. There, passengers scan their bag and the boarding pass, and then the bag is processed. Bag drop-off to airline operator
The employees of airline operators take delivery of the bags at the check-in desk, where they are labeled and processed. Check-in desks are generally open for check-in two and a half hours (2.5 hrs) before the scheduled departure.
Preparations for check-in Passengers can speed up the process by having already labeled all luggage properly and having booking confirmations and passports ready. When packing for a trip, it is a good idea to keep in mind that vanity pouches, toothpaste, hair products, perfumes, creams, aftershave, deodorants, soaps, shaving cream, and other comparable items are best kept in checked-in luggage. Remember to also pack items that are not permitted in hand baggage in the checked-in bags. Items such as scissors, nail files, and pocket knives must be put in checked-in luggage. If such items are found in hand luggage during the security check, the passenger, without exception, will be prevented from continuing with such items through the security gate.
After check-in There is plenty to see and do in the departures area of Keflavík Airport on the second floor. We recommend that passengers go through the security check immediately after check-in and then on to the departures area. A range of restaurants and shops, all of which are tax-free, may be found in the departures area. Families with children can make themselves comfortable in the children’s play area. The terminal offers free wireless Internet together with numerous charging stations for equipment.