Quick answer: The Iceland remote work visa is a long-term visa that lets visa-exempt, non-EEA citizens work remotely from Iceland for a foreign employer or their own business for up to 180 days. You need foreign income of at least ISK 1,000,000 a month (about $8,200 / €7,300), or ISK 1,300,000 with a spouse or partner, health insurance of at least ISK 2,000,000, and you pay a processing fee of ISK 12,200. It does not give you a kennitala or the right to work for Icelandic employers.
Iceland introduced its long-term visa for remote workers to attract people who earn their income abroad and want to spend a season in the country. It is often called the Iceland digital nomad visa, although that is not its official name. This guide covers who qualifies, the income threshold, the documents and fee, how to apply to the Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun), the tax position and what the visa does not allow. For more on living and working in the country, see our Iceland hub.
All requirements below were checked on Ísland.is and the official Work in Iceland remote work FAQ in November 2026. Currency conversions use the rates on 2 November 2026 (USD 1 = ISK 121.58, EUR 1 = ISK 136.20).
Iceland Remote Work Visa At A Glance
Item
Requirement
Official name
Long-term visa for remote workers
Who can apply
Non-EEA/EFTA citizens who do not need a Schengen visa
Purpose
Remote work for a foreign employer, or self-employment
Minimum income
ISK 1,000,000 a month (ISK 1,300,000 with spouse or partner)
Health insurance
At least ISK 2,000,000 coverage per person, valid in Iceland and Schengen
Maximum stay
Up to 180 days if applied for before arrival; up to 90 days if applied for after entering Schengen
Processing fee
ISK 12,200 per application
Application form
L-802, on paper
Kennitala
Not issued
Can renew back to back
No: not if you held a long-term visa in the past 12 months
You are from a country outside the EEA/EFTA and do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area. Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia are among those who qualify.
Icelandic authorities have not issued you a long-term visa in the past twelve months.
The purpose of your stay is to work remotely from Iceland, either as an employee of a foreign company or as a self-employed worker.
You do not intend to settle in Iceland.
You earn at least the required monthly foreign income.
EEA and EFTA citizens do not need this visa because they can live and work in Iceland under free movement rules. Nationals who need a Schengen visa to visit cannot apply, and nor can anyone whose residence permit application in Iceland is still pending.
Income Threshold
The income requirement is the main hurdle. You must show foreign income of ISK 1,000,000 a month (about $8,225 / €7,342) as a single applicant, or ISK 1,300,000 a month (about $10,693 / €9,545) if a spouse or cohabiting partner comes with you. Work in Iceland lists the higher figure for applicants bringing a spouse, partner or children under 18 (Work in Iceland). The threshold is set in krónur, so check the Central Bank of Iceland exchange rate when you apply: a weaker home currency can push you below it.
Employees prove income with an employment contract that states the monthly salary. Self-employed applicants submit contracts for their projects and the agreed payments. Over a 180-day stay the threshold works out at ISK 6 million (about $49,000 / €44,000) of income for a single applicant.
How Long Can You Stay?
The length of the visa depends on where you apply from. If you apply from your country of residence before arriving in Iceland, the visa can be valid for up to 180 days. If you apply after you have already entered the Schengen area, it can be valid for up to 90 days (Ísland.is). If you are already in Iceland on a 90-day visa-free stay, apply at least 14 days before it expires.
The visa is valid from the date it is issued in Iceland. You can travel in other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but you cannot stay more than 90 consecutive days in a single other Schengen state. Days spent outside Iceland and Schengen are not added back to the visa. After using a full 180 days, the general rule is that you must spend 90 days outside the Schengen area before returning (FAQ).
Documents You Need
Each applicant, including each family member, submits a separate application with these documents:
Completed application form L-802.
Receipt for the ISK 12,200 processing fee.
Passport photo (35×45 mm) taken within the last six months.
Copy of a passport valid for at least 90 days beyond the end of the visa.
Health insurance details showing at least ISK 2,000,000 coverage per person, valid in Iceland and Schengen for the whole stay. Foreign policies must state where and for how long they are valid.
Confirmation from your employer that you may work remotely from Iceland, or proof of verifiable self-employment.
Proof of income: an employment contract stating your monthly salary, or for the self-employed, project contracts and agreed payments.
A criminal record certificate, if the Directorate requests it.
Copies are accepted, but the Directorate may ask for originals or legal authentication. Documents not in English or a Scandinavian language must be translated by an authorized translator (Work in Iceland).
Bringing Your Family
A spouse, cohabiting partner and children under 18 can apply with you if they are also exempt from the Schengen visa requirement. A spouse who needs a visa cannot join you on this route. Family members submit the same core documents plus:
Spouse or partner: a marriage certificate or proof of at least one year of cohabitation.
Children: a birth certificate and custody documents no older than six months (or divorce papers or a death certificate that establish custody).
Children aged 6 to 16: written confirmation of schooling, either remote teaching from a home-country school, home schooling confirmed by home-country authorities, or enrollment at an Icelandic school.
Family members do not need to travel together, and their visa duration is tied to the main applicant’s.
Fees
The processing fee is ISK 12,200 per application (about $100 / €90), paid by bank transfer before you submit. The same amount appears as the short-term residence permit fee on the Directorate of Immigration fee schedule. A family of three therefore pays ISK 36,600. Budget separately for health insurance, translations, photos and courier costs.
How To Apply Through The Directorate Of Immigration
Check that you meet every condition, including the income threshold at the current exchange rate.
Gather your documents and complete form L-802 for each applicant.
Pay ISK 12,200 per applicant by bank transfer and keep the receipt.
Send the paper application by regular mail to the Directorate of Immigration, Dalvegur 18, 201 Kópavogur, Iceland, or drop it in the drop box there. You can also hand it in and pay at the Directorate’s reception or at a District Commissioner office outside the capital area.
Wait for the Directorate to contact you by email if anything is missing, or to confirm approval.
After you arrive in Iceland, contact the Directorate so the visa can be issued. It is valid from the date of issue.
Applications are paper only; there is no online form for this visa. The Directorate does not publish a processing time for remote work applications, so apply well ahead of your planned start date.
Tax Position
Because holders stay fewer than 183 days, they are not considered tax residents of Iceland, according to the official Work in Iceland FAQ. You remain responsible for tax wherever you, your company or your employer are tax resident. In practice that means your home country tax rules still apply. Check with an adviser whether working from abroad creates any obligations for your employer, such as a permanent establishment, in your home country or elsewhere.
What You Cannot Do On The Visa
Work for Icelandic employers or otherwise take part in the Icelandic labour market. That requires a residence permit and work permit.
Get a kennitala or a registered legal address in Iceland.
Use the visa to settle in Iceland or as a step to residence.
Apply while you have a residence permit application pending.
Get another long-term visa within 12 months of the last one.
Stay more than 90 consecutive days in another single Schengen country.
If you want to move to Iceland permanently, you need a different route, such as a work-based residence permit sponsored by an Icelandic employer (Ísland.is). Our guide to moving to Iceland explains those options.
Practical Tips For Remote Workers
Without a kennitala you cannot easily sign a standard lease, open an Icelandic bank account or get an electronic ID, so plan around that. Most remote workers book furnished short-term rentals, use foreign bank cards (cards are accepted almost everywhere) and buy a prepaid local SIM. Budget carefully: Reykjavik is one of Europe’s most expensive cities, and the ISK 1,000,000 threshold reflects that. Fast fibre internet is widely available in the capital area.
FAQ
Does Iceland Have A Digital Nomad Visa?
Yes. The Iceland digital nomad visa is officially the long-term visa for remote workers. It allows stays of up to 180 days for visa-exempt, non-EEA citizens who earn at least ISK 1,000,000 a month from abroad.
Can US Citizens Apply For The Iceland Remote Work Visa?
Yes. US citizens are non-EEA and do not need a Schengen visa, so they can apply if they meet the income, insurance and employment conditions.
Can I Extend The Iceland Remote Work Visa?
The official FAQ does not describe an extension. The visa is capped at 180 days, and you cannot get another long-term visa from Iceland within 12 months of the last one.
Do I Pay Tax In Iceland On The Remote Work Visa?
Holders stay under 183 days and are not treated as Icelandic tax residents. You remain liable for tax where you, your company or your employer are tax resident.
Can Freelancers Apply?
Yes, if the self-employment is verifiable. You show project contracts and agreed payments that meet the ISK 1,000,000 monthly threshold.
Conclusion
The Iceland remote work visa suits well-paid remote employees and freelancers from visa-exempt countries who want up to six months in Iceland without changing their tax residence. The bar is high: ISK 1,000,000 a month in foreign income, ISK 2,000,000 of health insurance and a paper application to the Directorate of Immigration. It is a long stay, not a move, so anyone planning to live in Iceland will need a residence permit instead.
