Moving To Iceland In 2026: Visas, Work Permits And Residency
Daria Pohrebniak
Marketing Director - ReVerb
11.02.2026
Quick answer: EEA/EFTA citizens can move to Iceland without a permit and register their legal domicile with Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá), which is required for stays of six months or more. Everyone else needs a residence permit, and to work, an employer-backed work permit. A first work-based residence permit costs ISK 80,000 (about $660 / €590) from 1 January 2026, and permits for expert knowledge can run for up to four years.
Moving to Iceland is straightforward if you hold an EEA or EFTA passport and far more involved if you do not. The rules also changed in 2026: work permit processing moved from the Directorate of Labour to the Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun) on 8 July 2026, application fees rose on 1 January 2026, and the health insurance waiting period for people arriving from outside the EEA was cut from six to three months. This guide walks through each route, the documents and fees, and the practical steps after you land: your kennitala, health insurance, a bank account and somewhere to live. For more guides on living and working in the country, see our Iceland hub.
Currency conversions use the rates on 2 November 2026 (USD 1 = ISK 121.58, EUR 1 = ISK 136.20). Always confirm current rules on Ísland.is before you apply, since Iceland updates its immigration rules often.
Citizens of EU countries, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland do not need a visa or work permit. What they need is registration. According to Registers Iceland, stays of under three months do not qualify for legal domicile (you can get a system ID instead), stays of three months or more can be registered, and stays of six months or more must be registered. If you are looking for work, you can stay up to six months before applying.
Employees apply online with form A-271, and the employer confirms the job on form A-272 through the employer portal within 30 days. Registers Iceland normally expects a contract of at least 10 weeks and checks that the employment is genuine. After arriving you must visit a registration office in person with your original passport or ID card. Processing takes up to 10 working days once all documents are in. Self-employed people, posted workers and family members follow separate instructions on the same site.
Non-EEA family members of an EEA/EFTA citizen who will stay longer than three months apply to the Directorate of Immigration for a residence card. The fee is ISK 8,000 (Ísland.is).
Iceland Visa Rules For Non-EEA Citizens
Iceland is part of the Schengen area. Visitors from visa-exempt countries such as the US, Canada, the UK and Australia can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across Schengen, but cannot work or settle on that basis. Citizens of other countries need a Schengen visa just to visit. An Iceland visa for a short stay is therefore not a route to living there: to move, non-EEA citizens need a residence permit. Whether you may be in Iceland while it is processed depends on the permit type and your visa status.
Most residence permits are applied for on paper. Applications go by post or into the drop box at the Directorate of Immigration, Dalvegur 18, 201 Kópavogur, or can be handed in at District Commissioner offices outside the capital area. You pay by bank transfer before submitting and include the receipt. Unpaid applications are returned, and the fee is not refunded if you withdraw.
Work Permit Iceland: The Main Types
A work permit in Iceland is tied to a specific employer and a specific job. The Directorate of Immigration lists four work-based residence permits, issued under Articles 61 to 64 of the Foreign Nationals Act:
Expert knowledge. For jobs that need university-level education or recognized industrial, artistic or technical training. The most common route for skilled professionals.
Shortage of labour. For jobs the authorities cannot fill from Iceland or the EEA. Applicants who need a visa must stay outside Iceland while the application is processed, or it will be rejected.
Athletes. For professional sports contracts with Icelandic clubs.
Collaboration or service contracts. For specialized staff sent to Iceland under a contract between a foreign company and an Icelandic one.
How The Expert Knowledge Permit Works
The employer, not the worker, applies for the work permit, while the worker supplies the documents. According to Ísland.is, the employer first asks the labour authorities to help find a suitable worker in Iceland, the EEA, EFTA or the Faroe Islands, signs an employment agreement for a specific job that requires expertise, and confirms that the person’s expertise is essential. Permits are generally granted for one year and can be granted for up to four years at a time. If you change employers, the new employer applies again, though education documents need not be resubmitted.
Spouses and children of expert knowledge permit holders may work in Iceland without a separate work permit, which makes this the most family-friendly of the work routes.
Changes In 2026
On 8 July 2026, processing and issuing of work permits moved from the Directorate of Labour to the Directorate of Immigration (announcement). Complete employment-based applications can be processed first, and the paid fast-track service was abolished when fees rose in January (fee announcement). Doctoral graduates of Icelandic universities can now get a specialist permit for up to 12 months to look for work in their field.
Permit (first application)
Fee from 1 Jan 2026
Approx. USD
Approx. EUR
Residence permit based on work
ISK 80,000
$658
€587
Residence permit for a spouse
ISK 110,000
$905
€808
Residence permit for children
ISK 60,000
$494
€441
Residence permit for students
ISK 70,000
$576
€514
Working holiday / youth mobility
ISK 40,000
$329
€294
Residence card, EEA family member
ISK 8,000
$66
€59
Permanent residence permit
ISK 60,000
$494
€441
After Your Permit Is Granted
Approval is not the last step. The Directorate of Immigration sets these steps once a work-based permit is granted:
If you need a visa to travel, the Directorate sends the entry visa request to the relevant embassy.
Book a photo appointment at the Directorate (or a District Commissioner) and bring your passport.
Submit the notification of residence form with your Icelandic address.
Complete a medical examination, where required, within two weeks of arrival.
The Directorate asks Registers Iceland to register your legal domicile, and Registers Iceland assigns your kennitala.
You receive an email when your residence card is ready, and can collect it five days later.
If you do not attend the photo appointment, notify your residence or complete the medical examination within 90 days of approval, the permit will not be issued, which can lead to illegal stay, expulsion and a re-entry ban.
Getting Your Kennitala
The kennitala is Iceland’s ten-digit personal ID number, and you need one for almost everything: an employment contract, a lease, a bank account, a phone contract and your tax. The first six digits are your date of birth (Work in Iceland). EEA/EFTA citizens get it through domicile registration with Registers Iceland, and non-EEA citizens get it when the Directorate of Immigration registers them after a permit is granted. Allow about 10 working days.
A system ID (utangarðskennitala) is a temporary number for people who will not be domiciled, often used by companies bringing in workers for short projects. It can open a bank account but does not give rights such as health insurance.
Healthcare Eligibility
Public health insurance in Iceland is based on legal domicile, not citizenship. Under the Iceland Health rules, EEA, UK and Swiss nationals who were covered by the public system in their previous country can join immediately once their domicile is registered (private insurance alone does not count). Spouses and children under 18 of an insured EEA national may also qualify.
People moving from outside the EEA face a waiting period. Amendments announced in June 2026 shortened it from six months to three, with most changes taking effect on 1 August 2026 (Ísland.is). Until coverage starts you pay full fees for medical care, so buy private health insurance for the gap. A further change from 1 January 2027 means Icelandic health insurance will no longer cover illness or accident costs incurred on trips outside the EEA.
Banking And Tax
You need a kennitala before you can open a bank account with one of the main banks, such as Landsbankinn, Arion banki or Íslandsbanki. Once you have an account and an Icelandic SIM card, you can request an electronic ID (rafræn skilríki) from your bank or phone company. The electronic ID is how you log in to Ísland.is, the tax office, your bank and most public services, so get it in your first weeks.
Income tax is withheld by your employer. For 2026, Skatturinn sets withholding at 31.49% on monthly income up to ISK 498,122, 37.99% up to ISK 1,398,450 and 46.29% above that, with a monthly personal tax credit of ISK 72,492. Foreign specialists who have not lived in Iceland for the previous 60 months and work for an Icelandic employer may apply through Rannís to have 25% of their salary exempt from income tax for their first three years (Ísland.is).
Finding Housing
Housing is the hardest part of moving to Iceland for most people, especially in the capital area. Start early, ask your employer whether it can help, and expect to pay more as a newcomer. From 1 January 2026, leases must be in writing and registered in the HMS rental register (Ísland.is). Rent is due on the first of each month, paid one month in advance, and deposits can take the form of a bank guarantee, insurance guarantee or cash held in an interest-bearing account (lease rules). Registered tenants can apply for housing benefits. For rent levels, see our guide to the cost of living in Reykjavik.
Common places to search are the Facebook group “Leiga” and Icelandic rental platforms such as Myigloo, plus the property sections of the main news sites. Be wary of anyone asking for a deposit before you have seen the apartment or signed a registered lease.
Moving To Iceland: Step-By-Step Checklist
Confirm your route: EEA/EFTA registration, a work-based residence permit, family reunification, study, or a remote work visa.
Non-EEA: secure a job offer and have your employer start the work permit; gather your passport, photos, criminal record certificate and certified, translated documents.
Pay the processing fee by bank transfer and post the application to Dalvegur 18, 201 Kópavogur.
Arrange private health insurance to cover the waiting period.
Find a place to live and get a written lease you can register with HMS.
On arrival: attend your photo appointment, notify your residence and do any medical examination within two weeks.
EEA/EFTA: submit form A-271 and visit a Registers Iceland office with your original ID.
Receive your kennitala, open a bank account and get an electronic ID.
Check your tax card and personal tax credit with your employer, and apply for the foreign expert deduction if eligible.
Apply for health insurance and register children for school or preschool.
FAQ
Can Americans Move To Iceland?
Yes, but Americans are non-EEA citizens, so they need a residence permit. The usual routes are a job offer that qualifies for a work permit, family ties to a resident, or study. US citizens can visit visa-free for 90 days but cannot work on that basis.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Work Permit In Iceland?
The Directorate of Immigration does not publish a fixed processing time on the work permit page. Complete employment-based applications can be prioritized under the July 2026 rules, but the paid fast-track option no longer exists, so plan for several months.
How Long Until I Can Get Permanent Residence?
Generally four years of residence on a qualifying permit. The application fee is ISK 60,000 for adults and ISK 30,000 for children (Ísland.is).
Do I Need To Speak Icelandic?
Not to get a work permit or to live day to day, since English is widely spoken. Learning Icelandic helps with jobs outside tech and tourism, with integration, and later with permanent residence and citizenship.
Can I Move To Iceland And Work Remotely For A Foreign Company?
Only for a limited time. The long-term visa for remote workers allows visa-exempt non-EEA citizens to stay up to 180 days if they earn at least ISK 1,000,000 a month, but it does not give a kennitala or allow you to settle. See our Iceland remote work visa guide for details.
Conclusion
Moving to Iceland comes down to your passport. EEA/EFTA citizens need only to register with Registers Iceland, while non-EEA citizens need a residence permit, usually through an employer-backed work permit that now costs ISK 80,000 and is processed by the Directorate of Immigration. Sort out housing and health insurance before you arrive, and get your kennitala, bank account and electronic ID in your first weeks.
