Renewal of Residence Permits

According to Art. 14 of the Act on Foreigners and Art. 41 of the Regulation on Foreigners, a foreigner is legally responsible for renewing his residence permit when his current residency permit expires. The application shall be submitted at least one month before the current permit expires. It is clearly stated that it is the responsibility of the permit holder to keep track of the validity of his permit and to apply for the renewal of his residence permit at least one month before his permit expires, according to the above mentioned law. If the application for renewal of a residence permit is not submitted at least one month before the current permit expires, the applicant may have to leave Iceland while his application is being processed. The validity period of a residence permit is stated on the permit sticker applied to the permit holder’;s passport.

The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration therefore advises all foreigners to apply for renewal of their residence permits at least one month before the current permit expires, if the foreigner intends to prolong his stay in Iceland. The Directorate would like to reiterate that it is the responsibility of the permit holder himself to apply for renewal of a residence permit, not the individual’;s employer.