Residence Permits for Citizens of Countries outside the EEA

An application for a first residence permit shall have been approved before a foreigner arrives in the country regardless whether or not he has stayed in the country earlier. This means that if a foreigner is in Iceland when an application is submitted for the first time, he must leave the country. The exemptions are:

• Spouse, common-law spouse or registered partner of an Icelandic or Nordic (Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or Finnish) citizen, or a foreigner who is legally residing in Iceland with a residence permit.
• A child of an Icelandic or Nordic citizen who resides or is allowed to reside legally in Iceland with a residence permit and said child is under the age of 18.

The term residence permit in this case means the first issued permit in a continuous residence. A residence permit is usually issued for one year at a time. The purpose of a foreigner’s stay in Iceland shall be according to the residence permit applied for.

Select a category as applicable:

• Are you working in Iceland?/Will you be working?
• Are you coming for a visit (no longer than three months)?
• Are you going to work as an au-pair/domestic help in Iceland?
• Are you studying in Iceland?/Do you intend to attend school in Iceland?
• Are you applying as a relative of an EEA citizen?
• Are you in Iceland to join your family?/Will you be coming to join your family?
• Are you applying for a permanent residence permit?