Student permits.

Please note that an application will not be processed until it has been paid for. See here.

Estimated application processing time for a residence permit is 90 days from the date when the Directorate has received sufficient documentation.

Fall Semester – Application and all supporting documents must have been received by the Directorate no later than July 15th each year.

Spring Semester – Application and all supporting documents must have been received by the Directorate no later than November 15th each year.

A residence permit for a student is intended for a foreigner to study at a secondary school or university in Iceland. Secondary school studies must be in a certified trade or other approved vocational studies. A condition for granting a student permit is that it is for full time studies and that the studies are approved by the Icelandic Student Loan Fund.

A foreigner is not allowed to be in Iceland when applying for a student permit. If a foreigner is in Iceland when an application is submitted for the first time, he must leave the country immediately.

For renewal of student residence permits, see instructions at the bottom of this page.

Student permits do not count towards a permanent residence permit.

Families of a doctorate student may apply for family reunification. Family members of other students are not eligible.

The following documentation must be submitted with the application:

If sufficient documentation has not been submitted, the application processing time will be considerably longer.

1. A completed original application form for a residence permit signed by the applicant.
2. One passport size photo (35mm-45mm).
3. A photocopy of the applicant´s passport. The validity of the passport must be at least three months beyond the proposed permit.
4. Criminal Record Check. The certificate must be issued by the country/countries where the applicant has resided for the past five years. Criminal Record Certificate must be dated no earlier than 6 months prior to being submitted to the Directorate. Please note, individuals who have resided in the U.S.A. during the past five years, who intend to apply for a residence permit in Iceland, must submit a Criminal Record Check issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Instructions on how to apply for a FBI criminal record check is available on the website http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1201.html.
5. Medical Insurance. Insurance must cover at least 2.000.000 Icel.kr., and shall be issued by an insurance company authorized to provide services in Iceland. The insurance must be in effect for 6 months.
6. Support. The financial support of the foreigner must be secure for the time period applied for. Documentation presented as proof must be originals. Individuals over the age of 18 must be in possession of their own funds.
7. Housing Certificate The applicant must prove that he has secure housing for the period of time he is applying for.
8. School Confirmation. The foreigner shall provide a written confirmation from the school he has enrolled in.
9. Confirmation of registration of full time studies.
10. Authorization. The applicant shall grant a person or organization in Iceland authorization to enquire about his application.

If applying for a work permit for a student:

11. An application for a work permit and an employment contract.

Attached to the application must be certified originals of documentation as applicable. The Directorate of Immigration reserves the right to ask for authentication of foreign documents, if necessary.The Authentication can be either an „apostille“ from the applicant‘s home country, or a double authentication from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the home country and the Embassy of that country in Iceland, or the embassy accredited to Iceland (if the country does not have an embassy in Iceland). This applies to criminal record checks, marriage certificates, birth certificates and any other certificates submitted with an application for a residence permit in Iceland.The Directorate requires that all foreign documentation issued in languages other than English or one of the Scandinavian Languages, must be translated by an accredited interpreter.

Futher information on apostille is available at http://hcch.e-vision.nl

If the application for a residence permit is approved, the foreigner needs to obtain a D-Visa at the closest embassy issuing such visas on behalf of Iceland. The application must state in which embassy the foreigner intends to obtain the visa. Check here for a list of embassies.

Upon arrival in Iceland, the foreigner shall:

• Register his domicile in Iceland at the National Registry (Þjóðskrá).
• Deliver a Medical Certificate to the Directorate. Check here for exemptions and procedures from the Directorate of Health.
• Present himself at the Directorate’s office, or at the nearest District Commissioner’s office to be photographed for the purpose of issuing a residence permit card.

Upon fulfilling those requirements, the permit is issued and the residence card is sent to the applicant’s address. The first day of the permit is counted as the date the residence permit is issued.

Renewal

Applicant shall personally submit application and will be photographed at that time, unless otherwise stated. See here.

A student residence permit may be renewed during the period of study, if conditions are still met and if study progress is satisfactory. The permit is usually renewed for one term.

A foreigner must submit an application for renewal at least one month before the expiry date of his current permit to keep current rights. If the applicant intends to submit an application for renewal when his permit has expired, he must leave Iceland.  The application will not be processed until a boarding card has been forwarded to the Directorate.

The following documentation must be submitted with the application:

If sufficient documentation has not been submitted, the application processing time will be considerably longer.

1. A completed original application form for a residence permit signed by the applicant.
2. A photocopy of the applicant´s passport. The validity of the passport must be at least three months beyond the proposed permit.
3. Housing Certificate The applicant must prove that he has secure housing for the period of time he is applying for.
4. Support. The financial support of the foreigner must be secure for the time period applied for. Documentation presented as proof must be originals.  Individuals over the age of 18 must be in possession of their own funds.
5. Social Services Certificate.  The applicant must submit a certificate from the applicable municipal services, indicating whether or not he has received any financial social support.
6. Confirmation of registration of full time studies.
7. Progress of Studies.  The foreigner must provide a confirmation of the progress of his studies from the applicable school.
8. Medical Insurance. When a residence permit is renewed for the first time, the applicant needs to prove that he has valid medical insurance for the requested period.  This can be either a certificate from Tryggingastofnun ríkisins (the Icelandic Social Insurance) or a medical insurance, for a minimum of I.kr. 2,000,000.00 from an insurance company authorized to provide services in Iceland.

If applying for a work permit for a student: 

9.   Application for  work permit and employment contract, provided that the progress of his studies is satisfactory. 

When the processing of the application is completed, the applicant will be advised by a written notification.