Foreign nationals, who were legally staying in Iceland prior to 20 March 2020 and have been unable to return to their home countries due to travel restrictions, quarantine or isolation, were permitted to stay in Iceland without a residence permit or visa until 10 November 2020, upon being registered at the Directorate of Immigration.

The permission to stay without a residence permit or visa will not be extended again and such stays beyond 10 November 2020 may result in an expulsion.

Although it is now possible to travel to most countries, we are aware that there are a few countries where returning could be difficult at the time being. Foreign citizens, who have difficulties leaving Iceland before 10 November 2020, must hold on to documentation showing that they have tried to leave, in case the Directorate asks for an explanation for why they haven’t left. If it's impossible for you to obtain airline tickets to return home, you should contact your country's embassy and ask if authorities arrange flights to help residents return home.

On 31 January 2020, the UK left the EU, with a Withdrawal Agreement in place. Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, there will be a transition period, during which much will remain the same.

The transition period is due to last until 31 December 2020, but it may be extended if the EU and the UK agree to this. During the transition period, the UK will be treated as if it were still a member of the EU and EEA. The rules on free movement will continue to apply, and the rights of British citizens and their family members in Iceland will remain unchanged during this period.

Iceland and the other EEA/EFTA States have signed a Separation Agreement with the UK that, among other things, safeguards the rights of British citizens and their family members living in Iceland and similarly protects the rights of EEA/EFTA citizens living in the UK. The Separation Agreement largely mirrors the Withdrawal Agreement reached between the EU and the UK. The purpose of the Separation Agreement is to ensure that British citizens who are living in an EEA/EFTA country at the end of the transition period can continue to do so and will continue to enjoy broadly the same rights as they do now.

The Directorate of Immigration has published an Information page for British citizens with questions and answers on how Brexit will affect British citizens living in Iceland. We are still working on the details of entry and stay in Iceland for British citizens and their family members; the page will therefore be updated regularly.

The UK Government has also published guidance on living in Iceland. 

Applicants who need to have their photo taken for a residence permit card can now book an appointment themselves online.

When booking you need to provide an Icelandic telephone number together with your name and date of birth or ID number (kennitala). If more than one person in a family need to have their photo taken, you need to book an appointment for each person individually.

We hope the new service will be well received.

Foreign nationals who work for foreign companies in telework can now apply for a long-term visa that allows them and their families to stay in Iceland for up to six months.

A regulation amending the regulation on foreigners to this end, has already been signed by the Minister of Justice.

The amendment applies to foreign nationals who do not need a visa to travel to Iceland. In order to be granted permission for such a stay, the person in question must demonstrate an employment relationship with a foreign company, income and health insurance.

Further information for applicants will be published on the website of the Directorate of Immigration shortly.