Students’ residence permits are granted to
- Individuals intending to engage in full time studies at a university in Iceland
- Post graduate (doctorate) students from foreign universities collaborating with an Icelandic university
- Exchange students from acknowledged exchange-student organizations
- Interns
- Students in technical studies and recognised workplace studies at higher-education level
- Graduate looking for employment
A residence permit for the fall semester should be applied for not later than June 1st, in order to ensure that the application will be processed before the semester starts. An application for a residence permit for the spring semester should be submitted not later than November 1st.
Residence permits for students are not granted to individuals intending to study at Icelandic secondary schools (except for approved exchange programs), attending courses in the Icelandic language or who study at foreign universities and stay in Iceland.
You might have the right to a student residence permit if all of the following requirements are met, as well as others
- You are older than 18 years,
- you are enrolled in full study at an Icelandic university in undergraduate, graduate or post graduate (doctorate) studies; you are a post graduate (doctorate) student at a university abroad collaborating with an Icelandic university; you are an exchange student or in internship in Iceland,
- you can prove that you are able to provide for yourself during your stay,
- you have a valid insurance with an Icelandic insurance company (in the field Insurance Companies) or a foreign insurance company authorized to operate in Iceland (in the field Foreign Insurance Companies),
- you have not served a criminal sentence abroad during the last five (5) years or been sentenced by a court of law for an offence which would be punishable by more than three (3) months imprisonment according to Icelandic law, and
- you have a passport valid for at least 90 days beyond the estimated validity of a residence permit.
You may not
- work without a work permit,
- work for an employer other than the one on which the work permit is based,
- work more than 15 hours per week except when working is a part of your study or takes place during a study break according to the curriculum,
- stay in another country longer than three (3) months in every 12-month period of the residence permit period; otherwise the residence permit may be cancelled or revoked.
An application for a residence permit and supporting documents shall be submitted to the Directorate of Immigration or at the offices of the district commissioners outside of the Reykjavík Metropolitan Area. Please note that the Directorate of Immigration does not accept applications electronically. Applications must be mailed to the Directorate of Immigration or delivered to a drop box in the Directorate’s lobby (from 8 to 16 on week-days).
An applicant who does not need a visa may stay in Iceland when submitting an application and while it is being processed, provided the stay in the Schengen Area does not exceed 90 days in the 180 day period.
An applicant who needs a visa may not stay in Iceland when applying for the permit and while it is being processed. Such an application will be refused.
If an applicant does not fulfill these requirements and the requirements discussed below, the application for a residence permit will be refused and the applicant must leave Iceland. An applicant who does not leave the country may be subject to expulsion or a re-entry ban. A re-entry ban for Iceland is also a re-entry ban into the Schengen Area for a specific period of time or for a minimum of two (2) years.
The applicant is responsible for applying for renewal of his/her residence permit at least four (4) weeks before the validity of the permit expires. If this is done, the applicant is permitted to stay in Iceland while the application for renewal is being processed by the Directorate of Immigration. If a renewal of a residence permit is not applied for before the period of validity expires the application will be handled as if this were a first permit, not renewal. An application received after the period of validity of the previous permit has expired will be refused if the applicant does not have a permission to stay in Iceland while the application is being processed. See further the application process and permission to stay.
Further information on student residence permits
Definition of study and rights attached to the permit
General students
Post graduate (doctorate) students from foreign universities collaborating with an Icelandic university
Exchange students
Interns
Application for first permit
Renewal
Graduate looking for employment
Definition of study and rights attached to the permit
The Icelandic Act on Foreigners defines study as „...continuous study at university level, including internship or other study where similar requirements are made for an educational level as for study at a university. Individual courses are not considered as study“.
The rights attached to the residence permit are as follows
- An applicant who does not need a visa may stay in Iceland when submitting an application and while it is being processed, provided the stay in the Schengen Area does not exceed 90 days in the 180 day period. If the stay exceeds this period, processing of the application will be stopped until the applicant has left Iceland and has presented a departure boarding card to prove it. An applicant who needs a visa may not stay in Iceland when applying for the permit and while it is being processed. An application by an applicant who does not have the aforementioned permit to stay will be refused.
- Permits for students may be issued for up to one year at a time.
- The residence permit may be renewed for up to one (1) year if the conditions of the residence permit are still met and if satisfactory study results are shown, as applicable. For the first renewal an applicant‘s study results are considered satisfactory if he/she has completed at least a total 75% of full study during the school year, however, upon the second renewal an applicant must have completed satisfactory study results in instances where this is required.
- A student is authorized to work up to 15 hours per week (longer, if the work is during school leave or as part of internship), however, a special work permit must be applied for.
- A student enrolled in undergraduate studies does not have the right to family reunification (exemption: students who are US citizens).
- Graduate and post graduate (doctorate) students may apply for family reunification for:
- the applicant’s spouse or cohabitant after at least one year of cohabitation.
- the children of the applicant under the age of 18, if the applicant has custody of the children,
- The residence permit is not grounds for a permanent residence permit except in instances where the applicant has held a residence permit for at least two (2) years that may be the grounds of a permanent residence permit, and also has previously held a student residence permit for at least two years and the applicant has stayed in Iceland legally for at least four (4) years.
General students
A residence permit for general students applies to individuals 18 years of age or older who intend to engage in undergraduate, graduate and post graduate (doctorate) programmes at an Icelandic university. The student must be enrolled in full studies in Iceland. Full study is defined as 30 ECTS.
Information on application for first permit and renewal.
Post graduate students at foreign universities in collaboration with an Icelandic university
A post graduate (doctorate) student who studies at a foreign university that is in collaboration with an Icelandic university may be granted a student residence permit. The same conditions and documentation requirements apply as to general students, however, the applicant must also submit a confirmation of collaboration between the foreign university and the Icelandic university, stating which kind of collaboration is taking place.
A post graduate (doctorate) student who receives a salary from the university may also apply for a residence and work permit on grounds of a collaboration agreement. Note that a residence permit on grounds of a collaboration agreement cannot be the grounds for permanent residence permit.
Information on application for first permit and renewal.
Exchange students
A foreign exchange student may be granted a residence permit on grounds of study at an Icelandic secondary school if the applicant comes to Iceland based on an acknowledged exchange-student organization (i.e. AFS or Rotary). Exchange students are exempted from the Act‘s age limitation and may be younger than 18 when submitting an application. Other conditions for general students apply and the documentation requirements are mainly the same, however, an exchange student must also submit a confirmation by an Icelandic secondary school, a confirmed birth certificate, a written consent by the parents/custodians and copies of their passports, as well as a written consent by the foster family in Iceland.
Information on application for first permit and renewal.
Interns
A student at a foreign university may receive a student permit on grounds of internship with an Icelandic company. The applicant must submit an employment agreement and documentation from the university confirming that working in Iceland is a part of the applicant’s studies.
The same conditions and documentation requirements apply as those made to general students, however, the applicant must also submit a confirmation of enrollment at university stating that working in Iceland is part of the studies, an application for work permit for a student, report describing the internship and an employment agreement.
Information on application for first permit and renewal.
Application for first permit
An applicant who does not need a visa may stay in Iceland when submitting an application and while it is being processed, provided the stay in the Schengen Area does not exceed 90 days in the 180 day period. If the stay exceeds this period processing the application will be stopped until the applicant has left Iceland and has presented a departure boarding card to prove it. An applicant who needs a visa may not stay in Iceland when applying for the permit and while it is being processed. An application by an applicant who does not have the aforementioned permit to stay will be refused.
Fall semester - Application and all supporting documents must be received by the Directorate no later than June 1st, in order to process the application before the semester starts.
Spring semester - Application and all supporting documents must be received by the Directorate no later than November 1st, in order to process the application before the semester starts.
It is important that the applicant respects deadlines and is aware of his full responsibility for submitting satisfactory supporting documents.
The Directorate of Immigration does not accept applications electronically. Applications must be mailed to the Directorate of Immigration or delivered to a drop box in the Directorate’s lobby (from 8 to 16 on week-days).
Applications received by the deadline are given priority handling and effort is made to finish processing the application in time for start of the semester. If the application is received late, or if documents are missing/not complete, granting of a permit before the semester starts cannot be guaranteed.
Documents to be submitted
- Payment receipt (if the application has been paid for at a bank). The name of the person for whom payment is being made must be clearly stated. List the name of the applicant, his/her date of birth as a reference.
- Application for residence permit for students. (Please download and save on computer before filling out). In original format, carefully filled out and signed by the applicant. (It is important that the applicant states his/her place of residence in Iceland. If the address is not stated when the application is made, the applicant must notify his/her place of residence within two (2) weeks from the applicant’s date of arrival in Iceland (for example when being photographed).
- Passport photo (35 mm x 45 mm).
- Photocopy of passport. The period of validity must be at least 90 days beyond of the period of validity of the residence permit. This must include photocopies of the passport’s personal information page and the page containing the applicant’s signature.
- University admission certificate or University acceptance letter
- General students – full study is defined as 30 ECTS units per term.
- Postgraduate (Doctorate) students at foreign universities collaborating with an Icelandic university, confirmation of collaboration between a foreign university and an Icelandic university (see above)
- Exchange students – confirmation from an Icelandic secondary school (see above).
- Interns – documentation from the university confirming that working in Iceland is a part of the applicant‘s studies (see above).
- Confirmed original of a foreign criminal record certificate. The criminal record certification must not be older than six (6) months. A criminal record certificate must be submitted from all the countries where the applicant has lived for the last five (5) years. (The criminal record certificate shall be issued by the highest appropriate authority in every country, i.e. the authority authorized to issue such a certificate). Note there is a requirement for apostille confirmation or double authentication.
- Confirmed copy or original translation by an authorized translator of the criminal record certificate. Applies only if the foreign certificates are in other languages than English or the Nordic languages. Note there is a requirement of confirmation of translation if the translator is not an authorized translator in Iceland, i.e. apostille or double authentication.
- Health Insurance. The applicant shall submit a certificate of insurance from an Icelandic insurance company (see insurance companies) or a foreign insurance company authorized to operate in Iceland (see foreign insurance companies) The insurance shall be valid for six (6) months from the date of the applicant being registered in Registers Iceland and the coverage shall be at least IKR 2000,000. Registration in Registers Iceland is usually valid from the day the applicant‘s photo is taken at either the Directorate of Immigration or at a District Commissioner‘s office for a residence permit card, given that the applicant has stayed in Iceland from that date.
- Documents on support, confirming secure support during the period of residence. Students must be self-supported, if a bank statement is provided as prove of financial means it is important that the bank account is in the applicant's name. Joint bank accounts are not accepted.
Further documentation that may be submitted
- Application for work permit for a student and employment agreement if the applicant intends to work as well as study. To be submitted in original format, signed both by the applicant and the employer.
- Power of Attorney signed by two (2) witnesses. The Power of Attorney does not have to be submitted unless the applicant wants someone other than him/her to receive information about the processing of the application by the Directorate of Immigration.
The applicant is responsible for submitting the necessary supporting documents with his/her application. If satisfactory documents are not received by the Directorate of Immigration, this may result in delays in processing the application, or in the application being refused. The Directorate of Immigration may request additional information when special circumstances warrant it.
If the applicant meets all requirements of a residence permit, the residence permit will be granted and the applicant will be sent a notification of the granting of the permit. The residence permit will not be issued, however, until the applicant has come to be photographed at the offices of the Directorate of Immigration or at offices of district commissioners outside of the Reykjavík Metropolitan Area, reported his place of residence to the Directorate and undergone medical examination (only in Icelandic). The applicant should come to be photographed within one (1) week from his/her arrival in Iceland and must report his/her place of residence (for example, when photographed). Please note that the applicant must present a valid passport when photographed for identification. Furthermore, the applicant must undergo medical examination within two (2) weeks from arrival in Iceland. The Directorate of Immigration will not issue a residence permit if the applicant does not meet the requirements stated above. This could lead to illegal stay and expulsion.
Renewal
The residence permit may be renewed for as long as one (1) year if the conditions of the residence permit are still met and if satisfactory study results are shown, as applicable. For general students upon the first renewal, the applicant‘s study results are considered as satisfactory if he/she has completed 75% of full study during the school year (i.e. at least 44 ECTS in total in an academic year), however, upon the second renewal the applicant must have completed satisfactory study results where this is required. Further information on individual schools' rules on satisfactory study performance is available here.
Exemptions from the requirements of study results are permissible. Residence permits of master‘s and doctorate students who are working on their final projects may be renewed even though the applicant has not shown satisfactory study results during the study period. The condition is that the applicant submits documentation from the university regarding study development. Additionally, deviating from the requirement on satisfactory study results is permissible in instances of circumstances out of the control of the applicant, for example, accidents or serious illness.
A renewal of a residence permit must be applied for at least four (4) weeks before the permit’s period of validity expires. If this is done, the applicant is permitted to stay in Iceland while the application for renewal is being processed by the Directorate of Immigration. If a renewal of the residence permit is not applied for before the period of validity expires, the application will be processed as if this were an application for a first permit, not renewal. An application that is received after the period of validity of the permit has expired will be refused if the applicant does not have permission to stay in Iceland while the application is being processed.
The applicant must appear in person when renewing his/her residence permit, either at the reception area of the Directorate of Immigration or at offices of district commissioners outside of the Reykjavík Metropolitan Area. The applicant will be photographed and must submit a sample of his/her signature. The applicant should bring his/her passport along.
Documents to be submitted
- Application for residence permit for students. (Please download and save on computer before filling out). Form must be original, completed and signed by the applicant.
- Copy of passport (does not need to be confirmed). The validity of the passport must be at least three months beyond the validity of the residence permit.
- University transcript and admission certificate or acceptance letter, as applicable.
- Support. The student must show sufficient financial support during his stay, see here.
Further documentation that may be submitted
- Application for work permit for a student and employment agreement if the applicant intends to work as well as study. To be submitted in original format, signed both by the applicant and the employer.
- Power of Attorney signed by two (2) witnesses. The Power of Attorney does not have to be submitted unless the applicant wants someone other than him/her to receive information about the processing of the application by the Directorate of Immigration.
The applicant is responsible for submitting the necessary supporting documents with his/her application. If satisfactory documents are not received by the Directorate of Immigration, this may result in delays in processing the application, or in the application being refused. The Directorate of Immigration may request additional information when special circumstances warrant it.
Graduate looking for employment
The residence permit of a student who has completed his/her university studies in Iceland, may be renewed for up to six (6) months from the date of graduation in order for the graduate to look for employment in his/her field of expertise.
Documents to be submitted
- Application for residence permit for students. (Please download and save on computer before filling out). In original format, carefully filled out and signed by the applicant.
- Photocopy of the passport. The period of validity must be at least 90 days beyond the period of validity of the residence permit. This must include photocopies of the passport’s personal information page and the page containing the applicant’s signature.
- University graduation certificate. Confirmed copy of the graduation certificate from a university.
Further documentation that may be submitted
- Application for work permit for a student and employment agreement, in original format, signed both by the applicant and the employer.
- Power of Attorney signed by two (2) witnesses. The Power of Attorney does not have to be submitted unless the applicant wants someone other than him/her to receive information about the processing of the application by the Directorate of Immigration.
The applicant is responsible for submitting the necessary supporting documents with his/her application. If satisfactory documents are not received by the Directorate of Immigration, this may result in delays in processing the application, or in the application being refused. The Directorate of Immigration may request additional information when special circumstances warrant it.