Iceland

For a non-EEA specialist hired into a specific Icelandic job that requires recognised university, industrial, artistic or technical expertise essential to the employer.

For a qualifying family-reunification resident who does not already have automatic work rights and has obtained an Icelandic employment offer.

For a specific non-EEA hire where an employer cannot find a worker in Iceland, the EEA, EFTA states or the Faroe Islands and demonstrates an exceptional temporary labour shortage.

For a foreign national who completed a doctoral degree in Iceland and renews an expert residence permit to seek specialist employment.

For a foreign graduate who completed a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral degree at an Icelandic university and renews the student permit to seek work matching the qualification.

For a specialist employee assigned under a qualifying foreign-company service contract, or a university-qualified employee working under a teaching, academic or scientific collaboration agreement.

For a holder of a listed temporary, trafficking, parent or legitimate-purpose residence permit who has an Icelandic employment offer.

For a foreign student admitted to a qualifying full-time Icelandic university, doctoral collaboration, recognised exchange, internship or technical/workplace study programme.

For an unmarried child younger than 18 joining a custodial parent who has an eligible residence right in Iceland.

For an unmarried child younger than 18, born before the parent received protection, joining a custodial parent with refugee or subsidiary-protection status in Iceland.

For a custodial parent joining a child who was recognised in Iceland as an unaccompanied refugee before turning 18.

For an unmarried sibling younger than 18 joining a child who was recognised in Iceland as an unaccompanied refugee before turning 18.

For a spouse or cohabiting partner whose relationship with a refugee or subsidiary-protection beneficiary in Iceland existed before the sponsor sought protection.

For a foreign national expecting a child who will acquire Icelandic citizenship, where no ordinary residence category applies.

For a parent aged 67 or older joining an adult child in Iceland who is an Icelandic citizen or holds a listed permanent or qualifying temporary status.

For a custodial parent where residence is necessary either to maintain genuine contact with a child resident in Iceland or to allow an Icelandic child to continue living in Iceland.

For an adult married or cohabiting partner joining an eligible sponsor resident in Iceland; a cohabiting couple must normally show at least one year of prior cohabitation.

— No eligibility summary published for this route yet

For an EEA or EFTA family-card holder after five years of continuous legal residence in Iceland, subject to the permitted-absence rules.

For a holder of a valid qualifying Icelandic residence permit after the applicable continuous-residence period, normally four years, with language, continuity, support and good-standing requirements.

For a protected UK Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary or qualifying family member after five years of continuous legal residence.

For an EEA or EFTA citizen exercising residence rights in Iceland and staying longer than three months.

For a citizen of Denmark, Finland, Norway or Sweden moving to Iceland under Nordic free-movement arrangements.

For a non-EEA or non-EFTA immediate family member deriving residence from an EEA or EFTA citizen resident in Iceland.

For a UK national who held a right to reside in Iceland before 1 January 2021, and specified pre-existing family members or later-born or adopted children.

For a citizen of Andorra, Canada, Chile, Japan or the United Kingdom aged 18 to 30 whose principal purpose is cultural experience rather than settlement.

For a non-EEA or non-EFTA national aged 18 to 25 entering a regulated cultural-exchange placement with an unrelated eligible host family in Iceland.

For an adult undertaking unpaid religious work for the Church of Iceland or another registered religious organisation.

For an adult invited to unpaid volunteer activity with an acknowledged non-profit, tax-exempt NGO operating in a charitable or humanitarian field.

For a visit to Iceland and the Schengen Area of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, with an advance visa only where nationality or travel-document rules require one.

For an artist, scientist or athlete visiting Iceland for 91 to 180 days where the activity does not require another residence permit and there is no intent to settle.

For a stay of 91 to 180 days to make an extended visit to a close family member in Iceland, where the applicant does not intend to settle.

For a covered Ukrainian national, protected person or specified family member who comes to Iceland from Ukraine under the mass-displacement protection decision.

For an international-protection applicant who does not qualify for refugee or subsidiary protection but demonstrates a strong need for protection because of health, difficult social circumstances or difficult general conditions.

For a person in Iceland seeking refugee or subsidiary protection because return would expose them to persecution or a real risk of serious harm.

— No eligibility summary published for this route yet

For a person in Iceland whose circumstances may constitute human trafficking and who needs a protected reflection period to recover and decide whether to cooperate with authorities.

For an international-protection applicant who satisfies the identity, cooperation, non-expulsion and return-request conditions and has an Icelandic employment contract.

For a person recognised as a refugee because of a well-founded fear of persecution on a protected ground.

For a person who does not qualify as a refugee but faces death penalty, torture, inhuman treatment or serious indiscriminate armed-conflict harm on return.

For a person who was an Icelandic citizen at birth, later lost or renounced that citizenship, and now intends to settle in Iceland.

For a person who is injured or becomes ill while in Iceland and must extend the stay, or for that person's spouse, cohabiting partner or parent.

For a non-EEA athlete or coach contracted by a sports club or association within the Icelandic Olympic and Sports Association.

For a visa-required traveller transiting airside in Iceland between two non-Schengen flights without entering the Schengen Area.

For an adult who does not qualify under another residence category and, exceptionally, has sufficiently strong personal, social, cultural or caregiving ties to Iceland.