Athlete Residence and Work Permit

The person to be hired has an employment contract with a sports club to play or train a certain sport with the club.

The sports association is within the Icelandic Olympic and Sports Association.

According to the Foreign Nationals’ Right to Work Act it is a condtion that the foreign national is employed by a sports club under the umbrella of the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland

The sports club pays for the return of the individual after the period of service is completed in certain cases.

A work permit is bound to the employer for whom it is issued and the permit does not transfer between employers.

A foreigner may not start working for a sports club until a work permit has been granted.

The permit confers the right to family reunification for the holder's marital spouse , cohabiting spouse , after at least one year of cohabitation, children under the age of 18 , if the holder has custody of them, parents 67 years or older

A work permit for athletes granted for the first time is granted for no more than one year, but never longer than the period of employment under the employment contract. Generally, players' work permits are granted for the current season. Work permits for athletes can be extended for up to two years.

However, it is a condition that an application for an extension be submitted to the Directorate of Immigration at least four weeks before the previous permit expires.

The permit may be granted for up to two years, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit.

If a player goes to work for a new employer, both a new work permit for the player and salary payments must be submitted to the new employer.

The permit can be a basis for a permanent residence permit