IcelandLong-term residence
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
The target status is the right to permanent residence in Iceland for family members of EEA/EFTA citizens.
Family members of EEA/EFTA citizens acquire the right to permanent residence
The qualifying period is five years of continuous legal residence in Iceland with a residence card for family members of EEA/EFTA citizens. The official source does not state when the five-year period begins.
after five years of continuous legal residence with a residence card for family members of EEA/EFTA citizens in Iceland.
Legal residence held with a family-member residence card counts. Exceptionally, the right can be acquired before five years if the EEA/EFTA citizen from whom the right derives acquired permanent residence within five years (Art. 87(3)) or on that citizen's death (Art. 87(6)). The official source does not state whether residence on other permit types counts towards the five years.
Under exceptional circumstances the family member of an EEA/EFTA citizen may acquire the right to permanent residence, despite not having continuous residence for five years. This may apply if the EEA/EFTA citizen, from whom he/she derives the right to residence, has him-/herself acquired the right to permanent residence within five years, Art. 87 (3) of the Foreign Nationals Act or on the death of the EEA/EFTA citizen, Art. 87 (6).
Continuity is not interrupted by absences of under six months in total per year, by absence for military service, or by absence of up to one year for compelling reasons (pregnancy, birth, serious illness, education or vocational training, or posted employment abroad).
The following shall not be regarded as interruptions to continuous residence: stay abroad for less than six months in total per year, stay abroad for military service or stay for a maximum period of one year for compelling reasons, such as pregnancy, birth, serious illness, education or vocational training or employment abroad for which the person concerned has been seconded.
The right is registered by submitting a residence card application with a copy of the passport's personal-information and signature pages; the fee is ISK 8,000. The card is valid for five years; on expiry the holder only books a photo appointment and pays ISK 8,000 for a new card, with no new application. The right is cancelled after more than two continuous years outside Iceland.
For the registration of the right to permanent residence you must submit an application for a residence card as well as a copy of your passport
The fee for the registration of the right to permanent residence is 8.000 ISK
Residence cards are valid for five years. You do not need to reapply when the card expires
The right to permanent residence is cancelled if the person concerned resides outside of Iceland for a continuous period of more than two years.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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Not legal advice. No eligibility verdict or ranking. Check the linked sources before applying.