IcelandLong-term residence
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
The target status is an Icelandic permanent residence permit, granted on the basis of Article 58 of the Foreign Nationals Act.
Permanent residence permit is granted on the basis of Article 58 of the Foreign Nationals Act.
The general rule is four years of continuous residence on a permit that can be the basis of permanent residence. Exceptions: spouse or cohabiting partner of an Icelandic citizen after three years; child of an Icelandic citizen (who has held citizenship for at least five years) after two years; Icelandic doctorate plus three years on an expert permit; former student with two years on a qualifying permit and at least four years in total; collective-protection permit holders (mass displacement from Ukraine) up to six years; former Icelandic citizens without prior residence. The official source does not state when the period begins.
As a general rule, to be entitled to a permanent residence permit, a foreign national must have resided in Iceland on a residence permit that can be the basis of a permanent residence permit for four years continuously.
The spouse or cohabiting partner of an Icelandic citizen may apply for a permanent residence permit after living with his/her Icelandic spouse in Iceland and held a residence permit for a continuous period of at least three years
A foreign national whose parent is an Icelandic citizen may apply for a permanent residence permit after having held a residence permit in Iceland for a continuous period of two years prior to the submission of an application. The parent must have held Icelandic citizenship for at least five years.
A foreign national who has completed a doctoral programme in Iceland and has held a residence permit on the basis of work requiring expert knowledge for at least three years prior to submitting an application.
A foreign national who has held a residence permit which may be the basis for a permanent residence permit for at least two years and who has previously resided in Iceland on a continuous residence permit for studies, so that the total stay is at least four years.
People enjoying collective protection due to mass displacement from Ukraine Holders of humanitarian permits granted on the basis of collective protection must reside continuously in Iceland for up to six years before they can obtain a permanent residence permit
A foreign national, who was an Icelandic citizen at birth but has lost his/her citizenship or renounced it, may apply for a permanent residence permit without having previously lived in Iceland
Counting permits: family reunification (unless with a holder of a non-qualifying permit such as a student), work requiring expert knowledge, labour shortage, athletes, international protection, humanitarian grounds, special ties, missionaries, and students with restrictions. A student permit alone does not count: it helps only if followed by at least two years on a qualifying permit so the total is four years. For the spouse-of-Icelander route the permit need not be marriage-based; for the child-of-Icelander route any permit counts.
The following permits can serve as a basis for a permanent residence permit Residence permit for family reunification. Unless the family reunification is with a holder of a residence permit that is not a basis for permanent residence, for example, a student permit. Residence permit for work requiring expert knowledge. Residence permit due to shortage of labour. Residence permit for athletes. Residence permit on grounds of international protection. Residence permit on humanitarian grounds. Special rules apply to holders of humanitarian permits granted on the basis of collective protection . Residence permit based on special ties to Iceland. Residence permit for missionaries. Residence permit for students, with restrictions.
No. A residence permit for students is not the basis of a permanent residence permit. If you have only had a student permit, you cannot apply for a permanent residence permit.
In order to fulfil this exemption, an individual must have been in Iceland for a continuous period of four years, first on a student permit for at least two years and then on a residence permit, which can be the basis of a permanent residence permit, for at least another two years.
The applicant's residence permit need not have been issued on the basis of marriage or cohabitation.
It does not matter whether the applicant's residence permit can be the basis for a permanent residence permit or not.
Continuity means holding a valid permit when applying, having applied for each renewal before the previous permit expired, and not having resided abroad for more than 90 days in total in each year of holding a permit. A young person 18+ who resided four years or more on family reunification and studied or worked is exempt from the continuity requirement.
Continuous stay refers to That the applicant has a valid residence permit when applying for a permanent residence permit. That the applicant has in recent years taken care to apply for a renewal of a residence permit before the expiry of the previous residence permit. That the applicant has not resided abroad for more than 90 days in total each year for which he/she held a residence permit in Iceland.
A young person who has reached the age of 18 and has resided in Iceland on grounds of family reunification for four years or longer and has studied or been employed in Iceland. The stay in Iceland must not have been continuous.
Apply online before the current residence permit expires; the processing fee is paid at the final application step. A permanent residence card is valid for five years. When the card expires, the holder does not reapply for permanent residence, but books a photo appointment and pays for a replacement card.
You must apply for a permanent residence permit before your current residence permit expires.
The processing fee must be paid in the last step of the online procedure for the application to be submitted.
The fee is 60.000 ISK for adults and 30.000 ISK for children under 18.
Holders of permanent residence permits are issued a residence permit card valid for five years.
You do not need to reapply for a permanent residence permit when the card expires, but only make a photo appointment and pay 8.000 ISK for a new card.
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.