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Provisional Residence and Work Permit for Protection Applicant

IcelandHumanitarian protection

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Iceland Read the five questions ↓

What exactly is this: asylum, temporary protection, humanitarian admission, resettlement or another protection mechanism?

This is a provisional residence and work permit (Article 77 Foreign Nationals Act) for international-protection applicants who want to work while their claim is processed. It lasts only until the protection claim is decided and does not lead to permanent residence.

See recorded sources

Which population, circumstances or geographic group does the mechanism cover?

It covers applicants for international protection whose protection statement has been taken, whose identity is not in doubt (waivable), with no known expulsion grounds (a refusal from the Directorate counts), no take-back request to another state (waivable after 90 days) and who have cooperated. Applications after a Directorate refusal are refused.

See recorded sources
  • https://island.is/en/provisional-residence-permit
    A statement about international protection has been taken from the applicant. There is no doubt about the applicant’s identity. This condition may be waived in special circumstances, for example when it is unfair or impossible to expect an applicant to provide adequate identification documents. There are no known reasons that could lead to the expulsion of the applicant. Such a reason exists when a foreigner has received a refusal of an application for international protection from the Directorate of Immigration. A request has not been made to another state to accept the return of the applicant. An exemption may be granted from this condition, if more than 90 days have passed since an application for international protection was submitted in Iceland. The foreign national has supplied information and assisted in the resolving of his or her case.
  • https://island.is/en/provisional-residence-permit
    An application for a provisional residence and work permit will be refused if it is submitted after a foreigner has received a refusal

Where can protection be requested, and is this a direct application, border/in-country request, referral or other process?

This is a direct application with a work-permit application based on special reasons (signed by applicant and employer), an employment contract endorsed by the trade union, the ISK 40,000 fee and medical insurance from an insurer licensed in Iceland. The official source does not state the physical or online channel where the application is lodged.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not state the physical or online channel where the application is lodged.

What happens after the request: registration, family handling, major support and rights where officially stated?

The applicant may not work before the permit is granted. Holders lose housing and financial support as protection applicants but must get reasonable time to find housing and income. They can open a bank account with the provisional permit card. Passports stay with the authorities until the protection case ends.

See recorded sources

Which competent authority, UN body or official assistance channel should the person use?

The Directorate of Immigration is the service provider; copies of surrendered passports can be requested by email at utl@utl.is.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No UN body or fraud/scam warning is mentioned on the page.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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