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Residence Card for Family Member of an EEA or EFTA Citizen

IcelandFree movement

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

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Explore pathways in Iceland Read the five questions ↓

Which citizenship, status or regional agreement creates the person's right to move/reside?

A right derived from an EEA/EFTA citizen residing in Iceland: non-EEA immediate family members may reside on that basis. Icelandic citizens count only if they lived in another EEA/EFTA country with a right of residence for at least three months and move back together with the relative.

See recorded sources

Under which circumstances can the person reside: worker, self-employed, student, jobseeker, self-funded person or another recognised basis?

Residence follows the EEA/EFTA citizen’s own right of residence. Family members of EEA/EFTA students are limited to spouses and descendants under 21. For returning Icelanders, the right abroad could come from work, job-seeking, study or self-sufficiency.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not list the EEA/EFTA citizen's own residence bases in Iceland.

What entry, registration or residence-document formalities remain?

For stays over three months, family members apply to the Directorate of Immigration for a residence card, on paper with supporting documents; fee ISK 8,000. The card is valid five years from issue or as long as the EEA/EFTA citizen’s right if shorter.

See recorded sources

Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?

Spouse (married or cohabiting); children or grandchildren of the EEA/EFTA citizen or spouse under 21 or dependent; dependent parents/grandparents of either; custodial parent of an EEA/EFTA child under 18. Spouses can start working once the card application is submitted; card holders may work without a work permit.

See recorded sources

When do permanent/long-term rights arise and what continuity, absence or retention conditions matter?

After five years of continuous legal residence, family members acquire a permanent right to reside. The card expires if the holder stays abroad more than six months a year, unless there are special reasons.

See recorded sources

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

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