Residence Permit Based on Special Ties to Iceland

Residence permits on the basis of special ties to Iceland are only granted in exceptional cases. It is assessed each time whether an applicant can obtain the residence permit. In the assessment, family ties and the applicant's stays in Iceland weigh the most, but in exceptional cases, a residence permit may be granted even if the applicant has never lived in Iceland.

The residence permit is granted on the basis of Article 78 of the

A residence permit on grounds of special ties to Iceland is first and foremost intended for an applicant who has resided in Iceland and established ties in the country while having a residence permit.

You must be 18 or older.

You do not fall under other types of residence permits or meet their requirements.

Special ties to Iceland cannot include those ties established by a foreign national staying in Iceland on a residence permit for students, volunteers, missionaries, au-pairs, victims of human trafficking, on grounds of Working Holiday / Youth Mobility, a temporary residence permit or long-term visa.

Special ties under these provisions do not mean family connections of the

The applicant has a grown-up child or a parent residing in Iceland and is an Icelandic citizen or has a permanent residence permit or a residence permit that may constitute the grounds of a permanent residence permit, the applicant can prove that he/she has been provided for by this relative for at least one year, and

The requirement is that the residence permit has either not been renewed or revoked because of changed circumstances or for other reasons.

Generally, the applicant must have been in Iceland in a legal stay for at least two years before consideration is given to length of stay

If the applicant has stayed abroad for more than 18 months continuously from the issue of the latest residence permit, a residence permit on grounds of special ties will generally not be granted on grounds of the previous stay unless other ties of the applicant are very strong.

If a marriage or cohabitation ends, a residence permit on grounds of special ties to Iceland may be granted provided the applicant is able to show that social or cultural circumstances will make it difficult to return to his/her home country.

The applicant must submit a written report describing the following: Family ties and friendships in home country e.g. regarding parents, close family and how much the applicant communicates with them. Employment history/connection in home country. Family ties and friendships in Iceland. Employment in Iceland. Social and cultural ties to Iceland

The applicant must submit documents to confirm the claims made in the report where applicable.

The Directorate requests confirmation from a doctor, social services or other official institutions

Family ties weigh most heavily in the evaluation, together with ties on grounds of previous stay in Iceland.

If an applicant has been sentenced for criminal activity in Iceland, this is deemed as reducing his/her ties to the country.

A residence permit on grounds of special ties to Iceland can be granted for up to one year.

The permit may be renewed for up to one year at a time, if the conditions of the permit are still fulfilled.

The residence permit entails the right to work in Iceland without a work permit.

The permit confers the right to family reunification for the holder's children under the age of 18 , if the holder has custody of them, parents 67 years or older spouse , if the holder has worked or studied in Iceland in legal stay for four years.

The permit may be the basis for a

you have not resided abroad for more than 90 days in total each year