Volunteer Residence Permit

Residence permits for volunteers are for persons who come to Iceland to work for a non-governmental organisation working in charitable or humanitarian fields, operating on a non-profit making basis and exempt from tax.

The work you will be doing must be in accordance with the activities of the non-governmental organization you will work for.

Examples of work that does not fall under the definition of volunteer work is unpaid work at farms, restaurants, guesthouses and in tourism.

You must have an invitation to work for an acknowledged non-governmental organization doing work in charitable or humanitarian fields, operating on a non-profit making basis and exempt from tax.

The requirement that the work is for an acknowledged organization may be waived if the proposed stay can be demonstrated to be for a verified charitable or humanitarian purpose.

Examples of organizations qualifying for having volunteers are AUS, Reykjavík Youth Center (Hitt húsid), the Nature Conservation Agency of Iceland, the Salvation Army, the Icelandic Red Cross, SEEDS, the Scout Movement, Worldwide Friends and more.

A contract with an acknowledged non-governmental organization working on charity or humanitarian issues that are non-profit and tax exempt.

signed both by the applicant and the organization's representative.

The contract must state the kind of work the applicant will carry out, the length of stay applied for, a confirmation that the organization guarantees the applicant housing and financial support in Iceland, if applicable.

The applicant must submit a flight ticket from Iceland stating the date of departure at the end of the stay.

that the organization you will be volunteering with will support you financially, or that you are able to support yourself during your stay without relying on salaried employment.

259.951 ISK for individuals per month.

The permit does not confer the right to engage in paid employment in Iceland.

A residence permit for volunteers can be granted for up to one year, but never for longer than the period covered by an invitation from a non-governmental organization.

The permit may not be renewed.

The permit does not confer the right to family reunification.

The permit is not a basis for a