A foreigner who has resided in Iceland for a certain period of time may apply for Icelandic citizenship if he/she meets the legal requirements. The Immigration Office grants Icelandic citizenship and handles applications.

The Icelandic parliament can also grant citizenship by law. A foreigner who has been granted Icelandic citizenship isn’t required to renounce their previous citizenship in order to obtain Icelandic citizenship, since Iceland allows dual citizenship. However, the law of the state of which a person is a citizen may require renouncing the citizenship of that state if the person acquires the citizenship of another state. 

Citizenship by birth

A person acquires Icelandic citizenship at birth if:

• at least one parent is an Icelandic citizen

• either their father or mother is a legal resident of Iceland and previously held Icelandic citizenship. 

Naturalization

Naturalization allows a foreign citizen to obtain Icelandic citizenship. The procedure is different in each individual case.

What is naturalization?

Naturalization is the last step in the process of integration into the Icelandic way of life. This gives you the right to vote and run.

What are the requirements for obtaining citizenship by naturalization?

A person can be naturalized as an Icelandic citizen after a seven-year period of residence.

There are various allowances for the period of residence:

• reduction to four years for a citizen of another northern council country

• if a person is married (or in a recognized marriage with) an Icelandic citizen, the residence requirement is reduced to three years. An Icelandic spouse must have citizenship for five years, and the marriage must exist for four years

• if a person is in a recognized cohabitation with an Icelandic citizen, the period of residence is five years and meets the same criteria as for a spouse

• reduction to two years for a child of an Icelandic citizen, provided that the parent has Icelandic citizenship for five years

• former Icelandic citizens require one year of residence

• the residence requirement for recognized refugees is 5 years

• a person who was born in Iceland and has no other citizenship can obtain citizenship after three years of residence.

It is important that candidates have a good character and are able to provide for themselves in Iceland.

Citizenship by declaration

In some circumstances, individuals can become citizens of Iceland on the declaration. This is a simpler process than naturalization.

Citizenship can be obtained by:

• a person who is living in Iceland from the age of 11 (13 years if a stateless person), between the ages of 18 and 20

• a former Icelandic citizen who obtained Icelandic citizenship by birth and lived in Iceland until the age of 18 after 2 years of living in Iceland

• a citizen of a northern council country (other than naturalization) who has lived in Iceland for 7 years

• a former Icelandic citizen who, after losing his Icelandic citizenship, was a citizen of another northern council country. The applicant must reside in Iceland.

People who are not eligible for Icelandic citizenship on the declaration may be eligible for naturalization.