For EU/EEA citizens

If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country, you do not need to apply for a work permit. However, depending on the time you spend in Iceland, you may need to register your stay with the Immigration Service and obtain a national identification number, which is also done at the time of registration.

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For non-EU/EEA nationals

Non-EU/EEA nationals must apply for a work and residence permit in order to work in Iceland. For most individuals, it is best to apply for a permit based on professional qualifications. To obtain this permit, you must have specialized skills and an employment contract for the position. Once this permit is approved, you can apply for a work visa.

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What are the conditions for obtaining a work permit?

The following conditions must always be met in order for the Office of the Polish Labor Office to issue a work permit:

• An application for a work permit signed by the employer and the foreigner
• An employment contract between the employer and the foreigner signed by the employer and the foreigner
• An opinion of the relevant trade union. 

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What documents do I need to submit to obtain a work permit?

• Your application for a work permit, which requires expert knowledge. Please make sure that the application form is filled out completely and that the relevant Icelandic trade union has confirmed that the terms and conditions of employment are in accordance with Icelandic collective bargaining agreements.
• An employment contract between you and your employer, which contains information about your position, job description, and the pension fund to which you will contribute. Your working conditions should be similar to those of other experts in your field.
• A certified copy of your diploma(s) in Icelandic or English.
• If your expert knowledge is based on extensive experience, you should include evidence of previous work regarding your positions, responsibilities, and duration of work.
• Information about your employer's attempts to hire a citizen of Iceland, the EEA, EFTA or the Faroe Islands before hiring you must be provided by your employer.
• Confirmation that your employer will pay for your return to a specific country if your contract is terminated for reasons beyond your control or if you become unable to work due to illness or accident.

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What is the process of applying for a work permit?

Applications for a work permit must be submitted by the prospective employer to the Office of the Immigration Officer together with the required supporting documentation. If the Office of Immigration finds that the conditions for issuing a residence permit are met, the application is forwarded to the Office of Labor for issuing a work permit. 

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Is it possible to obtain an extension of a work permit?

An application for an extension of a temporary work permit must be submitted to the Office of Immigration four weeks before the expiration date. After the extension, all the conditions of the temporary work permit must be fulfilled, and the employer must pay tax and social security contributions in accordance with the legislation on the foreigner's work.

A work visa in Iceland is a type of long-term visa that allows employment. It is issued to highly skilled workers, skilled professionals, sports coaches and athletes, labor shortage workers and remote workers.

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What are the conditions for obtaining a work visa?

• To apply, you must already have a job in Iceland and also meet the following conditions
• be at least 18 years old
• have expert knowledge or be highly qualified
• you can get a job if your employer could not find a local employee for your position
• you have exceptional experience that will help the company.

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What documents do I need to provide to obtain a work visa?

• Fully completed application form
• Passport with at least two blank pages and valid for 3 months after the return date
• 2 passport photos
• Medical travel insurance
• Flight itinerary (return ticket)
• Proof of accommodation
• Cover letter stating the purpose of the trip
• Employment contract (including job title, job description and pension fund contribution)
• Proof of education and professional qualifications (e.g. diploma, work certificate, etc.)
• Proof of sufficient financial means (at least 33.97 USD per day of accommodation and 169.81 USD entrance fee)
• No criminal record (proof of no criminal record)
• Receipt of payment for processing
• Marriage certificate and birth certificate, if a family is applying for a work visa. 

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Where to apply for an Icelandic work visa?

An application for a work visa should be submitted to the Icelandic Immigration Department.

The application processing time is 90 days.

The EU Blue Card allows third-country nationals with higher education to be employed in Iceland according to their qualifications. 

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What documents do I need to provide to obtain an EU Blue Card?

1. Application form.

Completely filled in in English or Icelandic with the applicant's signature and date

2. Passport.

• Valid for at least six months after the date of your departure from Iceland and not older than 10 years.

3. Three photos

4. A copy of the identity card

• Valid for at least three months after the date of your departure from Iceland.

5. Copy of residence permit/visa (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

6. Photocopies of

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous Schengen visa/residence permit in Iceland

7. Proof of employment in Iceland

• Employment Agreement or Contract/Binding Job Offer - contains the terms and conditions of employment with detailed information on the gross annual salary
• Deputation order - confirmation of the assignment, including basic information and reason for the assignment

8. Job description

• Format provided by the Employment Office or the company itself

9. Proof of qualifications

• General employment - all higher degrees and a certificate of vocational training are required
• Candidate for an EU Blue Card - Icelandic university degree or a recognized foreign university and a foreign degree comparable to the Icelandic one.

10. Curriculum vitae (CV) of your professional career, indicating the certificates, diplomas and qualifications you have obtained

11. Proof of residence

• Accommodation (if not specified in the invitation or contract) - a confirmed reservation of accommodation (hotel, hostel, apartment) with the applicant's name, date and address of residence.

12. Police report

A document not older than six months, which confirms that you have not committed any criminal activity in the last 5 years.

13. Proof of financial capabilities (if the company is not sponsoring the trip)

• A personal bank statement for at least the last 6 months prior to application, personal property, assets, etc.

14. Health insurance

• You must purchase health insurance with an insurance company authorized to operate in Iceland with a validity period of one year. Travel insurance is not accepted. 

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What is the processing time for the EU Blue Card?

The average processing time for an EU Blue Card is 10-60 calendar days.

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Where do I apply for the EU Blue Card?

You should apply for your EU Blue Card at an Icelandic visa application center, embassy or consulate, depending on which one accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If your country does not have one, you should contact the nearest embassy or consulate to your place of residence.