Personal identification number (PID) / Kennitala

Kennitala

All individuals living in Iceland are registered in Þjóðskrá and need to get a Personal Identification number (PID) / (Kennitala), a 10 digit long number. The PID is the key to the Icelandic community.

• The first six digits are the individual’s birthday, month and year.
• In Þjóðskrá information is stored about the following: legal domicile, names, births, given names, moving, marriage, co-habitual arrangements, divorce, death and more.
• It is necessary for foreign citizens to get a PID from Þjóðskrá. A PID is used to open a bank account, register a legal address and get a land line telephone number.
• Companies (employers) and agencies apply for a PID for foreign citizens and can apply for PID´s for their spouses and children.
• Insurance agencies in Iceland can apply for a PID for foreign citizens doing business with them.
• It is possible to apply for a PID online. The application has to be printed out, filled in and signed - and posted, e-mailed or brought to the reception desk at Þjóðskrá.

>Application for PID in English

Þjóðskrá (The National Registry)

Borgartúni 24 150 Reykjavík

Telephone: (+354) 569 2900

Fax: (+354) 569-2949

E-mail: thjodskra@thjodskra.is

• A photocopy of the applicant’s passport must be attached with the application.  The name of the person applying must be provided.
• A foreign citizen who has been issued a PID but has not received a residence permit (applies only to citizens outside EEA) is not formally registered in the country and does not obtain any rights until a residence permit has been issued and legal domicile has been recognized.

PID for children

• It is necessary to apply for a PID for children of foreign nationality.  The parent or custodian applying has to have a valid residence permit and be formally registered into the country and Þjóðskrá.  It is not sufficient to have a PID and be informally registered only.
• With the application for a PID for a child the following information has to be attached:
• 1. Photocopy of passport.
  2. Photocopy of original birth certificate.
  3. If birth certificate is not in English, Danish, Swedish or Norwegian then a photocopy of the birth certificate translated into Icelandic by a certified translator. (It is not necessary to translate documents in English, Danish, Swedish or Norwegian).
  4. A copy of the application of the residence permit for the child (applies to citizens outside EEA).