Working in Iceland
NOTE: To work in Iceland everyone needs to have a personal ID number. If you are not from an EEA/EFTA member state you also need to have a residents permit. More information is below.
Everyone in Iceland is registered at Registers Iceland and has a personal ID number (kennitala). So if you plan to stay for more than three months you need to get this ID number. Read about ID numbers here.
Long-term visas for remote workers
A remote worker is someone who delivers work from Iceland to an operating location abroad. Remote workers can apply for a long-term visa that is issued for up to 180 days. Those who have long-term visas will not be issued an Icelandic ID number.
It’s the Directorate of Immigration that issues the Long-term visas and detailed information about the process can be found on their website.
If you intend to stay in Iceland longer than three months and you are a citizen of a country that is not an EEA/EFTA member state, you need a residence permit. The Directorate of Immigrants issues the residence permit.
A necessary requirement for residence permit based on work is that a work permit has been granted by the Directorate of Labour. General information about work permits can be found on the website of the Directorate of Labour.
An employer who intends to hire a foreign national shall submit an application for a work permit to the Directorate of Immigration along with all the necessary supporting documents.
Further information about residence permit based on work, such as requirements and documents to be submitted, as well as the application form, can be found on the website of the Directorate of Immigration.
