Adoption

Legal Effects of Adoption

Upon the issuance of an adoption permit, all legal connections between the adopted child and the biological parents, as well as other relatives such as grandparents and siblings, are terminated. The inheritance rights between the adopted child and the biological parents, as well as other relatives, cease.

With the adoption, the adopted child gains the same legal relationship with the adoptive parents as if they were the child's biological parents. The child also gains the same legal connections to the adoptive parents' relatives, including grandparents and siblings. Inheritance rights are established between the adopted child and the adoptive parents and their relatives in accordance with the rules of inheritance law. However, there is a disclaimer that laws may stipulate otherwise.

• The laws on adoption address legal relationships and the legal effects of adoption, not personal relationships.

• If the adopter is a single individual, they will be the sole parent of the adopted child, and legal connections to both biological parents will be terminated.

• In the case of step-adoption, where the adopter is in a partnership or marriage with one of the biological parents of the child to be adopted, legal connections to the other biological parent and their relatives are terminated.

• An adopted child is not entitled to participate in proceedings to verify their biological origins, such as paternity or disavowal cases.

• A child under 18 adopted by an Icelandic citizen will acquire Icelandic citizenship upon adoption if the adoption permit is issued in Iceland.

• If an Icelandic citizen residing abroad adopts a child under 18, the adoption must be confirmed by the District Commissioner in the capital region for the child to obtain Icelandic citizenship.

• Those residing in Iceland cannot legally adopt a child abroad without first obtaining a pre-approval in Iceland. Such an adoption would not have legal effect in Iceland.

• An adoption cannot be annulled.

Services

The District Commissioner in the capital area handles adoption matters nationwide. Requests regarding adoption should be directed to the District Commissioner's office at Hlíðasmári 1, Kópavogur.

If you have questions regarding the matter or need further assistance, you can contact the District Commissioner's office in the capital area by phone or by sending an email to fjolskylda@syslumenn.is.

Electronic Delivery of Documents

District Commissioners can send documents related to cases to an individual’s mailbox on island.is. To receive a notification that a document has been delivered, you must go to your settings in island.is and change it.

Cost

There is no fee for submitting a request for pre-approval or adoption to the District Commissioner. The adoption permit costs ISK 5,400.