Apply for a work permit

Conditions

For service contracts

• The foreign company that is supposed to provide services in Iceland does not have a business in Iceland.

• The employee's wages and salaries while in Iceland are in accordance with the law and the applicable collective agreements in Iceland.

• A service agreement has been concluded between the foreign service company and the domestic user company.

• The service contract or the certified Annex to it states that it is necessary for the person who applies for a work permit to perform the service to be provided and the person concerned has specialization to perform the service in question.

Permits in this category are not granted for general non-professional work.

For cooperation agreements on teaching, academic or scientific work

• A cooperation agreement on teaching, academic or scientific work between the domestic and foreign employer must be available. Cooperation agreements on other work are not covered.

• The cooperation agreement must state that it is a job that the employee of the foreign employer will perform in Iceland on the basis of cooperation between the Icelandic employer and the foreign employer in relation to teaching, academic or scientific work.

• The relevant employee of the foreign employer must have completed the university studies necessary to carry out the relevant work.

Required data

Original application

Application for a temporary work permit for specialized workers on the basis of a service contract or a cooperation agreement

Service contract

Service contract between the foreign service company and the domestic user company. It must be stated in the contract itself or in a certified annex to it that it is necessary for the foreigner who is applying for a work permit to perform the service to be provided and that the employee is specialised in performing that work.

Employment contract

The contract is made between an individual and the foreign service company which confirms the employment relationship between the individual and the foreign company. Information must also be received confirming the employee's wages while he/she stays in Iceland, but they must be in accordance with the law and the applicable collective agreements in Iceland. If the employee's wages are lower than that, the requested work permit is not granted.

Cooperation agreement

In the case of a cooperation agreement, a confirmation of the employee's university education, such as a copy of a graduation certificate, shall be attached.

A union's opinion is not required for this type of work permit.

Responsibilities of applicants

It is the applicants responsibility to submit the necessary documents with an application for a temporary work permit. If necessary documents are missing, the application may be delayed or rejected. The Directorate of Labour requests additional documents if they are considered necessary.

Submit an application

The application is submitted to:

Directorate of Immigration

Dalvegur 18

201 Kópavogur

Outside the capital area

The application is submitted to the relevant office of the District Commissioner.

Laws and regulations

Article 15 of Act No. 97 of 2002 on the employment rights of foreigners.