Yes, in exceptional cases it is possible to apply for an exemption from the two-year maximum period in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004.

If the period of employment is longer than two years, an individual may request to remain covered by Icelandic social security legislation and thus be exempt from the social security legislation of the country of employment.

• Such an exemption is subject to the approval of the authorities in the country of employment.

• The Social Insurance Administration will therefore not issue an A1 certificate until approval has been granted.

• Agreements under Article 16 are never made for a period longer than 5 years.

The application process for Article 16 agreements can take a considerable amount of time due to communication between countries — on average 4–8 weeks.