Health insurance upon moving from Iceland

Work in another EEA country

When working in another EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, it is the social security regulations of the EEA Agreement that stipulate which social security legislation the worker or self-employed person is covered by. Individuals are only subject to the legislation of one of the member states, but the legislation of which member state is to apply is discussed in detail in the social security legislation of the EEA Agreement.

Employees who work only in one EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom are usually covered by the social security legislation of the country of employment.

This applies even if he/she lives in another EEA country, such as Iceland, and also if the employer is located in a country other than his/her country of employment. The same applies to self-employed individuals.

Fishermen working on board a ship sailing under an EEA flag are subject to the legislation of the ship's flag country.

Working in two or more countries alternately or simultaneously

Fishermen who are employed on a ship sailing under the flag of an EEA member state and who receive wages for that work are generally subject to the legislation of the flag country.

There are also many other special rules for fishermen, although the flag country rule is the general rule.

Civil servants

Civil servants are subject to the same legislation as the government they work for. Icelandic officials who work abroad within the EEA for the Icelandic state are covered by Icelandic social security.

Work outside the EEA

When working abroad in a country that is not a party to the EEA agreements and other intergovernmental agreements are not valid with the country in question, an individual can apply to maintain his/her social security protection on the basis of an authorization in the social security act. Conditions are among other things that the person in question works abroad for a person who has his/her residence and activities in Iceland and an insurance fee is paid in Iceland from his/her salary.

The protection may be approved according to this for up to one year. After the first period the registration may be extended for up to four additional years. Before this, it must be assessed whether the conditions are still fulfilled.

Applications for confirmation of this insurance shall be submitted to the Social Insurance Administration no later than four weeks before the departure from the country.