Foreign Nationals Act amended

An amendment to the Foreign Nationals Act has taken effect. The changes mainly grant applicants for residence permits and residence permit holders greater rights than before. The website of the Directorate of Immigration has already been updated in accordance with current legislation. The main changes are listed below.

Residence permits on grounds of employment

• A residence permit for work requiring expert knowledge may now be granted for four years instead of two years.

• A residence permits for athletes may now be granted for two years instead of one year.

• A residence permit for specialised staff on the basis of a collaboration or service contract may now be granted for one year instead of six months.

• A residence permit due to a shortage of labour may now be renewed for two years instead of one year, and a foreign national who has held a residence permit on this basis is no longer required to spend two consecutive years abroad before being able to apply again.

• The holder of a residence permit on the basis of expert knowledge may now be granted a permit for one year, when an employment relationship is dissolved, so that he or she may seek employment on the basis of his or her expert knowledge.

• The holder of a residence permit due to shortage of labour may now be granted a residence permit for six months, when an employment relationship is dissolved, so that he or she can seek another job.

• A residence permit due to shortage of labour and a residence permit for specialised staff on the basis of a collaboration or service contract are now accompanied by the right to family reunification with spouses, children and parents over the age of 67.

Residence permits on the basis of studies and cultural exchanges

• Doctoral students may now be present in Iceland when applying for a residence permit.

• A residence permit for a foreign national who has completed university studies in Iceland may now be renewed for up to three years from the date of graduation for the purpose of seeking employment in Iceland on the basis of his/her expert knowledge. Previously the duration was six months.

• A residence permit for students now comes with the right to family reunification with spouses, children and parents over the age of 67 for all students.

• A residence permit for students now comes with the right to work up to 22,5 hours per week (60% work) instead of 15 hours previously (40% work).

• A residence permit for au pair placement may now be renewed once for one year.

Residence permits on the basis of family reunification

• A residence permit for children may now be granted to children born in Iceland even if their parents hold residence permits that are not accompanied with the right to family reunification.

• A residence permit for children may now be granted to children who have reached the age of 18 as long as they were not 18 years old at the time of application.

• A residence permit for the spouses and children of foreign nationals, who hold a residence permit for work that requires expert knowledge, is now accompanied with the right to work without a work permit in Iceland.