Residence permit applicants cannot log in to the Directorate of Immigration's website to get information about the status of their application.

On the information page about waiting times, you can see which applications are currently being processed based on when they were submitted. Applications received later than the month specified on the page are waiting to be processed.

While applications are waiting to be processed, no further information regarding the application can be provided by phone, email, or web chat.

It is not possible to say exactly how long you will need to wait for a decision on your application. Many factors affect the processing time, such as the number of applications awaiting processing by the Directorate of Immigration, whether you have submitted a complete application, or whether we need to request additional information from you.

Applications for student permits that are received with all required documents within the deadline will be processed before the school term begins.

In 2025, the average processing time for approved applications for first-time residence permits for students was 2,5 months and 5 months for au pairs, volunteers and missionaries.

No, it is not possible to request expedited processing.

Complete applications, submitted with all necessary supporting documents in the required format, can be processed faster.

The processing time may be longer if:

• the application has not been filled out sufficiently,

• further documents need to be requested,

• the applicant needs to be called in for an interview, or

• the applicant has requested an exemption from the requirements.

To withdraw an application, you need to contact the Directorate of Immigration.

Your name, date of birth, and the email address you provided in your application must be included in the request.

The processing fee is not refunded if you withdraw your application.

Additional documents that do not need to be originals can be sent by email to utl@utl.is. The documents must be marked with the applicant's full name and date of birth.

Documents that must be submitted as paper originals can be sent by post to the Directorate of Immigration at Dalvegur 18 in Kópavogur, handed in at the reception desk, or placed in the drop box in the lobby.

You need to contact the Directorate of Immigration to let us know about changes in address, phone number or email.

You should also inform us if you have new information that could affect your application, for example if you have received a new passport, gotten married or had a child.

If you need a visa to travel to Iceland, you must not be in Iceland when you submit your application for a residence permit as a student, volunteer, missionary, or au pair, or while the application is being processed. Such an application will be rejected.

If you do not need a visa to travel to Iceland, you may be in Iceland when you submit your application and while it is being processed by the Directorate of Immigration, as long as your 90-day visa exemption applies. If your stay in the Schengen area exceeds 90 days within the last 180 day period, the application will be rejected unless there are compelling reasons of fairness that argue against it.

Check if you need a visa to travel to Iceland

Students do not need to apply for a separate work permit to be allowed to work in Iceland, however, they may not start working until they have been issued a residence permit.

Applicants for a residence permit as missionaries and volunteers may not engage in paid employment in Iceland.

Applicants for a residence permit as an au pair may not engage in either paid or unpaid employment in Iceland.