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. 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.

In 2025, the average processing time for approved applications for first-time residence permits on the grounds of work was 2 months and 4,5 months for a Working Holiday/Youth Mobility.

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.

Experts, athletes, collaboration or service contract

As an applicant for a residence permit for work requiring expert knowledge, residence permit for athletes or residence permit on the basis of a collaboration or service contract you may be in Iceland when you submit your application and while the application is being processed, provided that your stay in Iceland is legal.

Legal stay means that you are in Iceland on the basis of a 90-day visa exemption, a valid visa or a valid residence permit.

A stay becomes illegal once your visa has expired, if you need a visa to visit Iceland, or when you have stayed in the Schengen area for more than 90 days within the past 180 days, if you are visa exempt. If your stay becomes illegal before you receive an answer to your application, the application will be rejected unless there are compelling reasons of fairness that argue against it.

Shortage of labour

If you need a visa to travel to Iceland, you must not be in Iceland when you submit your application for a residence permit due to shortage of labour 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, before you receive an answer to your application, 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

Working Holiday / Youth Mobility

As an applicant for a residence permit for Working Holiday / Youth Mobility you may be in Iceland when you submit your application and while the application is being processed, provided that your stay in the Schengen Area does not exceed 90 days in the last 180-day period. If your stay exceeds this period, the application will be rejected unless there are compelling reasons of fairness that argue against it.

Applicants for a residence and work permit may not start working until the permit has been granted.