An information page has been established for the public in connection with the merger of nine district commissioners’ offices into one, in accordance with Act No. 9/2026 on District Commissioners, which was adopted by the Icelandic Parliament on 2 February 2026. The merger will take effect on 1 January 2027.
There are currently nine district commissioners’ offices with 27 service locations across the country. Upon the entry into force of the merger, it is expected that these service locations will continue operating and that staff will transfer to the new Office of the District Commissioner.
The objective of the merger is to improve public services, ensure efficient operations, and support regional development. Services will largely remain unchanged when the merger takes effect, but the new structure will create greater opportunities to harmonize services and improve access regardless of place of residence. At the same time, it will strengthen operations nationwide and safeguard services and jobs in rural areas.
The merger will take effect on 1 January 2027.
The objectives of the merger can broadly be grouped into three categories:
First, to provide the best possible service to the public.
Second, to maximize the efficient use of funds allocated to the operations and responsibilities of the District Commissioner.
Third, to actively support the objectives set out in the regional development plan and the Government’s policy priorities, including strengthening and safeguarding core public services in rural areas.
It is expected that the same 27 service locations will remain in operation and that staff will automatically transfer to the new Office of the District Commissioner.
Services will largely remain unchanged when the merger takes effect.
With the new Office of the District Commissioner, the aim is to strengthen public services in line with expectations of modern service institutions. The merger will result in the entire country becoming a single administrative district, replacing the current system where authority is divided among nine separate but equal entities. This is expected to lead to more consistent, simpler, more efficient, more transparent, and higher-quality case handling from the public’s perspective.
The goal is for the Office of the District Commissioner to provide excellent service, regardless of residence or service location, wherever and whenever it suits the public. At the same time, the organization of services will take into account the need for local access.
The merger is intended to support the objectives and priorities set out in the Regional Development Plan for 2022–2036, including strengthening public services in rural areas, increasing employment opportunities, and improving government operations.
Service locations across the country will continue to operate, with a particular emphasis on safeguarding services and jobs in rural areas. The aim is to ensure equal access to services regardless of residence and to strengthen operations nationwide.
The District Commissioner is required to ensure that at least 65% of full-time equivalent positions within the office are located in rural areas at any given time. In organizing the new office, it is considered important that the District Commissioner works in line with current government policies and actively seeks opportunities, both within and beyond the sector, to transfer tasks from the capital region to rural areas.
The Ministry of Justice oversees the preparation of the merger in cooperation with the district commissioners’ offices, key stakeholders, and subsequently, the new District Commissioner.
Information will be available on the district commissioners’ website. Inquiries may also be sent to dmr@dmr.is.
