Permanent residence permit

A child of a holder of a permanent residence permit, who is born after the parent arrives in Iceland, can be granted a permanent residence permit without meeting the requirement of prior residence.

The parent applies for the child through the digital application for a permanent residence permit on this website.

These documents must be submitted with the application:

• Copy of the child's passport.

• The child's birth certificate.

• Documents confirming custody, in cases where parents are not married and/or the other parent is not legally resident in Iceland.

• If both parents hold custody of a child, a certified consent of the parent not applying for family reunification must be submitted.

  • Consent by a parent regarding a child’s residence permit application.

A foreign national, who was an Icelandic citizen at birth but has lost his/her citizenship or renounced it, may apply for a permanent residence permit without having previously lived in Iceland, if he/she intends to settle here.

The spouse or cohabiting partner of an Icelandic citizen may apply for a permanent residence permit after living with his/her Icelandic spouse in Iceland and held a residence permit for a continuous period of at least three years after the marriage was established or the registration of cohabitation. The applicant's residence permit need not have been issued on the basis of marriage or cohabitation.

A foreign national whose parent is an Icelandic citizen may apply for a permanent residence permit after having held a residence permit in Iceland for a continuous period of two years prior to the submission of an application. The parent must have held Icelandic citizenship for at least five years. It does not matter whether the applicant's residence permit can be the basis for a permanent residence permit or not.

A foreign national who has completed a doctoral programme in Iceland and has held a residence permit on the basis of work requiring expert knowledge for at least three years prior to submitting an application.

A foreign national who has held a residence permit which may be the basis for a permanent residence permit for at least two years and who has previously resided in Iceland on a continuous residence permit for studies, so that the total stay is at least four years.

A young person who has reached the age of 18 and has resided in Iceland on grounds of family reunification for four years or longer and has studied or been employed in Iceland. The stay in Iceland must not have been continuous.