A permanent residence permit entails the right to permanent residence in Iceland.
Residence permit card
Holders of permanent residence permits are issued a residence permit card valid for five years. You do not need to reapply for a permanent residence permit when the card expires, but only make a photo appointment and pay 8.000 ISK for a new card when you show up.
Right to family reunification
A permanent residence permit entails the right to family reunification for:
marital or cohabiting spouse, if the cohabitation has lasted more than one year;
children under the age of 18, if the applicant has custody of them,
Right to work
Holders of permanent residence permits have the right to work in Iceland without a work permit. They may work for any employer or be self-employed.
Right to stay abroad
Holders of permanent residence permits have the right to stay abroad for up to 18 months over a four-year period without the permit being cancelled. Please note that staying abroad can affect your application for Icelandic citizenship.
Stay abroad for longer than 18 months
The Directorate of Immigration decides whether to revoke a permanent residence permit when a permit holder has resided abroad for more than 18 months over a four-year period.
Applicants must submit a written request for permission to stay abroad for longer than 18 months over a four-year period. The request must be submitted to the Directorate of Immigration before the stay abroad extends 18 months. The request shall be accompanied by documents confirming the need to stay abroad, for example a medical certificate or other documents required by the Directorate of Immigration.
Upon application, the Directorate of Immigration may authorise holders of a permanent residence permit to stay abroad for longer than 18 months without revoking the permit if they have to:
undergo military or other related service in their home country,
stay abroad temporarily for their or their spouse's work or education,
stay abroad to live with a spouse, partner, mother or father who is an employee of the Icelandic state or an employee of an international organization,
stay abroad due to their or their close relative's temporary illness.
A foreign national's permanent residence permit is automatically revoked when his/her domicile has been registered abroad for a continuous period of 18 months.
Service provider
Directorate of Immigration