Different rights are attached to residence permits depending on the basis on which they are granted. Please familiarise yourself with the rights and obligations that come with the residence permit you have applied for.
The permit may be granted for up to four years, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit.
The holder may not work for an employer other than the one to whom the work permit was granted.
A foreigner may not start working before a work permit and residence permit has been granted.
An employer may however request that the employee be able to start working before a residence permit has been granted. A work permit for a job requiring professional knowledge must be granted. The employer must also guarantee the costs of the return of the employee in case of a rejection of the application for a residence permit.
If the holder of the permit stays abroad for more than three consecutive months, the residence permit can be revoked. A foreign national’s residence permit is automatically revoked if his/her domicile, which was registered in Iceland, has been registered abroad for a period of three months.
Right to renewal
The permit may be renewed for up to four years at a time, if the conditions of the permit are still fulfilled, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit.
If a permit holder applies for renewal on the basis of a job with the same employer as before, he/she can continue working during the processing of the application even though the previous permit has expired, provided that the application was submitted before the permit expired.
Even though the residence permit has been revoked, it is possible to apply for a renewal, if this is done within the validity period of the previous residence permit and the reasons for doing so recommend it.
Foreign nationals who have completed a doctoral degree in Iceland may renew a residence permit for experts for up to 12 months to seek employment based on their expertise. A work permit is not required in order to obtain this residence permit.
Right upon permit withdrawal due to job loss
If you lose the job on which your work permit is based, it may affect your right to work and/or reside in Iceland. In that case, you are advised to contact the Directorate of Immigration (work@utl.is) to find out what options you have.
If a residence permit is revoked due to the termination of an employment relationship, a foreigner may be granted a residence permit for one year to look for another job based on his/her expertise. Such a residence permit may be granted without an application.
When less than a month is left of the validity period of a residence permit that should be revoked because an employment relationship has been terminated, a residence permit for job searching may be granted upon application.
Right to family reunification
The permit confers the right to family reunification for the holder's
cohabiting spouse, after at least one year of cohabitation,
children under the age of 18, if the holder has custody of them,
Right to permanent residence
The permit can be a basis for a permanent residence permit.
Please note that one of the conditions of a permanent residence permit is that you have not resided abroad for more than 90 days in total each year during the period of validity of the residence permit, counting from the date of issue of the permit.
The permit may be granted for up to one year, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit. In the case of a clearly defined and temporary project the residence permit may be granted for a longer period of time.
The applicant may not start working until a work permit has been granted.
The holder may not work for an employer other than the one to whom the work permit was granted.
If the holder of the permit stays abroad for more than three consecutive months, the residence permit can be revoked. A foreign national’s residence permit is automatically revoked if his/her domicile, which was registered in Iceland, has been registered abroad for a period of three months.
Right to renewal
The permit may be renewed for up to two years at a time, if the conditions of the permit are still fulfilled, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit.
If a permit holder applies for renewal on the basis of a job with the same employer as before, he/she can continue working during the processing of the application even though the previous permit has expired, provided that the application was submitted before the permit expired.
Even though the residence permit has been revoked, it is possible to apply for a renewal, if this is done within the validity period of the previous residence permit and the reasons for doing so recommend it.
Right upon permit withdrawal due to job loss
If a residence permit is revoked due to the termination of an employment relationship, a foreigner may be granted a residence permit for six months to look for another job. Such a residence permit may be granted without an application.
When less than a month is left of the validity period of a residence permit that should be revoked because an employment relationship has been terminated, a residence permit for job searching may be granted upon application.
Right to family reunification
The permit confers the right to family reunification for the holder's
cohabiting spouse, after at least one year of cohabitation,
children under the age of 18, if the holder has custody of them,
Right to permanent residence
The permit can be a basis for a permanent residence permit.
Please note that one of the conditions of a permanent residence permit is that you have not resided abroad for more than 90 days in total each year during the period of validity of the residence permit, counting from the date of issue of the permit.
The permit may be granted for up to two years, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit.
The applicant may not start working until a work permit has been granted.
The holder may not work for an employer other than the one to whom the work permit was granted.
If the holder of the permit stays abroad for more than three consecutive months, the residence permit can be revoked. A foreign national’s residence permit is automatically revoked if his/her domicile, which was registered in Iceland, has been registered abroad for a period of three months.
Right to renewal
The permit may be renewed for up to two years at a time, if the conditions of the permit are still fulfilled, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit.
If a permit holder applies for renewal on the basis of a job with the same employer as before, he/she can continue working during the processing of the application even though the previous permit has expired, provided that the application was submitted before the permit expired.
Even though the residence permit has been revoked, it is possible to apply for a renewal, if this is done within the validity period of the previous residence permit and the reasons for doing so recommend it.
Right to family reunification
The permit confers the right to family reunification for the holder's
cohabiting spouse, after at least one year of cohabitation,
children under the age of 18, if the holder has custody of them,
Right to permanent residence
The permit can be a basis for a permanent residence permit.
Please note that one of the conditions of a permanent residence permit is that you have not resided abroad for more than 90 days in total each year during the period of validity of the residence permit, counting from the date of issue of the permit.
The permit shall generally not be granted for a longer period than one year on grounds of the same contract, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit.
The applicant may not start working until a work permit has been granted.
The holder may not work for an employer other than the one to whom the work permit was granted.
If the holder of the permit stays abroad for more than three consecutive months, the residence permit can be revoked. A foreign national’s residence permit is automatically revoked if his/her domicile, which was registered in Iceland, has been registered abroad for a period of three months.
Right to renewal
The permit may be renewed for as long as six months at a time, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit.
If a permit holder applies for renewal on the basis of a job with the same employer as before, he/she can continue working during the processing of the application even though the previous permit has expired, provided that the application was submitted before the permit expired.
Even though the residence permit has been revoked, it is possible to apply for a renewal, if this is done within the validity period of the previous residence permit and the reasons for doing so recommend it.
Right to family reunification
The permit confers the right to family reunification for the holder's
cohabiting spouse, after at least one year of cohabitation,
children under the age of 18, if the holder has custody of them,
Right to permanent residence
The permit can not be a basis for a permanent residence permit.
Service provider
Directorate of Immigration