Renouncing your Icelandic citizenship
The Directorate of Immigration is authorised to approve requests for release from Icelandic citizenship. An Icelandic citizen who applies for citizenship in a country where dual citizenship is not permitted must be released from Icelandic citizenship before being granted foreign citizenship.
In most cases, the release is conditional and valid for one year. This means that the applicant is not formally released from Icelandic citizenship until confirmation is received that they have acquired citizenship in a foreign country. If this occurs within one year from the date the letter of release was issued, the applicant is formally released from Icelandic citizenship.
Application
Applications can only be submitted in paper form, either to the drop box in the lobby of the Directorate of Immigration at Dalvegur 18, 201 Kópavogur, or by sending the application by regular mail to the same address. Applications can also be submitted at the offices of District Commissioners outside the capital area.
Processing fee
There is no fee for a requests for release from Icelandic citizenship.
Supporting documents
See further information regarding document requirements. Please note that Icelandic certificates do not have to be authenticated.
Checklist for a request for release from Icelandic citizenship. Please print out the checklist and include it with the request form. Tick the boxes for the documents that are included and arrange them in the same order as on the checklist.
Request form must be submitted in the original, fully completed and signed by the applicant.
Copy of the applicant's Icelandic passport and foreign passport, if applicable.
Confirmed copy of the original birth certificate of the applicant.
The original shall be legally authenticated, either with apostille or double authentication.Confirmed copy or original translation by an authorized translator of the birth certificate.
Applies only if the foreign certificate is in other languages than English or a Nordic language.Certificate of legal registration history from Registers Iceland. Only applies if residence is in Iceland. The certificate specifies in which country or countries the applicant has had legal domicile from the beginning of their legal domicile registration in Iceland to the present day.
Supporting documents for children
Additional documents that might need to be submitted, if a parent requests the renunciation of citizenship for a child younger than 18.
A copy of the child's passport.
Confirmed copy of the child's original birth certificate.
The original shall be legally authenticated, either with apostille or double authentication.Confirmed copy or original translation by an authorized translator of the child's birth certificate.
Applies only if the foreign certificate is in other languages than English or a Nordic language.Custody documents.
Only applies if one parent has custody of a child. The documents in original format shall be “apostille” certified or have double confirmation, and confirmed copies shall then be submitted. If the documents are in another language than English or a Nordic language, confirmed copies or original translations by an authorized translator shall accompany the documents.Consent by custodian.
Only applies if both parents have custody of a child.
Service provider
Directorate of Immigration