Residence permit for children

• A residence permit for children is generally granted for one year at a time, but for a maximum of two years.

  • If the permit is granted on the basis of family reunification with the holder of a temporary residence permit, its duration cannot be longer than the residence permit of that person.

• 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 a maximum of two years, if the requirements are still met, however its duration cannot be longer than of the person from whom the applicant derives his/her right.

• Even though the residence permit has been revoked, it is possible to apply for a renewal, if this is done within the validity period of the previous residence permit and the reasons for doing so recommend it.

• The permit may be renewed even though the child has reached the age of 18 if the child

  • is studying or working in Iceland,

  • lives with its parent and

  • is neither married nor in cohabitation.

Right to family reunification

• The residence permit does not confer the right to family reunification.

Right to work

• A child that has a valid residence permit may work without a work permit until the age of 18. After reaching the age of 18 the child may only work after being granted a work permit.

Right to permanent residence permit

• The residence permit may be the 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.