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Residence permit for students

Residence permit for students

It is necessary to start preparing an application for a residence permit for students in time. To ensure that a permit will be granted before the start of school, the application and supporting documents must be received by June 1 for the fall semester or November 1 for the spring semester at the latest. Keep in mind that it can take time to provide the necessary documents, such as a criminal record.

Residence permits for students are granted to

  • Individuals intending to engage in full time studies at a university in Iceland.

  • Post graduate (doctorate) students from foreign universities collaborating with an Icelandic university.

  • Exchange students from acknowledged exchange-student organizations.

  • Interns.

  • Students in technical studies and recognised workplace studies at higher-education level.

  • Graduate looking for employment.

Residence permits for students are not granted to individuals intending to study at Icelandic secondary schools (except for approved exchange programs), attending courses in the Icelandic language or who study at foreign universities and stay in Iceland.

Application

Applications can only be submitted in paper form.

They can either be sent by regular mail to the Directorate of Immigration or delivered to the drop box in the Directorate’s reception. It is necessary to first pay the processing fee by bank transfer and submit the payment receipt with the application for confirmation, see information on how to pay the processing fee.

Directorate of Immigration (see map)
Dalvegur 18
201 Kópavogur
Iceland

Applications can also be handed in and paid for in the Directorate’s reception or at the offices of District Commissioners outside the capital area.

Processing fee

The fee for an application is 16 000 ISK. An unpaid application will be returned to the applicant. The processing fee is not refunded if the applicant cancels the application.

Application deadline

To be sure that a residence permit will be granted before the start of school, you must submit the application and supporting documents before:

  • June 1 for the fall semester or

  • November 1 for the spring semester.

Stay in Iceland during application procedure

Law

The residence permit is granted on the basis of Article 65 of the Foreign Nationals Act.

Residence permit for students