Residence permit for students

• A residence permit for students can be granted for up to one year.

• If the holder of the permit stays abroad for more than three consecutive months, the residence permit can be revoked. If the holder registers his legal domicile out of the country, the residence permit is automatically revoked.

Right to renewal

• The permit can be renewed for up to one year at a time, if the conditions of the residence permit are still met and if satisfactory study results are shown, see the requirements for renewing a student permit.

• Even though the residence permit has been revoked, it is possible to apply for a renewal, if this is done within the validity period of the previous residence permit and the reasons for doing so recommend it.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

• The residence permit of a student who has completed his/her university studies in Iceland, may be renewed for up to three years from the date of graduation in order for the graduate to look for employment in his/her field of expertise.

Right to family reunification

• The permit confers the right to family reunification for the holder's

  • marital spouse,

  • cohabiting spouse, after at least one year of cohabitation,

  • children under the age of 18, if the holder has custody of them,

  • parents 67 years or older.

Right to work

• A student must apply for a work permit to be allowed to work in Iceland, see instructions in document requirements.

• A student work permit allows you to work up to 22,5 hours per week (60%), except when working is a part of your studies or takes place during a study break according to the curriculum.

  • A student may not start working before a work permit has been granted.

  • A work permit holder may only work for the employer on which the work permit is based,

Right to permanent residence permit

• The permit cannot be the basis for a permanent residence permit except in instances where the applicant

  • has held a residence permit that may be the basis for a permanent residence permit for at least two years,

  • has previously held a student residence permit for at least two years

  • and thus has resided in Iceland legally for at least four years.

• 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.