Residence permit for possible victims of human trafficking

Foreign nationals, who are not exempt from the obligation to have a work permit in Iceland, must have a work permit to work in Iceland.

If you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of being a possible victim of human trafficking, you can apply for a temporary work permit due to special circumstances.

• A temporary work permit due to special circumstances cannot be granted until after a residence permit for a possible victim of human trafficking has been granted.

• The period of validity of the work permit may not exceed the period of validity of the employment contract or the residence permit.

• Information about the documents that must accompany an application for a temporary work permit due to special circumstances can be found on the website of the Directorate of Labour.

If you already have a residence permit in Iceland on the basis of employment and suspect that you are a victim of human trafficking, there are two options.

If you find a new job with a new employer, you can apply for a new work permit, based on the same residence permit you have.

If your current residence and work permit is expiring and you want to stay in Iceland, it is wise to apply for a residence permit for a possible victim of human trafficking before the current permit expires. While an application for such a permit is being processed, the applicant is not deported from the country.