Icelandic citizens may lose their Icelandic citizenship at the age of 22, if they were born abroad and have never had legal domicile in Iceland nor resided in Iceland for any purpose that may be interpreted as indicating that they wish to be Icelandic citizens.
The Directorate of Immigration may permit individuals in this situation to retain their Icelandic citizenship, if an application is made before that time.
Requirements
The applicant is younger than 22 years old and
has resided or stayed in Iceland or has interacted with Iceland to such an extent as being considered sufficient to retain Icelandic citizenship.
Note that special requirements apply to Icelandic citizens who are domiciled in Denmark, Finland, Norway or Sweden, according to the Icelandic Nationality Act. The provision states that a legal domicile in a Nordic contracting state for at least seven years equals legal domicile in Iceland.
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 an application for retaining Icelandic citizenship.
Supporting documents
See further information regarding document requirements. Please note that Icelandic certificates do not have to be authenticated.
Application in original format, carefully filled out and signed by the applicant.
Photocopy of passport. This must include photocopies of the passport’s personal information page and the page containing the applicant’s signature.
Photocopy of the passport of the Icelandic parent.
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.
Confirmed copy of the birth certificate of the Icelandic parent.
Confirmed copy of the marriage certificate of the Icelandic parent, if applicable.
Confirmed copy or original translation by an authorized translator of the marriage certificate of the Icelandic parent, if applicable.
Applies only if the foreign certificate is in other languages than English or a Nordic language.
Statement by the Icelandic parent on whether foreign citizenship has been acquired.
Information is requested on whether, when and how the Icelandic parent acquired foreign citizenship. Confirmed copy of the citizenship certificate shall be handed in, if applicable.
Certificate of domicile in a Nordic state, if applicable.
Information by two individuals residing in Iceland on the applicant’s connection to Iceland.
The letters should specify, as precisely as possible, the periods of stay, reasons (such as vacation, study, employment), as well as places of stay, including information on with whom the applicant stayed and their relations.
Other information confirming the applicant’s connection to Iceland.
Confirmation of studies or work in Iceland, might for example apply in this instance.
Supporting documents for children
Additional documents that might need to be submitted, if a parent applies for a child younger than 18 to retain its Icelandic citizenship.
Only applies if both parents have custody of a child.
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.
Service provider
Directorate of Immigration