Confirmation of working periods within the EEA for unemployment benefits in Iceland -U1 -certificate
A person who intends to seek employment in Iceland can be certified as having been unemployed in another EEA country with a U1 certificate. This can increase the right to unemployment benefits in Iceland.
You do not need to apply for a U1 certificate unless you have become unemployed and intend to stay in Iceland and receive unemployment benefits.
Moving from an EEA state or the UK to Iceland
In order to be able to calculate insurance and employment periods in another EEA country, the applicant must have worked in Iceland after arriving in Iceland and before applying for unemployment benefits.
If the applicant has not worked in Iceland, the Directorate of Labour cannot consider the period of the U1 certificate to increase the right to unemployment benefits in Iceland.
Example: After moving from the Netherlands to Iceland, Styrmir was working 25% in a month. When he lost his job, he applied immediately for benefits. The Directorate of Labour can therefore request a U1 certificate from the Netherlands to increase his right to benefits in Iceland.
Example: Anna worked for 3 years in Spain and has earned the right to unemployment benefits there. She moves to Iceland and gets a job. After 2 months in work, Anna loses her job and applies for unemployment benefits. She has only 2 months of work history compared to her work history in Iceland but can show 3 years of work history in Spain with U1. This is considered as earned right to unemployment insurance in Iceland.
Moving from another Nordic country
Special rules apply to applicants who move to Iceland from Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Norway or Sweden. In addition, periods of employment in these countries can be considered. The applicant must have worked in Iceland in the past five years from the date of receipt of the application for unemployment benefits.
Example: Þórkatla has lived in Sweden and is moving to Iceland. She is unemployed and applies for unemployment benefits in Iceland. She has a monthly work history in Iceland in the last 5 years. She can therefore request that the Directorate of Labour apply to U1 from Sweden to increase the right to benefits in Iceland.
Service provider
Directorate of Labour