The phrase “Þetta reddast” is something you’ll frequently hear when you come to Iceland. It basically means “it will all work itself out,” and it says a lot about the country’s interesting culture.
If this refreshing mindset does not entice you, know that Iceland values work-life balance, with flexible working hours common in many workplaces. The nation is also known for gender equality, strong social protections, and a healthy environment for innovation and creativity.
Foreign nationals from countries within the EEA/EFTA do not need a work permit to work in Iceland. However, they may need to register their right of residence and obtain an Icelandic ID number, known as a kennitala, from Registers Iceland. Non-EEA/EFTA foreign nationals generally need both a residence permit and a work permit before moving to Iceland to work. Specific rules may apply depending on your nationality and permit category.
If you want to live and work in Iceland, this guide outlines the things you need to prepare for.
Steps to Apply for an Icelandic Work Visa
Before you begin your application, you must already have a signed employment contract or job offer from an Icelandic company, or from another company that is legally able to support your work-based application in Iceland. Your employer usually handles the work permit part of the application, while you must provide and sign the required residence permit and supporting documents.
Also, note that a work permit does not automatically grant you the right to reside in Iceland. You must obtain a residence permit from the Directorate of Immigration, and you may not begin working until the required work permit has been granted.
To live and work in Iceland, you can follow this guide:
Step 1. Prepare Your Documents
Complete the application form for the residence permit based on work and the appropriate work permit form for your job category. Work-based residence permit categories include work requiring expert knowledge, shortage of labor, athletes, and collaboration or service contracts. You can find current forms on the Directorate of Immigration’s Applications and Forms page. Make sure the details exactly match those in your passport to avoid delays in processing.
Prepare the documentary requirements listed below, but keep in mind that additional documents may be required depending on your nationality, occupation, and permit category. Foreign documents that are not in English or a Nordic language usually need an authorized translation, and some documents may need legal authentication.
Provide your documents in the required format and forward them to your employer or representative for the application package, if they are submitting it on your behalf.
Step 2. Submit a Work Permit Application
Your prospective employer initiates the work permit part of your Iceland work authorization by submitting the work permit application and employment contract together with the residence permit application to the Directorate of Immigration. The Directorate of Immigration reviews the residence permit requirements and forwards the work permit documents to the Directorate of Labor when applicable.
Step 3. Submit a Residence Permit Application
Your work permit must be accompanied by a residence permit because you cannot legally live and work in Iceland without both. In most cases, the permits must be granted before you travel to Iceland for work.
There are four main categories of residence permits based on work, and you should choose the appropriate one: work requiring expert knowledge, shortage of labor, athletes, or collaboration/service contracts. You need the same set of documents from your work permit application that your employer will send to the Directorate of Immigration.
You need a separate residence permit because your work permit is employer-specific. If you change employers, you must apply for a new work permit and have it granted before starting work with your new employer.
Step 4. Pay the Processing Fees
You must also pay the current processing fee to the Directorate of Immigration before submitting your application. As of 2026, the fee for a residence permit based on work is ISK 80,000, or about US$650. Currency equivalents change, so always check the official fee page and the current exchange rate before paying.
It is no longer possible to pay a separate service fee for expedited processing of residence permit applications based on work. Processing times vary, and incomplete documents can cause delays. General work-based residence permit applications can take up to 180 days, so check the Directorate of Immigration’s current waiting-time page before planning travel.
Step 5. Travel to Iceland
If your application is successful, the Directorate will grant your residence permit, and the Directorate of Labor will issue the work permit where applicable. Depending on your nationality, you may also need a D-visa to enter Iceland after approval. You will receive a notification, but you cannot obtain your residence permit card until you have completed the following after arrival:
- within a week of arrival in Iceland, visit the Directorate of Immigration or a district commissioner outside the Reykjavík Metropolitan Area to be photographed
- report your place of residence
- present a valid passport
- within two weeks of arrival, undergo a medical examination if required
Once these are completed, your residence permit card can be issued. The validity period depends on your permit category and decision. You may generally be eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit after living in Iceland continuously for four years on a qualifying residence permit, provided that you meet the other conditions.
Documents Needed for an Icelandic Work Visa
In practice, an Icelandic “work visa” usually means a residence permit based on work plus an employer-specific work permit. It is mainly for people with a job offer in Iceland under categories such as work requiring expert knowledge, shortage of labor, athletes, or collaboration/service contracts. Iceland’s long-term visa for remote workers is a separate route for eligible non-EEA/EFTA nationals who work remotely for a foreign employer or as self-employed workers and do not intend to settle in Iceland.
To apply, you should already have a job waiting for you in Iceland and meet the requirements for your permit category. Depending on the category, you may need to meet the following prerequisites:
- be at least 18 years of age
- have a signed employment contract or eligible service/collaboration agreement
- have expert knowledge, professional qualifications, or specialized experience required for the role, where applicable
- show that the employer was unable to find a suitable worker in Iceland, the EEA/EFTA states, or the Faroe Islands, where this requirement applies
- show that your experience or expertise is essential to the employer, where this requirement applies
If you are eligible, you can start preparing the following requirements:
- Completed and signed residence permit application and the appropriate work permit application
- Payment receipt for the processing fee
- Passport photo, 35 mm x 45 mm
- Copy of your passport’s personal information and signature pages; the passport must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the validity of the permit applied for
- Criminal record certificate from your country of residence, if required; it must not be older than 12 months when submitted
- Authorized translation of the criminal record certificate, if it is not in English or a Nordic language
- Health insurance confirmation valid for six months, with minimum coverage of ISK 2,000,000 from an insurance company authorized to operate in Iceland
- Employment contract, including your job title, job description, and pension fund information; the work permit application and employment contract must be signed by both you and your employer
- Proof of education and professional qualifications, such as diplomas and certificates, especially for work requiring expert knowledge
- Evidence of previous employment if your expert knowledge is based on extensive experience; at least seven years of relevant work experience is generally required to match a university degree
- Information from your employer about attempts to hire an Icelandic, EEA/EFTA, or Faroese worker before hiring you, where applicable
- Confirmation that your employer will pay for your return travel to a specified country if your contract is cut short for reasons beyond your control or if you become disabled due to illness or accident, where applicable
- Documents confirming secure financial support, if required; current reference amounts are ISK 259,951 per month for an individual and ISK 415,922 per month for married couples, with ISK 129,976 per month for each additional family member aged 18 or older
- Marriage certificates and birth certificates, if applying with family, with translations or legal authentication when required
For occupations that come with a legally protected professional title, you must have your qualifications recognized by the relevant Icelandic authority. Attorneys should review the requirements of the Icelandic Bar Association. For technical and design professions, you can review the professional-title information from the Ministry of Industries. Medical professionals should check the Directorate of Health.
If you’re working remotely from Iceland for a foreign employer or as a self-employed worker, review the long-term remote worker visa instead. This type of visa is valid for up to 180 days, or up to 90 days in some cases when applying from within the Schengen area, and it does not allow you to work for an Icelandic employer.
If you’re providing services under a collaboration agreement or service contract, you can apply under the residence permit based on work route for collaboration or service contracts. This route is for specialized work connected to an eligible contract, often where the foreign company does not have a branch in Iceland.
We hope that this article on getting a work visa in Iceland was helpful! If you are interested in studying in Europe, make sure to check out Available Programs in Europe for International Students.
