Visas & Customs Requirements

Employment:

Foreign nationals in Iceland must have work permits before they accept employment or operate a business. The work permits must be obtained before arriving in Iceland. Such permits may not be granted unless a residence permit has been obtained.

Nationals of member countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) are exempted from the work permit requirement (the same applies to non-nationals who had Icelandic nationality at birth and to private staff of diplomatic personnel). Also, the following foreign nationals are exempted from the work permit requirement for employment in Iceland up to four weeks:

• Scientists and lecturers, provided their work is connected with teaching or of a similar nature;
• Artists, with the exception of musicians employed by restaurants;
• Athletics coaches;
• Representatives arriving on business on behalf of companies that do not have branches in Iceland;
• Drivers of buses registered in a foreign country, provided the vehicles are carrying foreign tourists to Iceland;
• Journalists and reporters of foreign news media, employed by companies that are not established in Iceland;
• Specialized employees, consultants and instructors working at the construction, installation, supervision or repair of equipment.

Work permits granted to an employer. An employer in Iceland may apply for three kinds of permits:

• A temporary work permit to engage a foreign national for a specific job for a specified period of time;
• A provisional work permit to engage one or more foreign nationals, provided certain conditions have been met.
• A work permit for au-pair placement of an individual, 17-30 years of age, in an Icelandic home.

Work permits must be issued before employees arrive in Iceland.

Work permit granted to a foreign national. A foreign national may himself apply for the following permits:

• A permanent work permit. This grants a foreign national unlimited permission to be employed in the Icelandic labour market. The main condition for obtaining such permit is the previous acquisition of a temporary work permit by the employer and of a permanent residence permit. In principle, foreign nationals can obtain such permit after three years' residence in Iceland;
• A permit to operate a business. Such permits also constitute permission to be self-employed.
• A special work permit for students. This is available to foreign students studying at an Icelandic educational institution.

Professional activities in the legal and medical profession are in principle limited to Icelandic nationals and nationals of the EEA-countries.