Original document : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-iceland
Change description : 2020-01-24 13:41:00: Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity if the UK leaves the EU with a deal. [Brexit]
Showing diff : 2019-06-04 14:55:36 +00:00..2020-01-24 13:44:35 +00:00
Guidance
Official information forBritish UKpeople nationals moving to orand living in Iceland,Iceland need to know, including guidanceEU onExit Brexit,guidance, residency, passportshealthcare and driving.
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sign up for email alerts on living in Iceland
follow your the British Embassy Reykjavík on Facebook and Twitter
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CheckYou may wish to check the entry requirements for Iceland.Iceland.
IfYou you plan to stay for more than three months you must register with Registers Iceland toand obtainapply for a national identification number (Kennitala).(kennitala). YouYou’ll will need your identification number in order to access most services in IcelandIceland.
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WhetherIf you’reyou travellingare beforetaking or after Brexit, it is important to take out comprehensive travel insurance thatshortly includesafter coverthe forUK emergencyleaves medicalthe treatmentEU, andyou associatedshould costs. You must make sure you know the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policypolicy. andYou should make sure that the policy covers any possible disruption.
If you already have travel insurance, your insurer should let you know if there are changes that will affect you afterwhen Brexit.the UK leaves the EU. If you have questions about what your travel insurance policy covers, or whether it covers possible disruption, contact your insurer.
Once you’re resident in Iceland for 6 months, you automatically become a member of the Iceland social insurance system.
ReadYou can read the NHS guidance on who is able to access healthcare in Iceland and how to register.
If you live in Iceland and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.
If you are resident in Iceland, you mustshould not usebe yourusing EHICa European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK forto access healthcare in Iceland.
When
the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
for more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance
IfYou youcan are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.
You mustshould check your prescriptions are legal in Iceland. You can bring personal prescription medicine for 100 days without a customs declaration, although Icelandic customs officials may ask for a formal doctor’s note.
You can find English-speaking doctors in Iceland.
The UK has reached an agreement with the EEA EFTA states on citizens’ rights in a no deal scenario. The deal protects the rights of UK nationals living in the EEA EFTA states and EEA EFTA nationals living in the UK if the UK leaves the EU without a deal and will enable them to continue living their lives broadly as they do now.
Social security coordination is covered by theour Separationcitizens’ Agreementrights agreements for those residing in Iceland. Current healthcare arrangements will continue to apply in full to UK nationals who are resident in Iceland before the endUK ofleaves the implementationEU, period, for as long as they remainreside in scope of the agreement. Iceland.
This includes students and S1 holders.holders, but not those using an EHIC card as these are for temporary travel.
YouThe canUK alsois working to ensure UK issued EHIC cards will continue to usebe youraccepted EHIC,in asEEA youEFTA didstates. before,However, duringthis would not currently be the implementationcase period.
Ifin you’rethe travellingevent toof otherthe countriesUK makeleaving surethe youEU havewithout a deal. It is important that persons travelling always purchase comprehensive healthcare insurance.
You can read the NHS guidance about healthcare for UK nationals living in and visiting Iceland and how it may change after the UK leaves the EU.
You will need a national identification number (kennitala) to work in Iceland.
ReadYou should read our guidance on working in another EU country.
Some jobs may require a UK criminal records check, known as a PoliceDBS Certificate check.
YourIf the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your right to work will stay the same during the implementation period.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, your right to work will stay the same if you register as longa resident before the UK leaves the EU.
If you have not registered as a resident, you remainmust residentdo inso Iceland.through Registers Iceland and apply for a national identification number (kennitala).
If you intend to arrive after the UK leaves the EU your right to work may be different. Please see the Directorate of Immigration for the latest information.
You will be issued a tax card when you register with Registers Iceland and obtainget a national identification number.
The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Iceland to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
ReadYou should read the guidance on:
ReadYou can read the Icelandic government’s guidance on taxes in Iceland. CheckYou may also want to look at the Icelandic Directorate of Internal Revenue.
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If orthe EEAUK andleaves youthe haveEU without a UK-issueddeal, A1/E101it form,may youbecome willmore remainexpensive subject to use your UK legislationbank untilcard thein endIceland.
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BrexitThe UK leaving the European Union will not change existing double-taxationdouble taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Iceland. SendYou yourshould direct individual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.
You mustwill need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you retire in Iceland, you can claim:
your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre to claim
your Icelandic pension if you’ve worked in Iceland
The UK government will uprate your UK state pension for the fiscal year 2019/2020 in any scenario.
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible.possible Your– your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
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The longUK asgovernment theywill resideuprate inyour anUK EEA EFTA state (Iceland,pension Liechtensteinfor or Norway). This includes the rightfiscal toyear an2019/2020 upratedin UKany State Pension.scenario.
You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Iceland. You should:
read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live abroad
use our tool to check which UK benefits you might be able to get while you’re abroad and how to claim them
ManyIf you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits suchlike as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.paid.
You may be eligible to claim some Icelandic social security benefits. ReadYou can read the European Commission’s guidance on Icelandic social security benefits.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
The UK government will continue to pay the UK State Pension, child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after Brexit.
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If the SeparationUK Agreement.leaves Currentthe benefitEU arrangementswithout willa continuedeal, toyou applycan inread fullour toguidance UKon nationalsbenefits whoand arepensions resident in Icelanda beforeno thedeal end of the implementation period, for as long as they reside in Iceland.scenario.
ReadPlease read the guidance on:
what you need to drive abroad
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
ReadYou thecan find guidance on importing and registering vehicles in Iceland here.
DrivingIf the UK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.
UK driving licence holders living in Iceland will be able to continue driving using their valid UK licence for at least a year after the UK leaves the EU. Read the Icelandic government´s guidelines for drivers with UK licences.
Please read our guidance on driving in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote
If you have been domiciled or resident in Iceland for more than 5 years you can vote in municipal elections. ReadSee information from Registers Iceland.
If your child is born in Iceland, you will need to register the birth abroad.
If someone dies in Iceland you can:
read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Iceland
read bereavement information for Iceland
Find out how you can get married abroad.
You may also need:
Strict conditions apply to the importation of pets to Iceland. ForYou information,can seefind information on the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority’s website.
You can dial the European emergency number on 112.
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy in Reykjavik.
Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.
Tell the Icelandic and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.
You must tell Registers Iceland that you are leaving Iceland.
To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.
ReadYou theshould read our guidance onon:
NotePlease note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Icelandic authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
EU Exit update: added new information to ´Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU´ section
Updated Living in Iceland guidance
EU Exit update: new information on UK driving licences after EU Exit date
We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip
EU Exit update: Added information on double taxation in the money and tax section.
EU Exit update: Added a link to the EEA EFTA Citizens´ Rights Agreement in the EU Exit section
EU Exit update: updated information on access to healthcare
EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving
EU Exit update: link added for EEA EFTA Separation Agreement
EU exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.
Updated July 2018 with new wording about driving licences in Iceland
Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
First published.
2024-10-24 10:18
The section on the EU Entry/Exit Scheme has been updated,
2024-10-15 10:53
Addition of EES guidance for British nationals resident in Iceland.
2024-10-11 10:43
Added information on getting an affirmation of relationship status.
2022-03-11 08:00
Updated sections: Working in Iceland, and National insurance and social security contributions, including information on what to do if you’re working in Iceland for an employer based in the UK.
2022-01-12 14:13
Guide reviewed and updated, including the sections on visas and residency, working and driving.
2021-09-28 16:55
Guidance reviewed and updated.
2021-03-03 14:31
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines
2020-12-08 11:01
Entry requirements updated on re-entering Iceland.
2020-09-08 09:34
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-06-12 11:58
Visas and residency section updated to include information about how to access the UK National Support Fund for those who may find it harder to complete their residency applications.
2020-01-24 13:41
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-06-04 15:52
EU Exit update: added new information to ´Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU´ section
2019-05-28 12:47
Updated Living in Iceland guidance