Guidance

Living in Iceland

Information for British citizens moving to or living in Iceland, including guidance on residency, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
29 April 2016
Last updated
2812 SeptemberJanuary 20212022 — See all updates

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Iceland. Read about how our embassy in Reykjavík can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should obtainget definitive information from the Icelandic authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

To stay up to date:

If you were living in Iceland before 1 January 2021

Some parts of this guide only apply if you werehave been living in Iceland since before 1 January 2021. TheseYou areshould indicatedread withthese sub-headings.in addition to the rest of the guidance in each section.

You should also read our Living in Europe page for information about citizens’ rights under the UK – EEA EFTA (European Economic Area - European Free Trade Association) Separation Agreement.

Coronavirus

YouFollow should follow the advice of the Icelandic government. You should also read the Iceland travel advice.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Iceland, read coronavirus travel advice.

Visas and residency

You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

Check the entry requirements for Iceland. If you plan to stay in Iceland for more than 3 months, you must apply for a residence permit at the Directorate of Immigration.

Visas and residency if you were living in Iceland before 1 January 2021

If you were legally resident in Iceland before 1 January 20212021, you and your family members have your rights to continue living in Iceland are protected by the UK - EEA EFTA Separation Agreement.Agreement.

RegistersThe IcelandDirectorate canof Immigration will issue a letterresidence (C-122)card confirming thatyour yourights areunder coveredthe byUK the- EEA EFTA Separation Agreement.Agreement. This lettercard is not necessaryessential for living in Iceland, but it shows your right to enter Iceland and exempts you from the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and visa requirements. There is no fee for the residence card, but if it is lost or stolen, you must pay for a replacement.

ReadYour close family members continue to be able to join you and settle in Iceland at any time in the Directoratefuture. ofRead Immigration’smore guidanceinformation on residency.

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If you do not qualify for the rights under the UK – EEA EFTA Separation Agreement, you may be able to apply for a work or residence permit.

Passports and travel

Coronavirus travel restrictions may affect travel to and from Iceland.

You can apply for or renew your British passport infrom Iceland.

Check the Iceland travel advice for Iceland for passport validity requirements.

Always carry your passport when travelling within the Schengen area.

If you have citizenship of an EU /or EFTA country, in addition to your British citizenship, you should enter and leave Iceland using your EU /or EFTA passport.

If you stay in Iceland with an Icelandic residence permit or long stay visa, this time does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.

If you visit other Schengen area countries outside Iceland, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.

Different rules apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

If you were living in Iceland before 1 January 2021

When you travel,travel especiallyoutside withinIceland, the Schengen area, you should carry ayour residence permit card from the Directorate of Immigration or a C-122 letter from Registers Iceland, asin welladdition asto your valid passport.

The residence permit card states you are covered by the Separation Agreement. It is issued free of charge by the Directorate of Immigration. If the permit card is lost or stolen, you have to pay a fee for a replacement.

Registers Iceland can also issue a C-122 letter confirming that you are covered by the UK - EEA EFTA Separation Agreement for a fee of 2700 ISK.

IfYou you are asked to show your passport at border control, you must proactively show either your residence permit cardcard, or C-122 letter, or other evidence of residence status.

Ifstatus, if you cannotare asked to show oneyour ofpassport theat requiredborder documentscontrol. If you maycannot beprove askedthat additionalyou questionsare andresident bein subjectedIceland, toyou may be asked additional checksquestions at the Icelandicborder border, or on entry to enter the Schengen area. Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Iceland.the country or countries where you live or work. If a passport is stamped, the stamp is considered null and void when you can show evidence of lawful residence.

If you have rights under the UK - EEA EFTA Separation Agreement, you can enter and exit Iceland with a valid passport. You do not need any extraadditional monthsvalidity on yourthe passport tobeyond enterthe ordates exiton Iceland.which you are travelling.

Healthcare

Read our guidance on healthcare in Iceland and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.

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You should also read our guidance on:

Working in Iceland

If you are planning to move to Iceland and work, you may need a work permit. Read the Directorate of Immigration’s guidance on working in Iceland as a foreign national and how to get a work permit. The Directorate of Labour also has guidance on exemptions for short-term projects.

To apply for a job you may need to provide a UK police certificate.

Read our guidance on working or providing services in Iceland.

If you were living in Iceland before 1 January 2021

You have the right to work under the UK – EEA EFTA Separation Agreement.

The Icelandic authorities keep information electronically about who has this right. You may find it quicker to prove to employers that you have this right if you have a residence document or C-122 letter.

If you live in Iceland and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Professional qualifications

You may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in Iceland.

Read guidance on:

If you were living in Iceland before 1 January 2021

If the relevant regulator in Iceland officially recognised your professional qualification before 1 January 2021, or you started the recognition process by this date, make sure you understand the terms of your decision. You should get advice from the relevant regulator.

Studying in Iceland

If you plan to study in Iceland, you must meet all Residence permit requirements.

Contact the relevant higher education provider in Iceland to check what fees you may have to pay.

Read guidance on healthcare for students in Iceland.

Money and taxTax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Iceland toso ensurethat peopleyou do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

You will be issued a tax card and a national identification number when you register with Registersthe Iceland.Directorate of Immigration.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Iceland. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Iceland.Iceland.

Read the guidance on:

National Insurance

insurance and social security contributions

National Insurance-type contributions (NIC) are called ‘social security contributions’ (SSC) in Iceland. Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Iceland.

UK Banking

WhetherYou UKcan banksrequest canproof providefrom servicesHMRC toof customersthe livingtime you’ve worked in the EEAUK dependsand onyour localUK lawsNational andInsurance regulation.record.

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PensionsBenefits

UK benefits

Read guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Iceland.

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Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Icelandic benefits

You may be eligible to claim some Icelandic social security benefits. Read the UKIcelandic governmentgovernment’s officesguidance thaton dealIcelandic withsocial yoursecurity benefits,benefits.

Pensions

Read pensionguidance on entitlement to UK benefits and tax.pensions while you are living in Iceland.

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Iceland, you can claim:

Read the Money and Pension Service’s MoneyHelper guidance on pension and retirement for more information on cross-border pensions.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.

BenefitsMoney and banking

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Driving in Iceland

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IcelandicExchanging benefitsyour UK licence

If you have been living in Iceland for 6 months, you must exchange your UK licence for an Icelandic one. You maydo benot eligibleneed to claimtake somea Icelandicdriving socialtest securityto benefits.exchange your licence. Read the IcelandicIceland government’s guidance on Icelandicdriving sociallicence securityrenewal benefitsand exchange. You cannot use an International Driving Permit (IDP) instead of exchanging your licence.

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Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Iceland

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

Read the Icelandic government guidance on importing and registering vehicles in Iceland.

Driving outside Iceland with an Icelandic licence

You can use your Icelandic licence when visiting the UK. Keep up-to-date with the UK Highway Code.

If you go to live in the UK, you can exchange your Icelandic licence for a UK one without taking a test.

To drive in another country, in addition to your Icelandic licence, you may need to apply for an IDP (in Icelandic).

Voting

If you have been living in Iceland for more than 5 years you can vote in municipal elections.

Read information from Registers Iceland.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnerships

If your child is born in Iceland, you willcan register the birth with the UK authorities in addition to registering locally. If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth abroadwith the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

If someone dies in IcelandIceland, you can read our guidance on:

Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

You may also need:

Pets

StrictIf conditionsyou’re applymoving to Iceland with your pet, read the importationguidance ofand petsensure toyou Iceland.comply with the regulations for taking your pet abroad. For information,information seeon the strict conditions that you must meet, read the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority’s website.

To visit other countries with your pet, check the rules for the country you’re travelling to. Contact your vet to get the travel documents your pet needs.

Read guidance on:

Emergencies

YouDial can dial the European emergency number 112 in Iceland for the police, ambulance or fire brigade, or dial:

  • 444-1000 for a police station
  • 570-5900 for search and rescue
  • 550-0300 for the Sjálfsbjörg (self-help) association for people with disabilities
  • 543-2000 for Landspítali Hospital ER (emergency room)
  • 1770 for out of hours health care services

ForIf casesyour child is at risk of childbeing, abductionor has been, abducted, read the guidance on international parental child abduction.

If you are the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisiscrisis, abroad, contact the British Embassy in Reykjavik.

Returning to the UK

Check the COVID-19 travel guidance for entering the UK. . Tell the Icelandic and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, bringing family members, tax and access to services.

If you return to the UK permanently and meet the ordinarily resident test, you’ll be able to access NHS care without charge.

Useful information

Support for British nationals abroad: a guide sets out how to stay safe abroad, and explains how the FCDO can support you if you get into difficulty.

New in Iceland is a free and confidential service run by the Icelandic government to help new immigrants.

Published 29 April 2016
Last updated 2812 SeptemberJanuary 20212022 + show all updates

    2. Guidance reviewed and updated.

    3. Working in Iceland section updated: new guidance for frontier workers

    5. Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines

    8. Entry requirements updated on re-entering Iceland.

    10. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021

    11. 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.

    15. EU Exit update: new information on UK driving licences after EU Exit date

    17. Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip

    18. EU Exit update: Added information on double taxation in the money and tax section.

    19. EU Exit update: Added a link to the EEA EFTA Citizens´ Rights Agreement in the EU Exit section

    21. EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving

    23. 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.

    25. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.

    26. First published.

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