Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-iceland

Change description : 2025-12-08 09:18:00: Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. [Guidance and regulationForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office]

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Guidance

Living in Iceland

Information forabout British citizens moving toto, living or livingretiring in Iceland,Iceland including guidancevisas, onworking, residency, healthcare and driving.

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CoronavirusVisas, residency and citizenship 

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Visas and residency

residence permits

YouCheck mustwhich tellIcelandic thevisa UKor governmentresidence officespermit that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you areneed movingto orlive retiringin abroad.Iceland. 

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AffirmationRegistering ofas relationshipa statusresident

Once foryou residencearrive, permitsyou need to register your residency in Iceland.

If you’re applying for residency in Iceland because you live with your partner, you must provide an affirmation of relationship status from thethe British British Embassy Reykjavik.

VisasReykjavik. andUse residencyget ifhelp youfrom werethe livingUK ingovernment Icelandabroad beforeto 1contact Januarythe 2021

embassy.

If you werehave legallyany residentproblems inor questions about registering your residency, contact:

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Contact rightsthe toIcelandic continueDirectorate livingof inImmigration Icelandfor protectedinformation byon thehow UKto:

TheYou can also read the Directorate of ImmigrationImmigration’s willguidance issueon reporting a lost or stolen residence permit card.

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You yourmay rightsbe underable theto UKapply -for EEApermanent EFTAresidency Separationin Agreement.Iceland Thisif cardyou ishave notlived essentialthere legally for livinga incontinuous Iceland,period butof itat showsleast your5 rightyears.

To tofind enterout Icelandif you’re eligible and exemptshow youto fromapply, contact the EuropeanIcelandic TravelDirectorate Informationof andImmigration.

Citizenship

Iceland Authorisationrecognises Systemdual (ETIAS)citizenship andwith visathe requirements.UK. ThereThis ismeans nothat feeyou fordo thenot residencehave card,to butgive ifup it(renounce) isyour lostBritish orcitizenship stolen,to youbecome mustan payIcelandic citizen.

To find out if you’re eligible for aIcelandic replacement.citizenship:

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The British Embassy in theReykjavik future.cannot Readhelp morewith informationIcelandic onvisa, whoresidency thisor appliescitizenship toapplications.

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If you doand notyour qualifyfamily formembers thehave rights under the UK UK-EEA EFTA Separation Agreement,Agreement.

Residence permits if you maymoved beto ableIceland before 1 January 2021

If you moved to applyIceland forbefore a1 workJanuary or2021, make sure you have a residence permit.

Passportspermit andcard travel

Coronavirusfor travelBritish restrictionsnationals maywho affecthad travelthe right to andreside fromin Iceland.

YouIceland canbefore apply1 forJanuary or2021.This renewconfirms your Britishrights passportunder fromthe IcelandUK-EEA EFTA Separation Agreement.

CheckUnder the Icelandnew traveldigital adviceEntry/Exit System (EES), foryou’ll passportneed validitya requirements.

Alwaysresidence carrypermit yourcard passportwhen andentering residenceor permitleaving Iceland. If you have one, you will not have to register with the EES when entering, leaving or travelling within thethe Schengen Schengen area.

If youWithout haveit, citizenshipyou ofmay anbe EUwrongly oridentified EFTAas country,overstaying in additionthe toSchengen yourarea Britishand citizenship,denied youentry shouldto enterIceland andor leaveother IcelandSchengen usingcountries.

If youryou EUdo ornot EFTAhave passport.

a residence permit

If you staywere living in Iceland withbefore an1 IcelandicJanuary residence2021, permitbut ordo longnot stayhave visa,a thisresidence timepermit doescard, notyou countcan towardsapply yourfor 90-daya visa-freeresidence limitpermit card for British nationals who had the Schengenright area.to reside in Iceland before 1 January 2021.

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For formore information on entryhow requirements.to appeal, read the Icelandic government’s guidance on refusal of residence permits.

IfRenewing youyour wereresidence livingpermit inif you moved to Iceland before 1 January 2021

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To applyThis forcovers aworking jobabroad, including documents you may need tofrom providethe a UK police certificate.government.

ReadTo ourwork guidance on working or providing services in Iceland.

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You2021, haveas theyou righthave torights work under the UK UK-EEA EFTA Separation Agreement.Agreement.

TheTo Icelandicapply authoritiesfor keepa informationjob, electronicallyyou about who has this right. You may findneed it quicker to proveprovide to employers that you have this right if you have a residenceUK documentpolice or C-122 letter.certificate.

If you live in Iceland and were regularly commuting to work in anotheranother EU or EUEuropean orFree Trade Association (EFTA) countryIceland before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Professional

Recognition of qualifications

YouIf you want to work in Iceland, you may need to get your professionalforeign qualificationqualifications recognised.

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Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on entitlementmoving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

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  • where pensionsthe whileUK yougovernment arepays livingan annual increase in Iceland.

    Readthe State Pension

Your guidanceUK state pension is calculated differently if youyou’ve havepreviously lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and younow arelive claimingin orthe waitingEU, toEEA claimor your UK State Pension.Switzerland.

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Claiming youan retireIcelandic in Iceland, you can claim:

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Accommodation and buying property

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    • 444-1000legalising forand acertifying policeUK stationdocuments
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    • 550-0300civil forpartnership the Sjálfsbjörg (self-help) association for people with disabilitiesdocuments
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    • 1770witnessing for out of hours health care servicessignatures

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  • taking Tellyour thepet Icelandicdog, andcat UKor authoritiesferret if you are returning to thea UKnon-EU permanently.

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    Useful information

    SupportIf forthe BritishNHS nationalsfunds abroad:your ahealthcare guide setsin outIceland howthrough tothe stayS1 safeform, abroad,contact and explains how the FCDONHS canOverseas supportHealthcare youTeam ifto youcancel get into difficulty.it.

    Disclaimer

    NewWe inprovide Icelandthis isinformation as a freeguide andonly. confidentialFor servicedefinitive runinformation, bycontact the Icelandic governmentauthorities.

    Read toour helpconsular newinformation immigrants.disclaimer.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2016
    Last updated 208 AugustDecember 2025 + show all updates
    1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

    2. Updated guidance on the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).

    3. The section on the EU Entry/Exit Scheme has been updated,

    4. Addition of EES guidance for British nationals resident in Iceland.

    5. Added information on getting an affirmation of relationship status.

    6. 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.

    7. Guide reviewed and updated, including the sections on visas and residency, working and driving.

    8. Guidance reviewed and updated.

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

    10. Healthcare section updated on the S1 form and applying for EHIC cards; working in Iceland section updated with new links on working or providing services and recognition of professional qualifications.

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

    12. Minor change

    13. Updated as the transition period ends with new information on moving to Iceland.

    14. Entry requirements updated on re-entering Iceland.

    15. Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers.

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

    17. 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.

    18. Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

    19. EU Exit update: added new information to ´Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU´ section

    20. Updated Living in Iceland guidance

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

    22. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.

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

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

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

    26. EU Exit update: updated information on access to healthcare

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

    28. EU Exit update: link added for EEA EFTA Separation Agreement

    29. 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.

    30. Updated July 2018 with new wording about driving licences in Iceland

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

    32. First published.

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    Update history

    2025-12-08 09:18
    Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

    2025-08-20 15:53
    Updated guidance on the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).

    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