Employees - non-EU/EEA citizens

All non-EU/EEA citizens require a residence and work permit in Iceland. You will need to apply through the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration (DOI). All applications managed by the University of Iceland get expedited service at the Directorate of Immigration. The most time-consuming part of the process is gathering the required documents, so we strongly recommend obtaining them as soon as possible. New employees will receive more detailed information by email once the job offer has been formally accepted. All issues that arise during the process will go through us and we will notify you accordingly. The immigration process Employment confirmed UI Welcome Centre contacts the newly recruited employee. Employee gathers the required documents and keeps the Welcome Centre updated on the process. Employee sends all the required documents to the Welcome Centre in Iceland. Welcome Centre submits the documents to the Directorate of Immigration and keeps the applicant updated on any developments. Welcome Centre notifies the applicant of the accepted application and preliminary permit. Employee applies for a D-visa to Iceland at the appropriate embassy, depending on citizenship. Welcome meeting upon arrival at the UI Welcome Centre. Employee registers formally in Iceland through the Directorate of Immigration - you will need to attend an appointment in person and have your photograph taken. Employee undergoes a medical checkup, if applicable, depending on citizenship. Required Forms for a Residence Permit based on Work In order to apply for a residence permit, the following documents are required. All incoming international employees apply for a residence permit based on work and a work permit as qualified professionals, this applies to PhD students as well. Note! Official documents must be in English or the original must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Application for a residence permit based on work - form D-207 - A residence permit based on expert knowledge. Information about your agent needs to be filled in and signed with the following information: International staff services - University of Iceland ID number: 600169-2039 Address: Saemundargata 2, 102 Reykjavik Phone number: +354 525 4000 Email address: internationalstaff@hi.is Security number: - according to conversation, see your email. Payment for Directorate of Immigration processing fee. Arranged by the University of Iceland. In some cases, the research project pays for the applicant initially but reimbursement is required upon arrival. Application for a work permit for a qualified professional Employment confirmation. Only personal info should be filled in and the form must be signed. All other info will be filled in by the employer. The actual employment contract between the University of Iceland and the incoming employee is made upon arrival. An Icelandic ID number is required for the contract which is obtained through the immigration process and ready upon arrival. Degree certificate - a copy of PhD certificate. Incoming PhD students need to submit a copy of their MS certificate. University of Iceland PhD study program acceptance letter - for incoming PhD students only. Passport photo. Photocopy of passport. Foreign criminal record certificate. The criminal record must not be older than twelve (12) months when submitted and must be presented from all countries where the applicant has lived for the past five (5) years, for a period exceeding six (6) months. Either an original or a copy of a criminal record is required. Note that in certain cases the Directorate of Immigration may still need to request a certified original criminal record. Translation of the foreign criminal record certificate. Only if the foreign certificates are not in English or the Nordic languages. The translation should be done by an authorized translator and should be either an original or a certified copy. The actual criminal record should accompany the translation as the translation alone is not sufficient. Medical Cost Insurance. Online application. Make sure a notification is sent to Iceland Directorate of Immigration. Payment confirmation should accompany the rest of the documents. Documents to be submitted must be signed by the applicant, also page 9 in the D-207 form. More detailed information on the first permit documents required can be found on Iceland Directorate of Immigration website. Submission of Documents In order to shorten the process, required documents should be accumulated immediately. The application will not be processed at the Directorate of Immigration unless all required documents have been submitted. Incorrect or missing information in the forms can affect the processing time. When application documents are ready, all of them should be sent together by post to the International Staff Services, preferably with express shipping like FedEx, UPS or others. University of Iceland Division of Human Resources International Staff Services Háskólatorg, Sæmundargata 4 102 Reykjavík ICELAND Welcome Center submits the application to the Directorate of Immigration after acquiring necessary payments and signatures. In some cases, payments should be reimbursed by the applicant upon arrival. Application accepted and a Residence Permit Granted The Directorate of Immigration notifies the representative in Iceland when the application for a residence permit has been accepted and a preliminary residence permit granted. The representative notifies the applicant. The residence permit is not issued formally unless the applicant meets in person at the DOI offices upon arrival. Please notice residence permits are issued for one or two years depending on the validity of the applicant's passport. Actions are required for the final process of issuing the residence permit: Pre arrival, information on where and what embassy the applicant needs to apply for a D-visa to Iceland if required. Please see who needs a visa on the DOI webpage. Upon arrival, the applicant has to be photographed in order to be issued a residence permit card. The photo will be taken at Directorate of Immigration, Dalvegur 18, 201 Kópavogur. Please bring a passport. Upon arrival please make sure you have filled out the form A-269 Notification of residence in Iceland and bring it to the Directorate of Immigration. Upon arrival, depending on the citizenship some applicant needs to undergo a medical examination within two weeks from entering Iceland. Applicants from certain countries are exempt from a medical exam. Please notice the medical exam can be quite expensive. Another possible option is to have the medical exam done in the home country at a recognized and certified clinic and have it evaluated by the health authorities in Iceland. When the application has been accepted it´s time to book the airfare to Iceland in accordance with the supervisor’s wishes and instructions. D-Visa to Iceland Those citizens who don´t require a visa to Iceland can enter Iceland anytime and wait for the permit to be issued. They are prohibited to work until the permit has been granted. Those citizens who require a visa to Iceland are prohibited to enter Iceland without a visa. The applicant needs to make an appointment at the relevant embassy, the one listed in the application form. The Directorate of Immigration provides the embassy information needed on the applicant. Depending on countries, Danish or Norwegian embassies provide an embassy service on behalf of Iceland. Those who require a visa to Iceland but have a Schengen visa can enter Iceland without an embassy involvement but are prohibited to work until the permit has been granted. A list of countries that need a D-visa can be found on the Directorate of Immigration webpage. Icelandic ID number The Icelandic ID number is issued when the residence and work permits are granted and will be ready upon arrival. Further information on it can be found on our site Register into Iceland. The ID number and an Icelandic bank account are needed for the employment contract.

Conditions for entering Iceland

Q: Spouses and family of employees

EU/EEA citizens Spouses who are EU/EEA citizens may live and work in Iceland without a residence and work permit. Spouses will need to register through Registers Iceland to obtain an Icelandic ID number. Non-EEA citizens Non-EU/EEA employees can bring their non-EU/EEA spouses and family to Iceland, but all family members will need to apply for a residence permit. All the applications, the employee's and the family's, can be submitted and processed together which will expedite the process. UI will pay the application fee for the family as well as the employee, but you will need to reimburse us on arrival. All information on required documents for the family can be found on the Directorate of Immigration website: Spouse or cohabiting partner Children

Listen

All essential information for Nordic citizens moving to Iceland can be found on the Registers Iceland website.

EU/EEA citizens do not need a residence and work permit and may stay in the country for up to three months without registering and moving domicile to Iceland. Relocation to Iceland is quite simple in terms of bureaucracy for EU/EEA citizens. (See above if you are a Nordic citizen - there are special rules for Nordic citizens).

Long term employment/stay
If you are an EU/EEA citizen and will be staying longer than three months, you will need an Icelandic ID number and to register a change of domicile.

EU/EEA citizens who have been recruited to the University of Iceland can apply for an Icelandic ID number online through Registers Iceland before they arrive in Iceland.

You will need to fill in the required application form A-271. Finally, the University of Iceland will need to confirm that the applicant is a UI employee. International Staff Services will confirm the relationship on behalf of the University once you have started working.

The employer's ID number for the University of Iceland is 600169-2039.

Please take into consideration that your ID number will not become active/valid until you visit Registers Iceland in person to register. Make sure to bring a passport.

Employment contract
The employment contract will be made upon arrival, since we required an Icelandic ID number and bank account number.

Health insurance
Upon arrival, all immigrants must apply for Icelandic health insurance. Icelandic Health Insurance will need to acquire an E-104 form in order to verify previous insurance coverage - you are also welcome to bring it yourself if possible.

If you are moving to Iceland from a non-EU/EEA country, you will not be able to transfer your health insurance and will need therefore to acquire a six-month Medical Cost Insurance.

Short-term employment/stay or living abroad
EU/EEA citizens staying less than six months.

EU/EEA citizens who are recruited by University of Iceland and stay in the country for less than six months will need a system ID number. Your employment contract requires an ID number and a bank account. The University of Iceland will apply for the ID number on your behalf. A copy of a passport is required for the application.

This also applies to those employed by the University of Iceland who will be living abroad during the period of employment. A few other issues need to be considered:

Open a bank account
To open an Icelandic bank account please contact one of the banks in Iceland for further information on the process.

Tax issues
Individuals who live abroad but have earnings or properties based in Iceland are eligible for limited tax liability providing there is a double taxation agreement between Iceland and the individual's country of residence. More information can be found on our tax site.

All non-EU/EEA citizens require a residence and work permit in Iceland. You will need to apply through the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration (DOI).

All applications managed by the University of Iceland get expedited service at the Directorate of Immigration. The most time-consuming part of the process is gathering the required documents, so we strongly recommend obtaining them as soon as possible.

New employees will receive more detailed information by email once the job offer has been formally accepted. All issues that arise during the process will go through us and we will notify you accordingly.

The immigration process

Employment confirmed
UI Welcome Centre contacts the newly recruited employee.
Employee gathers the required documents and keeps the Welcome Centre updated on the process.
Employee sends all the required documents to the Welcome Centre in Iceland.
Welcome Centre submits the documents to the Directorate of Immigration and keeps the applicant updated on any developments.
Welcome Centre notifies the applicant of the accepted application and preliminary permit.
Employee applies for a D-visa to Iceland at the appropriate embassy, depending on citizenship.
Welcome meeting upon arrival at the UI Welcome Centre.
Employee registers formally in Iceland through the Directorate of Immigration - you will need to attend an appointment in person and have your photograph taken.
Employee undergoes a medical checkup, if applicable, depending on citizenship.

Required Forms for a Residence Permit based on Work
In order to apply for a residence permit, the following documents are required. All incoming international employees apply for a residence permit based on work and a work permit as qualified professionals, this applies to PhD students as well.

Note! Official documents must be in English or the original must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

Application for a residence permit based on work - form D-207 - A residence permit based on expert knowledge.
Information about your agent needs to be filled in and signed with the following information:
International staff services - University of Iceland
ID number: 600169-2039
Address: Saemundargata 2, 102 Reykjavik
Phone number: +354 525 4000
Email address: internationalstaff@hi.is
Security number: - according to conversation, see your email.
Payment for Directorate of Immigration processing fee. Arranged by the University of Iceland. In some cases, the research project pays for the applicant initially but reimbursement is required upon arrival.
Application for a work permit for a qualified professional
Employment confirmation. Only personal info should be filled in and the form must be signed. All other info will be filled in by the employer. The actual employment contract between the University of Iceland and the incoming employee is made upon arrival. An Icelandic ID number is required for the contract which is obtained through the immigration process and ready upon arrival.
Degree certificate - a copy of PhD certificate. Incoming PhD students need to submit a copy of their MS certificate.
University of Iceland PhD study program acceptance letter - for incoming PhD students only.
Passport photo.
Photocopy of passport.
Foreign criminal record certificate. The criminal record must not be older than twelve (12) months when submitted and must be presented from all countries where the applicant has lived for the past five (5) years, for a period exceeding six (6) months. Either an original or a copy of a criminal record is required. Note that in certain cases the Directorate of Immigration may still need to request a certified original criminal record.
Translation of the foreign criminal record certificate. Only if the foreign certificates are not in English or the Nordic languages. The translation should be done by an authorized translator and should be either an original or a certified copy. The actual criminal record should accompany the translation as the translation alone is not sufficient.
Medical Cost Insurance. Online application. Make sure a notification is sent to Iceland Directorate of Immigration. Payment confirmation should accompany the rest of the documents.

Documents to be submitted must be signed by the applicant, also page 9 in the D-207 form.

More detailed information on the first permit documents required can be found on Iceland Directorate of Immigration website.

Submission of Documents
In order to shorten the process, required documents should be accumulated immediately.
The application will not be processed at the Directorate of Immigration unless all required documents have been submitted. Incorrect or missing information in the forms can affect the processing time. When application documents are ready, all of them should be sent together by post to the International Staff Services, preferably with express shipping like FedEx, UPS or others.

University of Iceland
Division of Human Resources
International Staff Services
Háskólatorg, Sæmundargata 4
102 Reykjavík
ICELAND

Welcome Center submits the application to the Directorate of Immigration after acquiring necessary payments and signatures. In some cases, payments should be reimbursed by the applicant upon arrival.

Application accepted and a Residence Permit Granted

The Directorate of Immigration notifies the representative in Iceland when the application for a residence permit has been accepted and a preliminary residence permit granted. The representative notifies the applicant. The residence permit is not issued formally unless the applicant meets in person at the DOI offices upon arrival.

Please notice residence permits are issued for one or two years depending on the validity of the applicant's passport.

Actions are required for the final process of issuing the residence permit:

Pre arrival, information on where and what embassy the applicant needs to apply for a D-visa to Iceland if required. Please see who needs a visa on the DOI webpage.
Upon arrival, the applicant has to be photographed in order to be issued a residence permit card. The photo will be taken at Directorate of Immigration, Dalvegur 18, 201 Kópavogur. Please bring a passport.
Upon arrival please make sure you have filled out the form A-269 Notification of residence in Iceland and bring it to the Directorate of Immigration.
Upon arrival, depending on the citizenship some applicant needs to undergo a medical examination within two weeks from entering Iceland. Applicants from certain countries are exempt from a medical exam. Please notice the medical exam can be quite expensive. Another possible option is to have the medical exam done in the home country at a recognized and certified clinic and have it evaluated by the health authorities in Iceland.

When the application has been accepted it´s time to book the airfare to Iceland in accordance with the supervisor’s wishes and instructions.

D-Visa to Iceland
Those citizens who don´t require a visa to Iceland can enter Iceland anytime and wait for the permit to be issued. They are prohibited to work until the permit has been granted.

Those citizens who require a visa to Iceland are prohibited to enter Iceland without a visa. The applicant needs to make an appointment at the relevant embassy, the one listed in the application form. The Directorate of Immigration provides the embassy information needed on the applicant. Depending on countries, Danish or Norwegian embassies provide an embassy service on behalf of Iceland.

Those who require a visa to Iceland but have a Schengen visa can enter Iceland without an embassy involvement but are prohibited to work until the permit has been granted.

A list of countries that need a D-visa can be found on the Directorate of Immigration webpage.

Icelandic ID number
The Icelandic ID number is issued when the residence and work permits are granted and will be ready upon arrival. Further information on it can be found on our site Register into Iceland.

The ID number and an Icelandic bank account are needed for the employment contract.

EU/EEA citizens
Spouses who are EU/EEA citizens may live and work in Iceland without a residence and work permit. Spouses will need to register through Registers Iceland to obtain an Icelandic ID number.

Non-EEA citizens
Non-EU/EEA employees can bring their non-EU/EEA spouses and family to Iceland, but all family members will need to apply for a residence permit. All the applications, the employee's and the family's, can be submitted and processed together which will expedite the process. UI will pay the application fee for the family as well as the employee, but you will need to reimburse us on arrival.

All information on required documents for the family can be found on the Directorate of Immigration website:

The University of Iceland welcomes guests researchers and other guests for short or long stays. Guests will usually be receiving salaries from their home countries.

EU/EEA citizens do not need a residence and work permit but non-EU/EEA citizens do. We will help guests with the residence and work permit application.

Supporting documents must be signed originals in English.

Application for a residence permit based on work - form D-207 - For guest researchers/lecturers and PhD students funded from abroad.
Application for a residence permit for students - form D-208 For guest PhD students funded from Iceland.
Information on the representative. The representative is someone living in Iceland. Page 9 in the D-207 form and page 8 in the D-208 form need to be filled in and signed by the applicant. International Staff Services provides information on the representative offered.
Payment for Directorate of Immigration processing fee. Guest researchers will need to arrange the payment themselves. Payment information can be found further down this site.
Application for a work permit based on collaboration and service contract with a foreign institute. Signed by the applicant and the home institute (employer) and the University of Iceland (contractor). Only needed to accompany the D-207 form.
Service agreement between the host institution and the home institution.
Confirmation of financial means - a copy of a salary/grant agreement/bank statement. You will need to specify the grant amount.
Confirmation of university enrollment in home country - official copy. For guest PhD students only.
Confirmation of university enrollment in the host country (Iceland) - official copy. For guest PhD students only.
Degree certificate - a copy of a PhD certificate or a Master's certificate in the case of PhD students.
Passport photo.
Photocopy of passport.
Confirmed original of a foreign criminal record certificate. The criminal record certificate must not be older than six (6) months and must be presented from all the countries where the applicant has lived for the last five (5) years, for a period exceeding six (6) months. Either an original or a copy of a criminal record is required. The certificate must not be older than 12 months when submitted. Note that in certain cases the Directorate of Immigration may still need to request a certified original criminal record.
Confirmed copy or original translation of the criminal record certificate done by an authorised translator. Applies only if the foreign certificates are in a language other than English or the Nordic languages. Please make sure either an original or a certified copy of the actual criminal record accompany the translation. The translation alone is not sufficient.
Medical Cost Insurance. Online application. Make sure a notification is sent to the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration. Payment confirmation should accompany the rest of the documents.

Directorate of Immigration fees information:
Processing fee ISK 16,000 - fast track service fee is ISK 48,000, for a total of ISK 64,000.
Please pay into DOI bank account:
Bank account nr: 0515-26-410424
DOI ID nr: 670269-6399

More detailed information on the first permit documents required can be found on Iceland Directorate of Immigration website.

Submission of documents
To speed up the process, you should gather all required documents as soon as possible.
The DOI will not process your application unless you have submitted all required documents. Incorrect or missing information in the forms can cause delays. When all your application documents are ready, you should send them all together by post to the Welcome Centre, preferably with an express shipping company like FedEx, UPS, etc.

University of Iceland
Division of Human Resources
International Staff Services – Welcome Centre
Aðalbygging, Sæmundargata 2
101 Reykjavík
ICELAND

The Welcome Centre will submit the application to the Directorate of Immigration after acquiring the necessary signatures.

Application accepted and a residence permit granted
The Directorate of Immigration notifies the representative in Iceland when the application for a residence permit has been accepted and a preliminary residence permit granted. The representative notifies the applicant. The residence permit is not issued formally unless the applicant goes to the DOI in person upon arrival.

To receive your formal residence permit, you will need to do the following:

Pre-arrival: check information on how to apply for a D-visa to Iceland if required. Please check if you need a visa on the DOI website.
Upon arrival: you will need to be photographed to be issued a residence permit card. The photo will be taken at the Directorate of Immigration, Dalvegur 18, 201 Kópavogur. Please bring a passport.
Make sure you have filled in form A-269 - Notification of Residence in Iceland and bring it to the Directorate of Immigration.
Depending on your citizenship you may need to undergo a medical examination within two weeks of entering Iceland. Applicants from certain countries are exempt from a medical exam. Please notice the medical exam can be quite expensive. Another possible option is to have the medical exam done in your home country at a recognized and certified clinic and have it evaluated by the health authorities in Iceland.

D-Visa to Iceland
If you don't need a visa to enter Iceland, you can come at any time and wait for the permit to be issued. You may not work until the permit has been granted.

If you do require a visa, you may not enter Iceland without one. You will need to make an appointment at the relevant embassy, as listed in the application form. The Directorate of Immigration provides the embassy with the required information about the applicant. Depending on which country you are from, the Danish or Norwegian embassies may provide embassy services on Iceland's behalf.

If you need a visa to enter Iceland but you have a Schengen visa, you can enter Iceland without embassy involvement but are prohibited from working until the permit has been granted.

A list of countries that need a D-visa can be found on the Directorate of Immigration website.