Everyone who has resided legally in Iceland for six months automatically becomes a member of the Icelandic social insurance system, regardless of nationality. Residency means a registered domicile based on the length of registration at Registers Iceland.
Note that the Icelandic healthcare system only subsidises health care for beneficiaries but generally does not provide services for free. For most medical services, one can expect to pay a minimal fee.
In order to be insured in Iceland for the first six months of your stay, you need to apply for health insurance online with Iceland Health.
The European Health Insurance Card is a free card that gives you access to medical assistance, under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in any of the 28 EU member states and the four EFTA states Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland and Lichtenstein.
We recommend all individuals to bring the European Health Insurance Card to Iceland. It will simplify doctor visits during the transition period.
More information on health insurance and health care in Iceland can be found on the website for Iceland Health.
All non-EU/EEA incoming UI employees is required to acquire private health cost insurance prior to arriving in Iceland. This is required by the Directorate of Immigration and needs to be arranged before submitting the application of residence permit in Iceland.
The insurance gets validated upon arrival and is valid for six months. After the six months period one becomes automatically a member of the Icelandic Health Insurance system. The same applies to non-EU/EEA family members.
Private health cost insurance covers the cost of general medical assistance, cost of medicine and treatment costs due to a disease or accident. This is subject to limitations specified in the insurance policy terms.
Sjóvá health cost insurance policy terms and conditions. Please read it carefully.
More information on health insurance and health care can be found on Euraxess Icelands webpage.
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