Registration and Student Permit

Please bring your passport and European Health Insurance Card when you need to see a doctor, with the card you are guaranteed to pay the minimum fee offered to everyone insured by the public health system in Iceland. This is an option only meant for a short stay and can therefore only meant for the transition period when health insurance rights are being transferred between countries.

The European Health Insurance Card is a free card that proofs your health insurance in the home country and 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.

Those without the European Health Insurance Card can not prove their home country insurance and need therefore to pay the maximum fee for a doctors visit until their insurance rights from home country have been transferred to Iceland.

Icelandic Health Insurance - contact: international@sjukra.is

More information on health care can be found on Iceland Euraxess.

Non-EEA/EFTA citizens must have a health insurance from an insurance company, licensed to operate in Iceland, valid for six months and covering medical costs of ISK 2,000,000 as a minimum. More information

Every doctor´s visit is paid full price but up to the limit of 50.000 ISK which is the personal liability stated in the insurance policy terms. When the cost has exceeded the 50.000 ISK limit you can start claiming the insurance company by submitting receipts for already paid health cost service.

A special work permit is not required for students with EEA/EFTA citizenship. However, an Icelandic ID number is required. Follow the instructions from Registers Iceland.

Students who are non-EEA/EFTA citizens may apply for a work permit for a position of up to 22,5 hours a week during the school year.

Employment may not commence until the work permit has been approved. Students can apply for a work permit once they have a written employment contract. A student must submit a complete application and employment contract directly to the Directorate of Immigration.

Follow the instructions from The Directorate of Immigration. A work permit is only valid for the duration of the current residence permit.

All persons must pay taxes on any income they receive in Iceland, regardless of its nature. The taxation system in Iceland is a PAYE system (Pay-As-You-Earn).

Employers are required to deduct taxes from all salaries paid out to employees. Generally, employees apply for a personal tax credit, see instructions at the Directorate of Internal Revenue for more details. Individuals must have an Icelandic ID number, and non-EEA/EFTA citizens must also provide a copy of their work permit in order to apply.

All students who have received income in Iceland, including salaries, grants, or other forms of remuneration, must file a tax return to the Directorate of Internal Revenue (RSK) annually and no later than one week before leaving the country. Click this link or contact RSK directly for further information. Note that exemptions may apply.

Icelandic Student Services provides an interactive online database for jobs openings (Icelandic only). Students who apply for jobs do so at their own risk.