If you are a non-EEA/EFTA citizen who plans to study in Iceland, you must apply for a student permit at the Directorate of Immigration before you arrive in Iceland. Please visit the Directorate of Immigration website for detailed information on the application process.
Applicants who need to apply for a residence permit should bear in mind that the application deadline at the Directorate of Immigration is May 1st, 2026.
You must apply for your residence permit as soon as you receive your acceptance letter from the University of Iceland.
The application and supporting documents must be submitted to the Directorate of Immigration by the deadline. Documents submitted after the relevant deadline will not be processed in time.
Please note: Application and/or supporting documents that are late, missing, or incomplete are not guaranteed to be processed before the semester starts.
All applicants need to have their photo taken for the permit cards. Before arriving in Iceland, you must book an appointment to have your photo taken.
If you are required to have a medical exam, it is strongly recommended that you make an appointment at a healthcare clinic before you arrive in Iceland.
You will need to pay the processing fee and mail a completed application and supporting documents directly to the Directorate of Immigration.
More on resident permit application requirements.
All certificates that are not in English or a Nordic language must be translated by a certified translator.
You will need to follow the instructions on the Directorate of Immigration website, www.utl.is
If you need a visa to enter Iceland, you may not be in the country when you apply for the residence permit or while the application is being processed. Your application will be rejected if you are in Iceland during this period.
You may only travel to Iceland once your application and supporting documents have been approved by the Directorate of Immigration. After your application is approved, the Directorate of Immigration will contact you to tell you what you need to do upon arrival in Iceland.
However, if you do not require a visa to visit Iceland (for example, citizens of the United States and Canada) you may enter the country while your residence permit application is in process.
You must meet the requirements set by the Directorate of Immigration within two weeks of arriving in Iceland in order for your residence permit to be issued.
These requirements include:
You will need to go to the Directorate of Immigration with your passport and travel documents to be photographed and hand in the housing certificate if you have not done so before you arrived in Iceland.
The Directorate of Immigration
Dalvegur 18
201 Kópavogur
The Directorate of Immigration website.
Map
Bus timetables
Before going to the Directorate of Immigration, students who require a medical exam must go to the:
Department of Epidemiology
Egilsgata 3
101 Reykjavík
Opening hours by appointment only.
tel: +354 513 5130
email: gs@hg.is
Map
If you cannot get an appointment at the Department of Epidemiology, you should book an appointment at your primary health clinic.
Please note: Students who have not been photographed, submitted a housing certificate and/or undergone a medical examination (if applicable) within two months of arriving in Iceland will not be issued a residence permit and their stay in Iceland will be deemed illegal.
Once you have met all requirements set by the Directorate of Immigration, an Icelandic ID number and residence permit card will be issued.
You can go to the Service Desk in the University Centre to see if your ID number has been issued. Once you have an ID number, you can register at the University of Iceland and receive your username and password to access the Ugla intranet.
The residence permit card will be mailed to your Icelandic address within 10 days.
A residence permit may be valid for up to one (1) year. It is your responsibility to apply to renew your student residence permit at least four weeks before the current permit expires (this also applies to PhD students).
Please note: If you submit your application and/or supporting documents less than four weeks before your current permit expires, it will be treated as a first permit application rather than a renewal.
You will need to submit your application and all supporting documents and pay the application handling fee in person at the Directorate of Immigration.
You must follow the instructions on the Directorate of Immigration website.
Please note: You will need to bring your passport to the Directorate of Immigration. You may stay in Iceland while the application for renewal is being processed.
All changes to housing arrangements must be reported to Registers Iceland and the Directorate of Immigration. Students who have an Icekey (i. íslykill) or digital certificates must submit form A-251 online. Students who are unable to do this online must go to Registers Iceland and submit the form in person. Students must also submit a new Housing Certificate at the Directorate of Immigration.
Further information on change of address at Registers Iceland - see Moving within Iceland.
Before leaving Iceland, you must notify Registers Iceland. If you have an Icekey (íslykill) or digital certification you can submit form A-251 online. If you are unable to do this online, you will need to go to Registers Iceland and submit the form in person.
Further information on moving from Iceland.
All students who have received income in Iceland, including wages, 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.
See further information or contact RSK directly for more detailed information.
Exemptions from taxes may apply.
An academic transcript will be sent by email to your University of Iceland email address and to your home university.