Family

EU/EEA Spouse

Spouses who are EU/EEA citizens may reside and work in Iceland without a work permit.

The spouses need to register through Registers Iceland to obtain an Icelandic ID number.

Non-EU/EEA Spouse

A spouse to an EU/EEA employee who is non-EU/EEA citizen is eligible for a residence permit on grounds of family reunification.

There is no need to apply for the permit before arriving in Iceland. The employee registers the spouse at Register Iceland and submits the form Family Reunion with an EU/EEA citizen. The same form needs to be submitted to the Directorate of Immigration plus other required forms. The complete list of documents can be found on the DOI website.

The spouse is eligible to work instantly upon registration but sometimes the wait for the ID number can be substantial which makes job search hard.

On the other hand, it can be wise to apply for the residence permit months before the expected departure date. The processing time for a spouse and a family can be as long as six months. Applying with a good time in advance can save time and bother and most importantly the Icelandic ID number can be ready upon arrival.

For more information, see family reunification.

Non-EU/EEA Spouse

A spouse who is a non-EU/EEA citizen will also need to apply for residence permit along with each family member who plans to move to Iceland. The best way is to apply for all residence permits at the same time. 

There is no need to apply for a work permit simultaneously with the residence permit without a job offer. If the spouse already has a job offer, he/she will need to apply for a work permit along with the residence permit. During the stay in Iceland, the spouse is always required to apply for a work permit if a job is secured. The work permit that needs to be obtained is on the grounds of family ties and is dependent on the working spouse. The only exception is when the spouse is a foreign expert, then the work permit is not dependent on the UI employee.

For more information, see family reunification and more information about the individual requirements for different family members can be found in the links below:

EU/EEA Spouse

A UI employee´s spouse who is an EU/EEA citizen can arrive in Iceland without a residence permit. The non-EU/EEA employee can arrive with your spouse without going through the residence permit application process. But again, it can be wise to submit a residence and work permit application prior to the arrival as the time to obtain the Icelandic ID number can be substantial and can delay and hinder the employment contract procedure. There is impossible to make an employment contract without an Icelandic ID number.

On arrival, the employee needs to register into Iceland with the spouse/family at Registers Iceland and submit the form Family Reunion with an EU/EEA Citizen. The spouse needs to provide proof of financial means for three months for the couple. The UI employment contract is sufficient as proof. The minimum financial support for a couple per month is approx. 280.000 ISK. You are not obliged to prove financial support for children.

After registering at Register Iceland the EU/EEA spouse needs to register the non-European spouse/family members into Iceland through Directorate of Immigration and submit a number of documents needed for the residence permit application.  The list of documents accompanying an application for registration as an immediate family member of EU/EEA citizen.

It takes six months to become eligible for the benefits of the Icelandic health insurance system. During the six months, period children are either covered by private insurance (non-EU/EEA citizens) or covered by the previous insurance (EU/EEA citizens). For EU/EEA citizens we strongly recommend bringing the European Health Insurance Card to Iceland. The card makes health care easier to process.

After the six months period, children under the age of eighteen do not need to pay appointment fees at local healthcare clinics.

Women who are covered by the Icelandic health insurance, after a six months stay in Iceland are entitled to free maternity care during pregnancy, childbirth and post-childbirth. Be aware those on a private health insurance are dependent on the insurance policy and coverage and in most cases they do not cover pregnancy-, childbirth- nor post childbirth care. Please see more detailed info on those issues on TM Insurance.

Parents are strongly advised by the Directorate of Health to vaccinate their children against common childhood diseases. Public health insurance covers the cost of all childhood vaccinations, from age three months to fourteen years.

Day Parents

Day parents provide care of children as young as six months old in private homes. Many parents choose this option for their children until they are old enough to attend preschool. Day parents are private operators who decide their own rates. Municipal authorities subsidise part of the cost if the day parent is licensed to operate by the authority.

For more information, contact your local Municipal Service Centres.

Further information and application form - Day Care Services in City of Reykjavik

Preschool

Children can attend preschool from eighteen months of age until they start primary school at age six. Municipalities subsidise part of the cost. Often there is a waiting list for a place at preschool; therefore parents are advised to apply as soon as possible. Applications can be submitted without the child's Icelandic ID number.

Further information and applications -  Preschools in City of Reykjavik 

University of Iceland staff has access to one of the three preschools designated for students only. Mánagarður preschool at Eggertsgata 34 welcomes applications from staff as well, for children age two to six years.

Preschools at the University of Iceland 

Primary Schools

By law, all children living in Iceland must attend primary school from age six to sixteen, or from grades one through ten. Primary schools are free of charge. Children are enrolled in the school nearest to their permanent residence, but parents may choose to have their children attend another school.

Primary Schools in City of Reykjavik

Secondary Schools

Everyone who has completed a primary school education or equivalent may attend upper secondary school, usually from age sixteen to nineteen. Attendance is not compulsory but students must pay a fee to attend, which can vary from school to school.

Those who wish to attend a university in Iceland must have an upper secondary school education or equivalent. 

Further information on secondary schools and higher education in Iceland.

International Department of Landakotsskóli

Landakotsskóli is located in Reykjavik, in a short distance from downtown and the University of Iceland.

It is a Cambridge accreditated school for children from the age of five to sixteen.

Further information on the school, staff, accreditation can be found on the Landaskotsskóli webpage.

International School of Iceland

The International School of Iceland is located in Garðabær, a municipality in the outskirt of Reykjavik. The school is a privately operated and offers an international educational program to children from age six to twelve years.

Further information on the school, staff, accreditation can be found on the school webpage.

International Baccalaureate Studies in Iceland

Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð (MH) is a secondary school and a member school of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and offers a comprehensive pre-university curriculum that is taught in English and recognized by universities worldwide.

More information on MH IB Program can be found on the MH schools' site.

Child benefits are paid for children up to the age of eighteen years. There is no need to apply for child benefits, the amount is dependent on the parent's income, their marital status and the number of children they have.

More information on child benefits can be found on the Directorate of Internal Revenue website and on the Public Service page.

Leisure Activities Card is offered by the City of Reykjavik to all parents who have a legal residency in Reykjavík. The card gives subsidy per child for children's practice fees, aged six to eighteen years and is designed to encourage the participation of children and youngsters in recreational activities regardless of socio- or economic background. Leisure Card in Reykjavik.

Other municipalities also offer Leisure Activities Card, to subsidize sport and leisure for children.

Information on the importance of leisure activity for children.

Iceland holds strong regulations on bringing pets to the country. All pets are obliged to be put in quarantine upon arrival in Iceland, for a minimum of four weeks. 

All imperative information on it can be found at Pet Travel and Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority.

Please notice, make an appointment in advance as the waiting list is long.