According to law all international students must register in Iceland or apply for a student permit depending on citizenship. Students with citizenship outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) must apply for a student permit before arrival and be granted an approval from the Directorate of Immigration before traveling to Iceland. EEA/EFTA citizens must register in Iceland according to the duration of stay. Follow the information depending on your citizenship: Student residence permit for non-EEA/EFTA citizens Registering in Iceland for EEA/EFTA citizens Registering in Iceland for Nordic citizens Working in Iceland Do students need a work permit to work in Iceland? A special work permit is not required for students with EEA/EFTA citizenship. Students who are non-EEA/EFTA citizens may apply for a work permit for a position of up to 15 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. What are students obligated to do once they receive income? 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. Where can students find employment? Icelandic Student Services provides an interactive online database for jobs openings (Icelandic only). Students who apply for jobs do so at their own risk. Further information A list of EEA/EFTA countries FAQ Multicultural and Information Centre Directorate of Immigration emailfacebooklinkedintwitter
