Relatives
The application processing time can be up to 10 working days after all necessary documents have been submitted.
You can reside in Iceland as a relative if
- You are an EEA/EFTA citizen who is related to an EEA/EFTA citizen that is registered with a legal domicile in Iceland and will be supported by that relative.
- The relation must be by lineal consanguinity, e.g. parent or grandparent.
EEA/EFTA citizens that apply as relatives must provide documents demonstrating:
- The relatives ability to support the applicant financially
- Signed declaration from the relative whom the applicant is dependent on stating his willingness to support the applicant.
You must have comprehensive private health insurance until you have had your legal domicile registered in Iceland for 6 months or during the length of your stay in Iceland if you stay is shorter. A six month period of registered legal domicile in Iceland is the requirement to gain access to the public health insurance scheme in Iceland.
It is each persons own responsibility to know and verify the conditions of their insurance, i.e. what the insurance covers.
An applicant whose relative has been registered in Iceland as an employee or self-employed person does not need to demonstrate financial means or health insurance.
Note: Abuse of rights or fraud may result in the revocation of a person‘s right to reside in Iceland.
As an EEA/EFTA citizen you have the right to reside and work in Iceland with or without registering for up to three months.
After 5 years in Iceland, you may be entitled to a permanent right of residence, if you meet the requirements.
An EEA/EFTA citizen residing in Iceland as a relative who supports them can reside in Iceland as long as their relative continues to reside and meet the requirements for residence in Iceland. As an EEA/EFTA citizen, you can always reside in Iceland if you yourself meet the requirements for residence.
If you plan to stay in Iceland for less than 3 months, you do not meet the requirements for domicile registration in Iceland and you should apply for a system ID, see more here. However if you are seeking employment, you can remain in Iceland for up to 6 months before applying for a legal domicile registration.
If you plan on being in Iceland for longer than 3 months, you need to apply for a legal domicile in Iceland. You can stay in Iceland as long as you meet the requirements for legal domicile registration in Iceland.
If you have grounds for residence as a relative but your relative has left Iceland or does not meet the requirements for residence in Iceland anymore, you can reside in Iceland as long as you meet the requirements for registration based on one of the other residence categories :
- As an employee
- As a self-employed person
- A person residing on the basis of sufficient funds
- As a student
- As a posted worker
If you are leaving Iceland because you no longer meet the requirements for legal domicile in Iceland, you must notify us that you are leaving and submit a notification of moving from Iceland using form A-251.
Individuals can stay abroad for up to 6 months on a yearly basis without registering their domicile out of Iceland.
Please note that you do not need to register out of Iceland for a stay abroad for more than 6 months if any of the following conditions apply:
- Longer absence on one or more occasions for compulsory military service.
- A single absence of a maximum of 12 consecutive months for urgent reasons, such as pregnancy and child birth, serious illness, study or vocational training or work to which the person concerned is sent to in another EEA/EFTA country or third country.
If you leave Iceland for more than 6 months and the above mentioned reasons don't apply, you are required to register your legal domicile out of Iceland here. For more information regarding moving from Iceland, see here.
If you have registered out of Iceland, but have returned, you will need to re-apply for legal domicile registration within 3 months, using form A-271.
If you have acquired permanent residence, you will not lose it unless you leave Iceland for a period exceeding two consecutive years.
Please note that it is not permitted to have a legal domicile registration in two countries at the same time according to pgr. 1 of art. 2 of the law of legal domicile no. 80/2018.
You can apply using application A-271 or click on the application form on the right.
With your application, you must always submit a valid passport or ID card along with the required documents to demonstrate that you meet the requirements for legal domicile registration.
If you wish to reside in Iceland as a relative, you must submit the following:
- A certificate (one or more) confirming family relationship.
- Signed declaration from the relative confirming willingness to provide for the applicant.
- Documents confirming the ability of the relative to provide for the applicant.
You must have comprehensive private health insurance until you have had your legal domicile registered in Iceland for 6 months or during the length of your stay in Iceland if you stay is shorter. A six month period of registered legal domicile in Iceland is the requirement to gain access to the public health insurance scheme in Iceland.
It is each persons own responsibility to know and verify the conditions of their insurance, i.e. what the insurance covers.
An applicant whose relative has been registered in Iceland as an employee or self-employed person does not need to demonstrate financial means or health insurance.
It is optional to submit the following documents with the application :
- Marital status certificate. Applicants are encouraged to submit their marital status certificate because marital status may affect an individual's rights and their children (if relevant)
Upon arrival in Iceland, applicants must visit a registration office and present the original copies of the following documents
- Passport or legal travel document
- Marital status certificate, if they were submitted in the application process.
All documents must be in Icelandic or English. In cases where documents are in another language, a certified translation is required along with the original document.