Self-employed
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 self-employed person if
- You are an EEA/EFTA citizen.
- You are self-employed within your own business.
When we process your application we assess specifically and individually whether you are self-employed.
- You must submit documents confirming that your business is real and genuine.
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 be self-employed in Iceland.
In Iceland, an ID number (kennitala) is necessary in many situations, for example to open a bank account.
You can bring your family to Iceland. They must also register using the application form.
After 5 years in Iceland, you may be entitled to a permanent right of residence, if you meet the requirements.
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 been self-employed in Iceland for at least one year, you can continue to live in Iceland and look for a job as long as you wish?. You must be registered as a job seeker with the Directorate of Labour (Vinnumálastofnun).
If you have been self-employed in Iceland for less than one year, you can continue to live in Iceland and look for a job for 6 months. You must be registered as a job seeker with the Directorate of Labour (Vinnumálastofnun).
If you can no longer be a self-employed person because you are temporarily incapacitated due to illness or accident, you can continue to live in Iceland.
If you no longer meet the requirements to reside in Iceland as a self-employed person and don't qualify for the above mentioned, you can reside in Iceland as long as you meet the requirements for registration based on one of the other residence categories :
- Employee
- As a person with sufficient funds
- As a student
- As a family member
If you are leaving Iceland because you no longer meet the requirements as a self-employed person, 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.
Required documents to apply as a self-employed person :
You must submit documents that your business is real and genuine. For example :
- Registration as a self-employed person with Skatturinn.
- Annual financial statement or operating report from the previous year.
- Business plan.
- Further documents, for example receipts of purchased material, invoices or lease contract.
Registers Iceland may, at a later date, ask you to submit documentation that confirm that you are still self-employed.
It is optional to submit the following documents with the application :
- Birth certificate
- 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
- Birth certificate and/or 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.