PhDs in Iceland

Study in Iceland

Living in Iceland

Regulations & Advice

Not a member of the EU
All citizens (except Nordic) who come to Iceland for the purpose of study, need a residence permit if staying longer than three months in Iceland. Some need to obtain the residence permit before arriving, some can apply after they arrive.

Nordic countries

Citizens of Nordic countries that plan to study in Iceland have to bring “Internordisk flytteattest” if staying longer than 6 months. Nordic citizens do not need work permit.


EU and EEA member countries

Citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area, who plan to stay longer than three months in Iceland, need a residence permit. The permit may be obtained after arriving in Iceland for most of the EU and EEA countries. The residence permit is applied for at the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration, http://www.utl.is, Skógarhlíð 6, 105 Reykjavik, tel. +354 510 5400. EU and EEA citizens do not need special work permit, only residence permit.


Non European countries

Citizens of countries other than EU and EEA must obtain the visa before entering Iceland. Some nationals outside EU and EEA, are exempted from the obligation to carry a visa on arrival in Iceland for a stay of up to three months in all within the Schengen area. The total stay within the Schengen area must not exceed three months in any period of six months. (See on website http://www.utl.is which countries are part of the Schengen agreement). The residence permit is applied for at the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration.

If a residence permit is granted, the applicant shall, upon arrival in Iceland, register his domicile with the National Registry (Þjóðskrá) http://www.statice.is, Borgartúni 21a, 150 Reykjavik, tel. +354 528 1000. All citizens should bring a passport which is valid at least three months after the scheduled departure as well as get a health check upon arrival (see in health issues).

About Iceland

the Republic of Iceland is a country of northwestern Europe, comprising the island of Iceland and its outlying islets in the North Atlantic Ocean between Greenland, Norway, the British Isles, and the Faroe Islands.