If you are not an EU/EEA student and you plan to study in Iceland for a period of time longer than 3 months, you have to apply for a residence permit before you enter the country. Please, observe that the residence permit is only temporary and intended to register students while enrolled at university or college in Iceland. Students from certain countries must also apply for a Schengen Visa to enter Europe.
[Click here to view the list of countries whose citizens don't need a visa to enter Europe]
[Click here to view a list of the embassies issuing visas on behalf of Iceland]
[Click here to learn how to apply for a residence permit in Iceland as an EU student]
What documents do you need to apply for a residence permit in Iceland?
- The filled-in application form
[Click here to download the application form for residence permit in Iceland]
- The letter of acceptance from your higher education institution indicating that you have been admitted to full-time studies
- A copy of the pages in your passport where personal data can be read
- A recent passport-sized photo
- A copy of your health insurance plan. Please, note that the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration requires a health insurance of, at least, 2,000,000 ISK (ca. 11,500 EUR)
- A bank statement or copy of your grant/scholarship stating you can support yourself financially throughout your time as a student in Iceland
- Documentation confirming your accommodation details
- A criminal record certificate from each country where you have resided within the last 5 years prior to coming to Iceland
- The receipt to prove you have paid the application fee
Please, note that all documents must be officially translated into English or any of the Scandinavian languages, i.e., Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish, Danish or Norwegian.
How much does it cost to apply for a residence permit to study in Iceland?
The application fee is 12,000 ISK (ca. 69 EUR).
Application fee valid for 2010
Where do you apply for a residence permit to study in Iceland?
If you are not an EU/EEA student, you will have to apply for a residence permit before you enter the country at the embassy or consulate representing Iceland in your country.
[Click here to view a list of the embassies issuing visas on behalf of Iceland]
[Click here to learn more about residence permits in Iceland for EU students]
Where do you have to pay the application fee?
You have to pay the application by depositing the fee in the following bank account:
IBAN: IS071175054119736702696399
Swiftcode: BYRSISRE
Bank name: BYR, Borgartúni 18, 108 REYKJAVÍK
[Click here to view the payment details from the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration website]
How much is the minimum financial subsistence requirement?
You will be asked to prove you have at least 125,540 ISK per month (ca. 720 EUR per month) to support yourself financially.*
Financial subsistence requirement valid for 2010.
How long does it take to process an application for residence permit?
The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun) will process your application as soon as all documentation has been submitted. Therefore, we recommend you to apply for a residence permit to study in Iceland with plenty of time in advance before your studies begin. In general the processing time is 90 days for applications for a residence permit as a student.
Residence permit for EU/EEA students
EU/EEA students don't need to apply for a residence permit to stay in Iceland. Instead, EU/EEA students are requested to register at the Icelandic National Register of Persons (Þjóðskrá).
Contact information:
Icelandic National Register of Persons
Borgartúni 24
150 Reykjavík
Iceland
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: +(354) 569 2950
[Click here to download the application form for residence permit in Iceland (EU/EEA students])
Students from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland don't need to apply for a residence permit to stay in Iceland.
Please, note that Bulgarian and Romanian students must apply for a residence permit as non-EU students, i.e. before entering Iceland.
