IcelandResidence

Iceland short-term residence permit

Short-term residence permit (introduced May 2026)

In short

Since May 2026 the short-term residence permit is Iceland’s route for stays of more than 90 days that are not for settling: long visits to a close family member, or stays by artists, scientists and athletes who need no other permit. It replaced the repealed long-term visa. The fee is ISK 12,200, a continuous stay may not exceed 180 days, and you need ISK 259,951 a month in your own funds.

Apply on Directorate of Immigration – Short-term residence permit checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
A continuous stay of up to 180 days; days in other Schengen states count as days in Iceland.
Validity
Set by the requested stay; not available again within 12 months of a previous short-term permit.
Fee
ISK 12,200Processing fee per the Directorate of Immigration fee table (October 2026), paid by bank transfer; not refunded.
Funds required
ISK 259,951 per monthOwn funds for every month of the stay; ISK 415,922 for a married couple. Only a spouse, or the parent of a minor, who is also applying or lives in Iceland may support you.
Processing time
A decision on a new permit can take up to six months.
Work
Not a work route: stays whose purpose is covered by a work or other permit must use that permit instead.
Family
A spouse or minor child may apply at the same time; a spouse or parent with enough means can support them.
Path to permanent residence
No. Applicants must not intend to settle in Iceland.
Where to apply
Visa-required nationals apply from abroad and wait there; visa-free nationals may apply in Iceland but must leave before their 90 days run out.

Who the permit is for

Two groups qualify: close family members, defined as a marital spouse, parent, child or sibling of someone in Iceland, coming for an extended visit; and artists, scientists or athletes whose stay does not require another type of residence permit, for example during an artist residency. You must not intend to settle, the purpose must not fit any other permit category, you must not have had a short-term permit in the past 12 months, and you must be 18 or over unless applying with a parent or guardian.

The permit replaced the long-term visa, which was repealed in May 2026 together with the transfer of visa work to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. It cannot be used to extend a stay that has already begun.

Funds, insurance and return ticket

Show ISK 259,951 a month for the whole stay, about ISK 1.56 million for 180 days, on an original bank-certified statement in a currency recognised by the Central Bank of Iceland; online banking printouts are not enough. A married couple needs ISK 415,922 a month. Take out health and accident insurance valid in Iceland for the entire stay with at least ISK 2,000,000 cover, and include a return ticket or proof you can pay for one.

Applying

Download form D-111, fill it in on a computer, print and sign it, pay ISK 12,200 by bank transfer, and send the original paper file with the receipt to the Directorate of Immigration, Dalvegur 18, 201 Kópavogur, or use the drop box at reception. You receive an email once it is registered. Visa-required nationals must not be in Iceland when they apply or while the file is processed.

  1. Confirm that your purpose is a close family visit or a stay as an artist, scientist or athlete, and that no other permit fits.
  2. Plan a stay of at most 180 days and check you had no short-term permit in the last 12 months.
  3. Collect the purpose documents, bank-certified statement, insurance and return ticket.
  4. Complete form D-111 and pay ISK 12,200 by bank transfer.
  5. Post the original file to the Directorate of Immigration in Kópavogur while you are outside Iceland.
  6. After approval, follow the Directorate’s instructions and collect the entry visa from the embassy designated for you.

Forms

After approval

When the permit is granted you are notified and the Directorate explains the next steps. If you need a visa to travel, a request for an entry visa is sent to the embassy responsible for your country of residence. Plan the stay so that you leave Iceland before the permit ends; a short-term permit cannot be extended from inside Iceland by a new short-term application.

Grounds for refusal

The Directorate refuses the permit if the purpose calls for another residence or work permit, if public security, foreign policy or immigration policy weigh against it, if it is likely you will not leave when the permit expires, if other conditions are not met, or if you gave false information about your criminal record. A refusal can be appealed to the Immigration and Asylum Appeals Board within 15 days.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Passport photo 35 x 45 mm and colour copy of the passport, valid at least 90 days beyond the permit

Travel

  • Return ticket or proof of funds to pay for the return

Money

  • Original bank-certified statement covering ISK 259,951 for each month

Family

  • Documents confirming the purpose: host’s invitation, birth certificates proving kinship, artist residency confirmation or a written statement

Insurance

  • Health and accident insurance valid in Iceland for the whole stay, minimum ISK 2,000,000

Other

  • Signed application form and receipt for the fee paid by bank transfer

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Other

  • Criminal record certificate, if the Directorate asks for it

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the short-term permit to work remotely from Iceland?

Remote work is not one of the listed purposes. The permit is for close family visits and for artists, scientists and athletes.

Can I visit my brother in Iceland for five months?

Yes, siblings count as close family. Apply in advance from abroad; the continuous stay may not exceed 180 days.

Can I apply while I am in Iceland on a Schengen visa?

No. Visa-required applicants must not be in Iceland when they apply or while the application is processed.

Can I get the permit every year?

Only once in any 12-month period; a new permit is refused if you held one in the previous 12 months.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Iceland

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen Area.

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Granted for up to one year, renewable a year at a time with satisfactory study results.
  • Au pair visa Maximum stay: As long as the au pair agreement, never more than one year; renewable once for a further year.

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Up to one year for the first permit, or the length of a seasonal or clearly defined project; renewable for up to two years at a time.
  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Usually one year at first, up to four years at a time, never beyond the work permit.
  • Working holiday visa Maximum stay: Up to one year.

Family

  • Spouse and partner visa Maximum stay: Usually one year at a time, at most two years, and never longer than the sponsor’s own temporary permit.
  • Family reunification visa Maximum stay: Usually one year at a time, at most two years, and never longer than the sponsor’s temporary permit.

Residence

  • Permanent residence Maximum stay: Unlimited right of residence; the card is valid for five years.

Protection

Iceland visa guide