Child born in wedlock to an Icelandic mother and a foreign father in 1964-1982

A child born in wedlock before 1 July 1982 to an Icelandic mother and a father, who is a foreign national, does not automatically acquire Icelandic citizenship at birth. The Icelandic Nationality Act was amended on 1 July 1982 with a provision enabling an applicant born during 1 July 1964 to 30 June 1982 to submit a notification on Icelandic citizenship, cf. the Act’s Art. 16.

The following requirements apply to such applications:

• The applicant shall be born during the period 1 July 1964 to 30 June 1982.
• The applicant has an Icelandic mother and a foreign father who were married at the time of the applicant’s birth.
• The applicant’s mother had Icelandic citizenship at the birth of the child and at least until 1 July 1982.
• The applicant meets the requirements of Art. 12 of the Icelandic Nationality Act, see further here.

Service fee

Note that an application is not taken for procedure until payment has been received. Information about the service fee and bank information are contained here.

Necessary accompanying documents with an application:

1. Application. (Please download and save on computer before filling out). In original format, carefully filled out and signed by the applicant.
2. Photocopy of passport. This must include photocopies of the passport’s personal information page and the page containing the applicant’s signature.
3. Photocopy of the passport of the applicant’s mother.
4. Birth certificate of the applicant. A confirmed copy of the original. The original shall be legally authenticated, either with apostille or double authentication.
5. Confirmed copy or original translation by an authorized translator of the birth certificate. Applies only if the foreign certificate is in other languages than English or the Nordic languages.
6. Birth certificate of the applicant’s mother. A confirmed copy of the original. The original shall be legally authenticated, either with apostille or double authentication.
7. Confirmed copy or original translation by an authorized translator of the birth certificate of the applicant’s mother. Applies only if the foreign certificate is in other languages than English or the Nordic languages.
8. Marriage certificate of the applicant’s mother. A confirmed copy of the original. The original shall be legally authenticated, either with apostille or double authentication.
9. Confirmed copy or original translation by an authorized translator of the marriage certificate of the applicant’s mother. Applies only if the foreign certificate is in other languages than English or the Nordic languages.
10. Statement by the Icelandic mother on whether foreign citizenship has been acquired. Information is requested on when and how the Icelandic mother acquired foreign citizenship. Confirmed copy of the citizenship certificate shall be handed in, if applicable.
11. Information by two individuals residing in Iceland on the applicant’s interaction with Iceland. In original format, dated and signed.
12. The certificate, History of Domicile, excluding addresses, however, stating countries of domicile, issued by Registers Iceland. The certificate states in which country or countries the applicant has domiciled from the beginning of the registration in Iceland of domiciles until this date.

Further on the rights of a child born abroad to a mother who is an Icelandic citizen

A child born in wedlock before 1 July 1964 to a mother who is an Icelandic citizen and a father, who is a foreign national, does not automatically acquire Icelandic citizenship; instead the child must apply for Icelandic citizenship either by means of a general application, or on grounds of being a child of an Icelandic citizen.

A child born in wedlock in Iceland or abroad on 1 July 1982 or later to a mother who is an Icelandic citizen and a father, who is a foreign national, automatically acquires Icelandic citizenship. Registers Iceland sees to the child’s registration and his/her Icelandic citizenship. Note that the requirements of the Act’s Art. 12 must be met. See further here.

A child born out of wedlock in Iceland or abroad to a mother who is an Icelandic citizen and a father who is a foreign national, and the parents are still unmarried, automatically acquires Icelandic citizenship. Note that the requirements of the Act’s Art. 12 must be met. See further here.