• Íslenska
  • English (UK)

Sidebar

  • Home
  • About us
    • Directorate of Immigration
    • Organization chart
    • News
    • Cooperation agreements
    • Processing fee
    • Forms
    • FAQ
    • Contact us
    • Useful links
    • Laws and regulations
    • Statistics
  • Forms
  • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Useful links
  • Laws and regulations
  • Statistics
  1. Home
  2. Family reunification

Family reunification

Foreign nationals from a country outside of the EEA and/or EFTA, who plan to stay in Iceland for more than three (3) months, must have a valid residence permit.

Residence permits based on family reunification are granted on grounds of Articles 69-72 of the Act on Foreigners no. 80/2016 and are granted to the closest relative of a person residing in Iceland and who has the right to family reunification.

A residence permit based on family reunification is for the closest relative who resides in Iceland:

  • an Icelandic citizen,
  • a Scandinavian citizen,
  • a foreign citizen who has a residence permit:

- as a qualified specialist,

- as an athlete,

- as a spouse or cohabiting partner,

- on grounds of international protection,

- on grounds of humanitarian views,

- on grounds of special ties to Iceland, or

- on grounds of a permanent residence permit.

The closest relative according to the Act on Foreigners is:

  • a spouse,
  • a cohabiting partner,
  • a child under the age of 18 in the custody and provided for by the relevant permit holder,
  • a parent aged 67 or older and
  • the parent of a child under the age of 18.

    A spouse, cohabiting partner or the child of a person in university graduate studies or engaging in research in Iceland are also considered to be the closest relative in the interpretation of the law.

    Others than those defined as closest relatives according to the Act on Foreigners cannot obtain a residence permit on grounds of family reunification.

    The condition for a residence permit being granted on grounds of family reunification is that the basic requirements of a residence permit are met. The requirements and the rights of residence permits on grounds of family reunification can be different, depending on the kind of residence permit applied for. Further information about every type of permit is contained below.



    Spouse or cohabiting partner

    Child

    Parent aged 67 or older

    Parent of a child under the age of 18




  • Residence permits
  • - Applications being processed
  • - Long-term visa
  • - Application process
  • -- Permission to stay while application is being processed by the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration and during renewal of residence permit
  • Basic requirements
  • Documentation requirements
    • FBI criminal record check
  • Family reunification
  • - Spouse or cohabiting partner
  • - Residence permits for children
  • - Residence permit for parents 67 years of age and older
  • - Residence permit for a parent of a child under the age of 18
  • Residence permits based on work
    • Expedited processing
  • Residence permits for students
  • Au pair
  • Residence permits for volunteers
  • Missionaries
  • Special ties to Iceland
  • Legitimate and special purpose
  • EEA/EFTA citizens and their relatives
  • - EEA member countries
  • Permanent residence permit
  • - Detailed EEA/EFTA
  • - Accredited Icelandic courses
  • Rights
  • Refusal of residence permit
  • Revocation of a residence permit and cancellation of the right to stay
  • Expulsion and re-entry ban
  • FAQ
  • Residence permit not required

Links

  • Ministry of Justice
  • Immigration and Asylum Appeals Board
  • The Icelandic Red Cross
  • Multicultural and Information Center
  • The UN Refugee Agency
  • Icelandic Human Rights Center
  • The Directorate of Labour
  • Registers Iceland

Information

  • Directorate of Immigration
  • Residence permits
  • Visas
  • Icelandic Citizenship
  • Asylum

OPENING HOURS

Monday to Thursday 9 - 14
Fridays 9 - 12

Tel.: 444 0900

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Location

The Directorate of Immigration | Dalvegur 18 | 201 Kópavogur | Tel: +354 444 0900 | Fax: +354 444 0901 | Email: utl@utl.is