The main rule in the Act on Foreigners No. 96/2002 is that citizens of countries outside the EEA intending to stay in Iceland for more than 3 months must have a residence permit.A stay in another Schengen-zone country counts the same as a stay in Iceland.

Citizens of the Nordic countries, i.e. citizens of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

A foreigner who was an Icelandic citizen at birth, but has renounced his/her Icelandic citizenship.   

A foreign citizen, who has an Icelandic parent, if he has resided and has had residence permit continually in Iceland for two years, provided the parent has been an Icelandic citizen for at least five years.

A foreigner who is the spouse of an Icelandic citizen and has resided with him in Iceland and has had a residence permit continually for three years after the date of marriage or registration of partnership.

A registered common-law spouse of an Icelandic citizen who has had his registered domicile in Iceland and has had a residence permit continually for five years since the date of the registration of the cohabitation, provided that neither party is legally married and that the spouse has been an Icelandic citizen for at least five years.