Registration for Icelandic test for applicants for Icelandic citizenship is ongoing on www.mimir.is.
Next tests will take place in:
Starting September 1, 2018 a Working Holiday scheme between the governments of Iceland and Japan will take effect. The scheme provides opportunities for young people between the age of 18 and 26 to experience the culture and general way of life in each other countries. Japan is the first country with which Icelandic authorities reach such an agreement.
Japanese citizens interested in applying for a Working Holiday based residence permit must fulfil all the basic requirements for a residence permit in Iceland as well as the age criteria. The purpose of stay shall be to experience the culture and general way of life in Iceland and the permit is granted for a maximum of 12 months. A permit holder receives an unlimited work permit and may work in Iceland and change his/her job without applying at the Directorate of Labor for the duration of the stay.
Further information on Working Holiday permits is available here.
As of Monday, July 16th, telephone hours of case handlers and lawyers, for questions regarding residence permits, visas and Icelandic citizenship applications in process, are as follows:
Tuesdays 09:00 – 11:00
Thursdays 09:00 – 11:00
Please note that information with respect to case processing and requirements for permits is on the Directorate‘s website. Please check for information on the website before calling or e-mailing your questions. It is not possible to answer questions on whether all documentation is complete until the application is being processed. If any documentation is missing, the applicant or his/her agent will be contacted. Information on processing timeline is available on the Directorate‘s website.
As the number of applications for residence permits has increased substantially, the Directorate has decided to extend the estimated processing time from 90 days to 180 days. Furthermore, the estimated processing time for applications for Icelandic citizenship has extended from six to eight months to twelve months.
Please note that applications are always processed as quickly as possible and the majority is and will be processed within the estimated processing time.
There has been a great increase in residence permit applications in recent years. The total number of applications for first permits and renewals increased by 25% in 2016 and another 25% in 2017. This is an increase from 3735 applications in 2015 to 5850 in 2017. During this period of time, the Directorate has not been able to employ additional staff in the department as needed to maintain the speed of processing. As a consequence, the waiting period for applicants has increased. In 2017, 85% of all applications were processed within 90 days, but so far in 2018, the number has decreased to 70%. Applications waiting to be processed are now over 1770.
In view of the above, the estimated time for processing first applications has been increased from 90 days to 180 days. Applicants who are submitting their first application for a residence permit, may therefore expect to wait for up to 180 days from the date an application has been submitted and paid for until it is processed. The criteria for processing renewal applications will remain 90 days. Seasonal permits (e.g. student permits) will be prioritized.
Since early 2018, it has been possible to pay a service fee for accelerated processing of applications for residence permits based on work. There has been a high demand for this service. However, the Directorate has not yet received funds to support this service and this has affected handling of general applications. Therefore, the processing time for accelerated processing for a service fee has been increased from 10 working days to 30 days from the date of payment for application and accelerated processing.
The number of applications for Icelandic citizenship processed by the Directorate has increased in recent years and was about 1100 in 2017. However, the number of applications to be sent to the Parliament for granting citizenship has increased substantially, from 12% in 2015 to 28% in 2017. So far, these applications have been processed and prepared by the Directorate for the Parliament. The processing of applications for citizenship which are sent to the Parliament takes longer time than processing applications decided on by the Directorate. This keeps the staff in that department busy for part of the year. This results in slower processing of other applications in the meantime. At this time there are about 155 applications pending which were submitted more than six months ago.
As a result, the estimated processing time for applications for Icelandic citizenship has been increased from six to eight months to twelve months. Applicants for citizenship may therefore expect to wait for up to twelve months for their applications to be processed.
We hope that the Directorate’s clients show patience and understanding of these changes. All applications will always be processed as quickly as possible.
The Directorate receives many inquiries from applicants and their agents with respect to renewal of residence permits and whether the applicant can travel abroad while waiting for renewal of his/her permit.
Travelling abroad without a valid residence permit card may cause problems at borders. A residence permit card is the only valid confirmation of having a residence permit in Iceland. The Directorate cannot issue any other kind of document ensuring that the individual can travel abroad without problems while a permit application is being processed at the Directorate.
A so-called „to whom it may concern“ letter, confirming that an application is being processed at the Directorate does not guarantee that the applicant can cross borders. It is recommended that applications be lodged in a timely manner. It is further recommended that travel be postponed until a residence permit has been granted and a new card has been issued. The validity of a residence permit is indicated on the card.
The Directorate receives many requests for accelerated processing of applications from persons asking that their applications be prioritized as they intend to travel abroad. The Directorate processes applications in the order of dates they are received. Accelerated processing is only granted in exceptional cases due to unforeseen circumstances. Travel abroad cannot be the grounds for accelerated processing of applications.