The residence permit team is now busy processing applications for residence permits for students for the next school year.

How long will it take to process your application?

The Directorate tries to process all applications before the beginning of the semester but we can only guarantee for the timely processing of applications submitted with all required supporting documents before June 1st.

Please note that the Directorate of Immigration does not accept applications electronically. Applications must be mailed to our postal address or delivered to a drop box in the Directorate’s lobby (from 8 to 16 on week-days).

You can check which applications are already being processed on our web's processing time page. If you submitted your application later than the date displayed, your application is not being processed yet.

Contacting the Directorate per E-Mail or telephone to check the status of your application will not accelerate the processing of your application. We will contact you if documents are missing and when the permit has been granted. 

What can you do to accelerate the processing of your application?

• Make sure you submit all the necessary supporting documents with your application, a list of the required supporting documents is available here. 

• Make sure the supporting documents you submit meet the Directorate’s documentation requirements. 

In particular, make sure the criminal record certificate you submit was issued by the highest authority competent to issue such certificates in the respective country. The certificate must state that the information in the certificate stems from national databases, not only databases in certain areas (for example, in certain regions or states of a country). For students from the US this means that an FBI criminal record certificate is required, students from Canada must submit an RCMP certificate and students from Thailand must submit a certificate issued by the Royal Thai Police.

• Make sure your means of support is satisfactory and that you submit sufficient documentation on your secure means of support. 

The Directorate of Immigration reminds that issuance of residence permit cards has been limited due to low stock levels. We hope to have received new cards no later than June.

Residence permit cards are only issued to individuals who can proof that they need them for travelling abroad. Valid travel records, e.g. airline tickets, must be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Instead of residence permit cards, applicants receive a letter of confirmation from the Directorate, confirming the issuance of a residence permit, including information on the permit’s validity and the applicant’s right to work.

The Directorate of Immigration sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience that this may cause.

Registration for Icelandic test for Icelandic citizenship applicants starts 16 March on www.mimir.is. 

Next tests take place in:

• Akureyri: 26 May 2021, at 13.00.
• Egilsstaðir: 27 May 2021, at 13.00.
• Ísafjörður: 28 May 2021, at 13.00.
• Reykjavík: 31 May - 4 June 2021, at 9.00 and 13.00.

Last day to register is 12 May 2021.

New in Iceland is a newly launched information service for immigrants.

The role of New in Iceland is to provide assistance and information to immigrants on living in Iceland. The services are free of charge and confidential.

New in Iceland answers questions about the labor market, health system, education, social insurance, legal registration, housing market, domestic violence, social assistance, taxation, financial issues, family related issues and many more.

The counselors at New in Iceland speak English, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Lithuanian, Russian and Icelandic. Telephone interpretation is provided for other languages.

You can contact New in Iceland by calling or through email or online chat.