Iceland expert-knowledge work permit
Iceland's temporary work permit for expert knowledge first requires the Directorate of Labour to have been asked to find someone in Iceland, the EEA, the EFTA states or the Faroe Islands. The expertise must be university-level education or industrial, artistic or technical training recognised in Iceland, and essential to the company. Permits are generally granted for one year and may be granted for up to four years at a time; someone who loses the job can apply for a 12-month residence permit to look for another.
Core requirements
The assistance of the Directorate of Labour must have been requested to find an employee in Iceland and within the EEA, the EFTA states or the Faroe Islands.
The person to be hired must have made an employment agreement with the employer to perform a specific job that requires expertise according to law or practice in Iceland.
The individual's expertise must be essential to the company in question.
The special skills must consist of university-level education, or industrial, artistic or technical training, recognised in Iceland. The Directorate of Labour may request verification of the education in the form of the appropriate certificates under Icelandic rules if it considers this necessary.
The Directorate of Labour may request that the bodies it considers competent certify that the nature of the work requires the person performing it to have a certain level of expertise.
Temporary work permits based on special skills are generally granted for one year, but may be granted for up to four years at a time. Extensions are generally for one year and may likewise be granted for up to four years at a time.
An application for an extension must be submitted to the Directorate of Immigration before the previous permit expires; work with the same employer is generally allowed while it is processed. The employer must have paid withholding tax at source and social security tax on the employment in accordance with the legislation.
Changing job requires a new work permit application from the new employer, with documents submitted as for a new application except for educational documents. The Directorate of Labour reassesses the expert knowledge against the new job regardless of its earlier assessment, and may conclude that the new job differs so much from the previous one that the person is not considered an expert in that field, and refuse the permit.
Where an employer temporarily sends an expert to work at its establishment in Iceland, the Directorate of Labour may depart from the conditions, provided the person is a permanently employed expert at the employer's establishment abroad. The same applies to someone permanently employed as a manager abroad; the Directorate may ask the employer to justify the need for the person to come and work in Iceland.
The Directorate of Labour may also grant a temporary work permit for a job requiring specialised knowledge that is temporarily lacking in Iceland and has been published in the relevant regulation, and may request confirmation of the person's specialised knowledge under Icelandic rules where it considers this necessary.
It is the applicant's responsibility to submit the necessary documents. Missing documents may delay or lead to refusal of the application, and the Directorate of Labour requests additional documents where it considers them necessary.
A foreign national who loses their job can apply for a 12-month residence permit to seek another job based on their expertise.
Official sources
- Apply for a work permit — Expert knowledgeDirectorate of Immigration of Iceland · Reviewed 2026-09-06
How immigration works in Iceland — the process in order, the current figures with their dates, and what commonly blocks an application.
General educational information only, not personalized immigration or legal advice. Requirements can change; confirm them with the responsible government authority before acting. Next scheduled review: 2026-12-06.