What you should do
Coronavirus
You should keep up to date and follow the advice of the Icelandic Authorities. Further information is available at COVID.IS (in English). You can also read our Iceland travel advice for our latest guidance.
For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Iceland see our coronavirus travel advice.
Stay up to date
You should:
You can also:
Visas and residency
If you were legally resident in Iceland before 1 January 2021 your rights to continue living in Iceland are protected by the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement.
Registers Iceland can issue a letter confirming that you are covered by the Separation Agreement. This letter is not necessary for living in Iceland, but will ease travelling through Schengen and Iceland borders controls.
Read the Directorate of Immigration’s guidance on residency.
Moving to Iceland
Check the entry requirements for Iceland. If you plan to stay in Iceland for more than 3 months you must apply for a residence permit at the Directorate of Immigration.
Passports and travel
If you were legally resident in Iceland before 1 January 2021, the Icelandic Authorities advise that you should carry a letter from Registers Iceland as well as your passport when you travel.
The letter confirming that to show you are covered status by the Separation Agreement is available in electronic form online, or by appointment, from Registers Iceland for 2700 ISK.
If you cannot show evidence of your status under the Separation Agreement, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area, and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Iceland.
Passports
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You can apply for or renew your British passport from Iceland.
You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are in scope of the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement.
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
Renew your passport before booking your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
As a non-EEA national, different border checks apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. You may also need to show a return or onward ticket
Entry requirements
You can travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.
To stay for longer than 90 days in any 180-day period, to work or study, or for business travel, you must meet the entry requirements set out by the country you are travelling to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit.
Periods of time authorised by a visa or permit will not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.
Different rules apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.
Travel to the UK and Ireland has not changed.
Insurance for trips to Iceland
It is important to take out comprehensive travel insurance that includes cover for emergency medical treatment and associated costs. You must make sure you know the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy and make sure that the policy covers any possible disruption.
Healthcare
Social security coordination is covered by the Separation Agreement for those residing in Iceland. Healthcare arrangements continue to apply in full to UK nationals who were resident in Iceland before 1 January 2021, for as long as they remain in scope of the agreement.
Once you have been resident in Iceland for 6 months, you automatically become a member of the Iceland social insurance system.
Read the guidance on healthcare in Iceland and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.
State healthcare: S1
If you have a registered S1 form and were living in Iceland before 1 January 2021, your rights to access healthcare will stay the same if you either:
- receive a UK State Pension
- receive some other ‘exportable benefits’
- are a frontier worker who lives in Iceland and commutes to work in the UK
- are a posted worker, that is you have been sent to Iceland temporarily by your UK employer
Read our guidance on using an S1 form in Iceland to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
If you are resident in Iceland, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC for healthcare in Iceland, unless you are a student or a detached (posted) worker (see ‘who needs to apply for a new EHIC’ for more information).
Who needs to apply for a new EHIC
If you were living in Iceland before 1 January 2021, you may be eligible for a new UK-issued EHIC if you are:
- a UK student in Iceland
- a UK State Pensioner with a registered S1
- a frontier worker with a registered S1
- a posted worker, that is you have been sent to Iceland temporarily by your UK employer
Old UK-issued EHICs and UK-issued GHICs are not valid for healthcare in Iceland.
An EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.
For more information read our guidance on healthcare when travelling in Europe and advice on foreign travel insurance.
You should also read guidance on finding English-speaking doctors in Iceland
You must check your prescriptions are legal in Iceland. You can bring personal prescription medicine for 100 days without a customs declaration, although Icelandic customs officials may ask for a formal doctor’s note.
Working in Iceland
If you were legally resident in Iceland before 1 January 2021, you have the right to work, as long as you remain legally resident.
Read the guidance and sign up for updates on:
If you are planning to come to Iceland to work you may need a work permit. Read the Directorate of Immigration’s guidance on how to get a work permit and the Directorate of Labour’s guidance on exemptions for short-term projects.
Some jobs may require a UK criminal records check, known as a Police Certificate check.
Frontier workers
If you live in Iceland and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, you should contact the Icelandic Immigration Directorate.
Money and tax
You will be issued a tax card when you register with Registers Iceland and obtain a national identification number.
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Iceland to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.
Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Iceland have not changed.
Read the guidance on:
Read the Icelandic government’s guidance on taxes in Iceland. Check the Icelandic Directorate of Internal Revenue.
National Insurance
Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Iceland.
Banking
Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.
Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on banking, insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.
Pensions
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Iceland.
You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you retire in Iceland, you can claim:
Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
Benefits
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Iceland.
You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pensions and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
You may be eligible to claim some Icelandic social security benefits. Read the European Commission’s guidance on Icelandic social security benefits.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
Driving in Iceland
Read the guidance on:
Driving in the UK with an Icelandic licence
You can use your Icelandic licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test. We will update these pages if there are any changes to the rules, as soon as information is available.
Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Iceland
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
Read the guidance on importing and registering vehicles in Iceland
Voting
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
If you have been domiciled or resident in Iceland for more than 5 years you can vote in municipal elections.
Read information from Registers Iceland.
Births, deaths and getting married
If your child is born in Iceland, you will need to register the birth abroad.
If someone dies in Iceland you can:
Find out how you can get married abroad.
You may also need:
Pets
Strict conditions apply to the importation of pets to Iceland. For information, see the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority’s website.
Emergencies
You can dial the European emergency number on 112.
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy in Reykjavik.
Accommodation and buying property
Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.
Returning to the UK
Tell the Icelandic and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.
You must tell the authorities that you are leaving Iceland.
To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.
Disclaimer
Note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Icelandic authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
