Residence permits for students are issued to foreigners over the age of 18 who intend to study in Iceland at a university level or pursue other studies meeting university admission requirements. The applicant must be registered for full-time studies. Students with citizenship outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) must apply for a student permit before arrival and be granted approval from the Directorate of Immigration before travelling to Iceland. EEA/EFTA citizens must register in Iceland according to the duration of stay
Residence permits for most students are granted for six months, or one semester at a time. It is the applicant’s responsibility to apply for a renewal of the permit before it expires.
Applications are made through the Directorate of Immigration.