Iceland short-term residence permit in 2026

The short-term residence permit is a new framework for certain stays longer than the ordinary 90-day Schengen period but no longer than 180 days.

It is limited to people making a qualifying extended visit to a close family member, or visiting Iceland as a qualifying artist, scientist or athlete where another residence-permit category does not apply.

What it does not do

The permit is not intended for permanent settlement. It:

  • cannot be renewed;
  • may normally be granted only once in a 12-month period;
  • does not confer family-reunification rights;
  • does not entitle the holder to register legal domicile in Iceland; and
  • does not create a general right to work.

Official guidance says holders are not authorized to work except in specified exceptional circumstances where a statutory work-permit exemption applies.

The permit therefore should not be described as Iceland's replacement "digital nomad visa." Its purpose is much narrower.

The former long-term-visa provision was repealed in May 2026 when Visa Act No. 37/2026 transferred visa functions to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and introduced the new short-term residence basis.

Related: remote work and self-employment, Working Holiday, family reunification, Iceland hub, and the legal disclaimer.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Iceland