Iceland digital nomad visa: Complete guide for UK expats

Love the idea of travelling the world, exploring countries while you work remotely? If all you need to do your job is an internet connection, you might want to spend some time as a digital nomad.

Iceland is a popular country for digital nomads from all over the world, who are drawn there by its astonishing natural scenery and unique experiences - as well as surprisingly fast internet in cities like Reykjavík.

But to get to Iceland and legally work remotely, you’re going to need a visa.

In this guide, we’ll give you the lowdown on the digital nomad visa for Iceland. This includes how it works, how much it costs, eligibility requirements, the documents you’ll need and the steps to apply.

Iceland digital nomad visa: requirements and eligibility

Iceland is one of many countries which has a special digital nomad visa. It’s actually called a ‘long-term visa for remote work’, but it's aimed at digital nomads.

With this visa, eligible foreign nationals from outside the EEA can legally live in Iceland and work remotely for an overseas client or employer. You can’t work for any local employers or get a job in Iceland on this visa.

What you can do though is bring your family members along, which includes spouses/partners and dependent children.¹

This visa lasts for between 90 and 180 days, depending on how and from where you apply.¹

To meet the Iceland digital nomad visa requirements, you’ll need to prove you have a minimum income of 1,000,000 ISK (approx. £6,001 GBP) a month. If you’re applying with a spouse, this increases to 1,300,000 ISK (approx. £7,802 GBP) a month.¹

📚Cost of living in Iceland

How much does it cost?

The Iceland digital nomad visa costs 12,200 ISK (approx. £73.23 GBP) in application processing fees.¹

You can only pay the visa fee by bank transfer,² so you might want to check the fees with your bank for sending money abroad - or look into an alternative provider such as Wise.

Aside from the upfront application fees, there may be other costs to factor in. For example, the cost of getting travel/health insurance, or having documents translated.

What documents do you need?

You’ll need the following documents to apply for a digital nomad visa for Iceland:¹

• A copy of a passport with at least 3 months remaining, which means photocopies of the personal information, photo, signature, visa and Schengen region entry/exit stamps pages
• One passport-sized (3.5cm x 4.5cm) photograph of yourself, taken within the last 6 months
• Proof of a valid health insurance policy covering your stay in Iceland
• Documents confirming the purpose of your stay in Iceland - such as a letter from your overseas employer stating that you are authorised to work remotely, or confirmation of your self-employment status
• Proof of income - such as an employment contract, payslips or tax statements
• Payment receipt for your application fee.

You may also be asked for a criminal record/police certificate. And if you’re bringing family members with you, you’ll need to include supporting documents for them too.

How to apply for the digital nomad visa in Iceland

The only way to apply for the Iceland digital nomad visa is by post, which means submitting a paper form. You can’t apply online unfortunately.

Here’s what you need to do, step-by-step:¹

1. Check your eligibility - in particular, that you’re able to meet the minimum income requirement
2. Get your documents together
3. Go to the Iceland.is website and click ‘Apply’ to access the application form - you’ll need to download, print and complete it.
4. Before posting your application, make sure you’ve paid the processing fee. You’ll need to do this by international bank transfer - see here for information on how to do this and the account details you’ll need. You’ll get a payment receipt, which you’ll need to include in your postal application.
5. Post your completed application form and all supporting documents to: Directorate of Immigration, Dalvegur 18, 201 Kópavogur, Iceland. It’s recommended to use a secure, tracked postal service or courier.
6. Wait for your application to be processed and a decision to be made - you’ll receive confirmation and further information from the Directorate of Immigration in due course.

While you’re waiting for your visa to be issued, you can get on with other important pre-move preparations.

For example, looking into how to open an Icelandic bank account, finding somewhere to live and getting some Icelandic Króna to cover your first few days and weeks there.

📚Cash or card in Iceland?

How long can you stay in Iceland as a digital nomad?

The digital nomad visa for Iceland lets you stay for between 90 and 180 days,¹ depending how and from where you apply.

If you apply from outside the country (such as from the UK, for example), you may be granted a visa with a duration of 180 days.¹

But if you apply after you’ve entered either the country or the Schengen area (i.e. as a tourist), then you may only get a visa for 90 days.¹

If you want to stay longer or even move there permanently, you’ll need to research other longer-term visa pathways.

📚Can you keep UK bank account when moving abroad?

Taxes for digital nomads in Iceland

While you’re living and working in Iceland as a digital nomad, you’ll need to check whether you need to pay taxes on your income.

There’s no specific Iceland digital nomad visa tax, just income tax rules that apply to anyone considered a tax resident of the country.

If you stay in Iceland for more than 183 days, you may be deemed to be a tax resident.³ This means that your worldwide income can be subject to income tax.

However, this is unlikely to happen on this visa, as it only has a maximum stay of 180 days. This means that you will be taxed in the country you’re considered a permanent resident, such as the UK for example.

Tax between countries can be really complicated though, so it’s best to get professional advice to make sure you understand your obligations.

Save on your relocation costs with Wise

That’s everything you need to know about the digital nomad visa in Iceland. Make sure you check for any updates to the application process or the requirements ahead of applying.

Before moving to Iceland, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and 140+ countries in 40+ currencies for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

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**Capital at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

FAQs

Is it possible to extend the Iceland digital nomad visa?

No, you can’t renew the Iceland digital nomad visa. You’ll need to leave the country when it expires and reapply from outside Iceland, although you may not be able to do this straight away.

Does a Iceland digital nomad visa lead to citizenship?

No, there isn’t a direct route to citizenship with the Iceland digital nomad visa. It’s intended as a temporary visa and is not for people planning to settle in the country permanently or become a citizen.

If you want to move there permanently and explore routes to citizenship, you’ll need to be eligible for a different, long-term visa, such as a skilled work or residence pathway.

How long does it take to get a digital nomad visa for Iceland?

The processing time for Iceland digital nomad visa applications is around 3 to 4 weeks, although it may be longer during busy periods when the Directorate of Immigration receives a higher volume of applications.³

Sources used:

1. Island.is - eligibility, requirements and how to apply
2. Island.is - visa fees
3. Work in Iceland - processing times and tax residency info

Sources last checked on date: 13-Nov-2025