Immigration to Iceland: how to move for permanent residence from Russia, standard of living in the country

Iceland: what it is like, life on the edge of Europe

Iceland is also called the Ice Island. This is how the name of the country is translated from Icelandic. It would seem that the island, lost in the vastness of the North Atlantic, is unlikely to be able to compete with developed European countries. But that was not the case... In 2007, the United Nations identified Iceland as the best country in the world to live in. Today's Iceland is a highly developed European country, whose small population (only 353 thousand inhabitants) feels very comfortable, having a high level of social protection, a European level of wages, as well as many benefits that a truly European state provides its residents.

Historians believe that Iceland as a state was formed in 930 AD. It was a country of brave and warlike Vikings, who boldly plowed the Atlantic expanses on their boats and captured lands within continental Europe. In its modern form, Iceland became an independent state (from Denmark) in 1944.

Contrary to popular belief, Iceland's climate is not very harsh. Its relative mildness is explained by the fact that the country is washed by warm Atlantic currents.

Frankly, immigration to Iceland is not common. The reason for this is the geographical location of the island, which is located far from continental Europe. You can get to Iceland either by sea or by air, but the cost of travel will be quite high.

You can get to Iceland either by sea or by air, but the cost of travel will be quite high

Icelandic society is closed, the mentality of local residents is very unique. It is close to Scandinavian, but very different from European. The inhabitants of Iceland have always lived extremely ascetically, in this country they tried to be content with little, and all the benefits were obtained with their own hands: fish were caught, vegetables were grown on the rocky land cultivated by the Icelanders, minerals were extracted from the bowels of the island.

Some Europeans consider Icelanders to be "rednecks" because the island's urban population is relatively small and the cities themselves are small. In this country, a city is considered to be a populated area whose population exceeds three thousand people. Icelanders are quite simple, but at the same time honest and law-abiding people. A peculiar character trait of Icelanders is pedantry; love for one's neighbor is quite clearly expressed in the national mentality. For example, in Iceland there are practically no traffic accidents involving pedestrians. Motorists do not allow collisions and allow people to pass, no matter how long they have to wait. Driving on the roads is based more on mutual respect between drivers than on the rules of the road. You can often see two Icelandic drivers who, having met, blocked traffic because of a dialogue. Others can calmly and politely wait for the end of the conversation, without disturbing it with car horns.

For Icelanders, a sense of national unity and adherence to age-old traditions are very important. Several years ago, information appeared on the Internet that Iceland, due to the constantly decreasing population of the island, is ready to pay immigrants, and they can receive a bonus of 5 thousand US dollars. This is especially true for men, of whom there are supposedly half as many women in Iceland. Many CIS residents, especially males, were thrown into confusion by such information and began to think about how to immigrate to the distant northern island. In fact, the number of men and women living in Iceland is approximately the same. Icelanders very rarely enter into mixed marriages, trying to enter into marriage alliances exclusively with their fellow tribesmen and women. So, in fact, this information about bonuses for immigrants turned out to be an ordinary fake. Immigrants coming to Iceland (regardless of gender) are not paid by anyone or anything. Detailed information is also confirmed by the fact that 98% of the island’s population is represented by native Icelanders; there are very few immigrants here.

Icelanders can expect high wages. For example, the minimum monthly salary on the island will be $1,250, while the average will exceed $3,200. And Icelandic retirees can expect an average pension of $1,550.

Video: 10 interesting facts about the Republic of Iceland

Iceland

(article from Refugees magazine)

Iceland is one of the most unknown countries of refuge.

When Nguyen fled Vietnam and found himself in his new homeland, he was shocked, to say the least. Gazing at the landscape, devoid of trees, geysers and volcanoes with frozen lava, his first thought was to flee Vietnam and find himself on the moon.

Zdravko, 37, from the former Yugoslavia, had a similar reaction upon arriving in Iceland - is that Mars?

Both refugees, to their great surprise and happiness, were accepted by Iceland, a country that amazes everyone with its harsh, but indescribably beautiful nature. The country is located halfway between Europe and Canada. The Vietnamese Nguyen had never heard of Iceland, but happiness was inevitable - a delegation of the Icelandic Red Cross visited the Malaysian refugee camp, where Nguyen, like thousands of his compatriots, were in the most terrible conditions. He was included in the annual Icelandic quota and was offered a new life in Iceland. Yugoslav Zlatko was at that time in the Macedonian refugee camp and stood in line at the mission of the Red Crosses of Switzerland and Germany, dreaming of getting there. Alas, both the German and Swiss quotas were instantly filled and he had no choice but to board the plane to Reykjavik with his wife and child. There they ended up in June 1998.

Iceland is one of the least known asylum countries. Most refugees, like this Vietnamese, have never heard of the existence of Iceland. Even among workers of refugee organizations there is not always enough information, Iceland is refugees, but it cannot be. Of course this is due to lack of information. In fact, immediately after the Hungarian Revolution, in 1956, Iceland first faced a refugee problem and granted asylum to a small group of Hungarians. After 1979, Iceland accepted about a hundred Vietnamese refugees who, after long wanderings in Malaysian and Hong Kong camps, were able to start a new life in Iceland. In the 80s, the country opened up to Polish immigrants, who quickly figured out what and how much. The beginning of the 90s can be called the Yugoslav decade, because everyone came - Albanians, Serbs, Croats and mixed families. In the early 90s, in fact, the influx of real Azilants began, whom no one invited, but they themselves got there as best they could, and upon arrival requested asylum.

The flow remained small, but given that Iceland's population is only 250,000, and if compared per thousand population, which is how comparisons are made, Iceland received a number of refugees comparable to the USA or Great Britain. But the impact that refugees had on Iceland is certainly incomparable.

The country's Minister of Social Affairs Pall Petursson said that the Icelandic government will continue its policy of accepting refugees.” It is our responsibility to accept refugees, he said in an interview with the magazine Refji, an organ of the Supreme

UN Commissariat for Refugees.” And we will continue this with the mark of quality - inviting and integrating,” the Minister continued with undisguised pride, which is also shared by the majority of Icelanders themselves. Compared to most other countries, Iceland provides hospitality not only with a mark of quality, but also with unheard-of luxury. If most of the countries that took Kosovar Albanians from Macedonia then forced them to return, then in Iceland everyone was able to stay forever. Refugees are provided with free medical care and are provided with apartments or small houses, already fully furnished. There is everything there - from a refrigerator to children's toys. Every refugee goes to school for the first year learning Icelandic. Children can learn their native language and culture. It goes without saying that all this is also free. Each refugee is assigned an Icelandic family, which helps with all steps in Icelandic society - from visiting authorities to finding work.

After five years of residence in the country, refugees can apply for Icelandic citizenship, and they must take an Icelandic name, by which Icelanders will then call you.

Culture shock occurs at the first interaction between Icelanders and refugees. One immigration official recalled that before arriving in Iceland, refugees were convinced that Icelanders lived in houses made of ice. One Kosovar Veselaj family recalls that they were invited by the Icelandic Red Cross while still in the Macedonian tent camps. The Kosovar was extremely skeptical, as he knew nothing at all about Iceland. When his friends, who were less fortunate, and Turkey took them in, said that this was paradise, already on the second day he was waiting for representatives of the Red Cross. They ended up in the very north of Northern Iceland, the city of Dalvik, with a population of about 2500 people, a town with toy, fabulously decorated houses. A harsh fjord crashes into the shore, in summer there is constant day, in winter there is constant night. Many exotic refugees have a hard time getting used to this, one careless Sri Lankan was recently blown into the sea, fortunately he survived. The Kosovar was given a three-room house in Dalvik, and he says, Icelanders are happy even in the darkness of winter, why not us. In Kosovo, children were nervous and uncontrollable. There was no discipline, there was no school for months. Even now, when they see a policeman in uniform, they are afraid (this is also familiar to Russians). And now they are happy again and they are enjoying school.”

Today, largely thanks to immigration and an unprecedented economic boom, the country is thriving. Reykjavik is full of ethnic restaurants opened by former refugees. Minister Peturson noted that Icelanders eat food that was completely unfamiliar 10 years ago, and that foreigners are changing the taste of Icelanders.

Indeed, how much is needed for happiness?

ICELAND

The Republic of Iceland is one of the ten most prosperous countries in the world, a country of idyll and romance. Yes, romance, with its northern and also well-being and kindness towards immigrants. The conditions for the integration (infusion into Icelandic life) of refugees are so far unsurpassed by any country (even the famous Sweden) - a high standard of living, all kinds of integration programs, DESPITE the crisis - there is still a low level of unemployment, citizenship and an Icelandic passport within a five-year period. The Icelanders themselves are very good-natured and pleasant people, and the nightlife of Reykjavik is not much inferior to any other European city. It's not as cold as many people think - because of the warm Gulf Stream, winter temperatures in Reykjavik rarely drop below zero. And in Moscow?

Everything is fine, but considering that getting there is not easy (although there are travel agencies that will arrange tours to Iceland and help with an Icelandic visa - for Iceland, a visa issued at the Danish Embassy with a mark for Iceland - IS is sufficient.

No more than 40 refugees surrender in Iceland per year; rarely do anyone make it from distant countries - and in principle, 90% (in 1999) still remained on humanitarian grounds (after a procedure that can last up to 4 years). Singles, men and women and every combination :) find their soul mates and warm up the Icelanders. Those who arrive on other visas are identified and sent back. Therefore, stories about Icelandic Azil from the mouths of losers expelled to Dublin, of course, cannot reflect the whole picture and situation, as they simply do not have time to physically see, learn and feel everything.

Most often, after two years in a refugee camp (a hostel near Keflavik), refugees move to the city and get lost there. Therefore, no one knows the exact numbers, they are not published, what the camp refugees say is personal calculations. not based on anything other than kitchen gossip) Iceland, which is also called the land of ice and fire, is one of the oldest democracies in Europe. The first parliament (Althing) was created in this country in the early Middle Ages, in 930. For almost its entire history, Iceland was ruled by other countries, first by Norway and, from the 14th century, by Denmark. Independence was achieved only in 1944. Because Iceland is geographically isolated, there will never be any danger of mass immigration. We have no more than two or three people a year. In Iceland, if you take your business seriously, success is guaranteed. By the way, it is in this country that all our clients, Russian citizens, received permanent residence on humanitarian grounds (nobody deals with Iceland anymore; those who come as savages, as a rule, with visas from other countries and are quickly expelled). To prepare for the procedure, the meeting itself takes place in Reykjavik. The rules described below apply when entering with a visa issued by the Icelandic diplomat. Representative. The vast majority enter on visas of other countries and are NOT ALLOWED to participate in the normal procedure

(extract from the law)

Legal (legal) basis for requesting asylum:

— Geneva Agreement of 1951 and New York Protocol of 1967;

— Foreign Act of Citizenship Number 45 dated May 12, 1965 (terms for granting citizenship are specified)

The Schengen Agreement came into force in Iceland in March 2001.

Iceland is not a member of the EU, BUT it has signed the Dublin Agreement.

UN quota refugees

Although Iceland does not have an agreement with the UN regarding the refugee quota, it has been hosting refugees since 1956 (you will be surprised that Reykjavik looks more international than, say, St. Petersburg. During the period 1996-1999, there was an annual quota of 17 to 75 people. Quota refugees immediately receive Convention status.In addition, Iceland accepted 75 Kosovar Albanians with the assistance of the UN.These people were all granted refugee status on arrival and permanent residence permits (unlike Germany) and all kinds of social benefits.

Other types of residence permit

Ordinary temporary residence permits are provided for humanitarian reasons to those refugees who cannot be returned to their country of origin (for example, Uzbeks could not obtain return documents for two years, the Uzbek Embassy in London did not respond to the request, and had to leave). The permit is issued for one year and is renewed annually. After three years, a permanent residence permit is requested.

Rejection of an application at the border

Section 10(4) of the Foreign Nationality Act - the only legislation dealing with asylum seekers and permission to enter Iceland - states that if a foreigner claims that he/she was forced to flee for his life, the police cannot refuse anywhere Iceland, if that claim rings true (the airline will check your visa before you enter Iceland, so it's hard to get there by accident). A preliminary interview is carried out by the police immediately: such as information regarding identity, citizenship and travel route (there are no direct planes, it is always possible to say where they came from - Norway, England, Holland or Sweden - unless, of course, they managed to slip through and request asylum already in Reykjavik). If the police believe that the application is a hoax (an economic immigrant), the authorities may refuse entry into the country. Most often this happens to young and inexperienced single refugees. If the police believe that the asylum application is worthwhile, then a fax is sent to the Immigration Department and they make a further decision. (They usually give the go-ahead, they also need to work with someone)

Iceland entry permit

Asylum seekers who are not rejected directly at the border upon arrival are allowed to enter and apply for asylum. Applicants who entered Iceland illegally (overslipped) must apply directly to the Immigration Office in Reykjavik

Start of the procedure

The first decision is made by the Immigration Directorate. The first decision is made based on the written report of the police interview and the second interview with the Department. Every asylum request is notified to the Icelandic Red Cross immediately and one of its representatives is present at all interviews. His role is mainly humanitarian. The Immigration Directorate's goal is to make the first decision within three months, but currently processing an application can take up to ten months. This is until the first refusal.

Legal assistance

During the procedure, asylum seekers are entitled to five hours of free legal assistance (which is quite enough). A lawyer and an interpreter are provided by the Red Cross. Actually, the Red Cross does everything, you just have to show up!

Translators

are provided at all stages of the asylum procedure.

Ultimate failure

Those who receive a second refusal are asked to leave the country voluntarily and immediately. If they do not, the police may begin preparations for deportation. Some conscientious objectors who cannot be deported for practical reasons (the embassy does not provide documents) are given a temporary residence permit valid for one year (and almost automatically renewed).

Family reunification

Registration takes place through the Icelandic Embassy or in some cases directly in Iceland (or, most conveniently, also through the asylum request procedure).

SOCIAL CONDITIONS for those requesting ASYLUM.

Accommodation

The Icelandic Red Cross is responsible for accommodating asylum seekers in Iceland. The first three months of accommodation are funded directly by the Red Cross and subsequently by the Ministry of Justice. Those who have requested asylum are accommodated in boarding houses and hotels for the entire duration of the procedure. Applicants who have relatives or friends in Iceland can live with them if they wish.

Financial assistance (benefits while the application is being considered)

Asylum seekers are provided with free housing and medical care. New clothes may also be provided. In addition, a weekly allowance is provided which should cover all other personal expenses (such as transport, telephone calls, leisure, and food). The following regulations are currently in effect

(in two weeks)

IF YOU COOK FOR YOURSELF

Adult after 18 ISK 10.500 EUR 152.6

Immigration to Ice Island: its pros and cons

Immigration to Iceland cannot be considered on the same level as moving to other European countries. It has many features caused by the actual special status of the island's inhabitants among Europeans, the geographical location of the country and its economy. For some Russians, Belarusians or residents of another CIS country, immigration to Iceland will open a new stage in life and will be perceived positively. Others will be disappointed in Ice Island. Everyone has their own individual view of this process. However, there are general trends worth mentioning. So, the undoubted advantages of immigration to Iceland include:

Icelandic residency provides the opportunity to travel visa-free throughout the entire Schengen area;
Icelandic law allows dual citizenship, so it is possible to retain the previous passport if the immigrant reaches this stage in the naturalization process;
a resident of Iceland has the right to legal employment in any European state;
an immigrant can purchase his own home, including by taking it out on a mortgage;
a diploma from an Icelandic higher education institution is recognized in all countries, it does not need to be nostrified;
the resident has the right to work directly on the Ice Island itself, where he can receive fairly high wages;
life in Iceland is calm and measured, this state is stable in all respects, and its residents are confident in the future;
Icelandic nature will delight even a seasoned traveler;
Iceland is considered a very environmentally friendly country.

At the same time, there are many disadvantages of moving to the Republic of Iceland. Let's list the main ones:

significant territorial distance from the European continent;
harsh, by European standards, climate;
small population;
the isolation of Icelandic society, of which a first-generation immigrant is unlikely to become a full member;
a limited labor market, in which not only are there few vacancies, but not all professions are represented;
there are a small number of immigrants on the island, not to mention immigrants from the CIS countries.

Today, just over 300 citizens of the Russian Federation with different immigration status live in Iceland. The Russian-speaking population of Ice Island, represented by immigrants from post-Soviet countries, does not exceed a thousand people. The majority of the Russian-speaking population, which managed to form into a Russian community, settled on Ice Island in the 90s of the last century. As a rule, the community is represented by labor migrants who independently left the former Soviet Union in the hope of finding a better life. In Iceland, representatives of the coaching staff of sports teams in gymnastics, handball, volleyball or basketball, highly qualified doctors and programmers could enter into employment contracts. Some people from the CIS countries moved to Iceland by marrying Icelandic citizens. The vast majority of the Russian-speaking population is concentrated in Reykjavik. The capital of Iceland provides a much better chance of finding a good job than the Icelandic hinterland. But some Russian-speaking representatives of the Icelandic population even live in small villages. Not all of yesterday's and current compatriots are highly qualified specialists. Many of them are engaged in fishing, work in fish processing plants, and in the construction industry.

Organizationally, the Republic of Iceland is not part of the European Union, although it is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement. The reason that Iceland did not join the European Union is to defend its own interests, since membership in this interstate formation obliged the Icelandic government to significantly limit fishing in its territorial waters and in general in this region of the Atlantic Ocean. Fishing provides the lion's share of income to the state budget of the republic. On the issue of joining or not joining the European Union, a referendum was held in Iceland, in which more than 80% of local residents opposed joining it.

About real estate

Some believe that it is enough to buy real estate in the country to be eligible for immigration, as well as citizenship. Actually this is not true. In Iceland, the possession of property by a foreigner is not a reason for permanent residence. In addition, foreign citizens cannot buy land here.

Accordingly, the availability of real estate will simply make living in the country easier. Everyone should remember this. Otherwise, problems with obtaining citizenship may arise.

Main methods of immigration to Iceland

There are a fairly limited number of ways in which you can move to the distant Ice Island. To take advantage of any of them, a potential immigrant should analyze his eligibility for a particular immigration program and understand how high his chances of becoming a resident of the Republic of Iceland are. Therefore, we will consider each of the methods of immigration to the distant northern state in more detail.

You can’t earn millions there, you can’t rise in one generation either, but if it’s normal for you to leisurely walk along the surf line with Wagner in your headphones, admire the sunset at the city museum and drive along empty roads with a total length of just over 200 km in a fifteen-year-old Volvo, then this is yours, go there a lot of creative and scientific people, artists, scientists, composers, melancholics, downshifters come seasonally for a while... some stay forever, some spend several months a year there for decades.
Irina
https://pora-valit.livejournal.com/1087594.html

Work in Iceland

Citizens of the European Union and Schengen countries have privileges when working in this country. Initially, an Icelandic employer must apply for a vacancy to the department dealing with employment issues. Over the course of three whole months, a candidate is selected from the above categories. If this is not found, then the employer turns to the department with a request to allow him to conclude a contract with a specialist from a third country. In this respect, the labor legislation of the Republic of Iceland is in many ways similar to that of Europe. Russians, Belarusians and citizens of other CIS countries can find work in Iceland during their personal stay in this country, for example, with a Schengen visa. You can find a suitable vacancy remotely by going through an interview online. Today in Russia and Belarus there are many intermediary companies offering employment in this country, so you can also use their services.

An Icelandic employer must sign an employment contract with its future employee, which must contain detailed information about each of its parties, and also provide: the employee’s salary, a short list of his responsibilities, expected living conditions . Professionals in their field can realistically count on getting a well-paid job in the republic. If we talk about low-skilled foreign labor, then it is not held in high esteem in this country and is practically not in demand in the domestic labor market. If, nevertheless, a Russian or Belarusian finds a vacancy that does not imply a high level of qualifications, then he will be offered a job with a salary level that will be simply sky-high when compared with the CIS countries. In 2021, it is realistic to go to work at one of the fish processing plants in this country. Icelandic employers try to create the most comfortable conditions for their workers, so one should not imagine a fish processing plant that is familiar to post-Soviet residents with eternal cold, terrible unsanitary conditions, and so on. In Iceland everything is at the highest level. But you will have to work a lot and hard. The working day will sometimes last 10 hours, so in this case priority is given to physically strong migrant workers.

When applying for immigration status or a visa (depending on the situation), a Russian or Belarusian labor migrant must provide an employment contract with a local employer and a job offer certified by the country's immigration service. If the job was found remotely, you will need to apply for the appropriate work visa to visit Iceland, and then obtain a residence permit on its territory.

If an invited labor migrant comes to Iceland on a previously opened Schengen visa, then he can enter into a contract with an employer in this country and apply to the immigration service locally to obtain status.

A residence permit can be issued immediately for a year or for the duration of the contract, if it is less than a year. Subsequently, as official relations with the employer continue, the corresponding status will be extended.

Video: how to find a job in Iceland

Marriage to an Icelandic citizen

As already mentioned, Icelanders rarely associate their lives with foreigners, which is why there are very few mixed marriages in Iceland. If, nevertheless, one of the citizens of the Russian Federation, Belarus or another CIS country manages to enter into the corresponding relationship, then in this case it is permissible to quickly obtain a passport of the republic; it becomes available after three years. Initially, the foreign spouse is assigned temporary resident status for a period of one year, then he becomes a permanent resident for another two years. During the last year before applying for Icelandic citizenship, you can be absent from the Ice Island for no more than 90 days in total.

It should be said that only a marriage union officially registered under Icelandic laws will be recognized as a marriage in Iceland. If registration took place outside the island, then the marriage certificate is subject to legalization.

It is almost impossible to enter into a fictitious marriage in Iceland, since sometimes it seems that everyone in this country knows each other by sight. Therefore, the fictitiousness of the marriage relationship will be revealed immediately, given the law-abiding nature of the Icelanders.

Refugee status

Iceland is considered a state that rarely denies asylum to forced migrants. But at the same time, the number of uninvited guests from depressed regions of the world in this country is very small, which is due to the harsh climate for them and the territorial remoteness of the island. In addition, there are no employment opportunities for refugees.

Iceland has an international humanitarian program adapted to local legislation. EU refugee quotas do not apply to Iceland.

Once official refugee status is issued, the forced migrant is immediately entitled to a residence permit for five years. After five years of living on the island, he can count on permanent residence if the Icelandic authorities consider that it is unsafe for him to return to his homeland. Refugees have the right to receive social benefits, financial assistance from the state and social housing for themselves and their families.

You can only request asylum when crossing the Icelandic sea or air border. This cannot be done in the foreign diplomatic missions of this country.

Frankly speaking, there are few people in Russia who have visited Iceland. But I still managed to accidentally communicate with one of them. Afanasy (that was the name of my interlocutor) had been obsessed with the idea of moving to the Scandinavian countries since childhood. And at the time of our conversation, he had managed to travel around almost all of them, ultimately receiving a residence permit in Sweden. Initially there was an attempt to become an immigrant in Iceland. Real information about immigration to Iceland was not easy to find, so Afanasy acted at his own risk. In addition, he still had hope that in this country a male immigrant would be held in high esteem and could count on certain bonuses from the authorities. In fact, it turned out to be a fake; no one was really expecting him in Iceland, but no one kicked him out. People here haven’t even heard of the fact that in the CIS countries there are legends about government bonuses for immigrants. Having arrived in the country on a Schengen visa, two days later he went to work at a fish processing plant. The conditions were surprisingly comfortable, the highest class protective clothing was issued, and the temperature in the production premises was quite comfortable. Afanasy still cannot understand how the Icelanders managed to strictly observe all sanitary standards at such a specific enterprise. The employer provided housing in a social hostel, for which there was no need to pay. In general, Afanasy was happy with everything. It seemed to him that his dream had been achieved. In his free time, he traveled around the island, enjoying its amazing and unique nature. But winter soon came. Contrary to assurances on the Internet about the relatively comfortable climate of Ice Island, a native of the Krasnodar Territory simply could not endure such frosts against the background of the highest level of humidity. Iceland is very windy in winter. It seemed to Afanasy that only local residents could survive the local winter. After working for eight months at a fish processing plant near Reykjavik, the Russian migrant worker left the inhospitable island, deciding to move to warmer Sweden, having previously visited Denmark and Norway.

Real estate

In Iceland, it is possible to obtain immigration status by owning real estate within the island's territory. As an indispensable condition, it is necessary to involve a real estate company when purchasing “square meters”. Naturally, it must be licensed. The transaction is carried out by this company independently, its specialists register the documentation with government authorities. The buyer must be present only when choosing a property (by the way, this can be done remotely) and also during the signing of the purchase and sale agreement. He must also personally receive an extract from the state real estate cadastre. The minimum value of real estate, the acquisition of which provides grounds for obtaining resident status, must be at least 200 thousand euros. It should be said that real estate in Iceland is quite expensive. There is no provision for the acquisition of land for foreigners who do not have Icelandic citizenship.

You should be aware that ownership of Icelandic real estate obliges its owner to promptly pay all necessary taxes and utility bills. The owner of the property will be issued a residence permit for up to one year. It can then be extended several times for another year.

It should be said that real estate in Iceland is quite expensive.

Study in Iceland

In 2021, there are 7 higher education institutions in the Icelandic Republic, of which 4 are public. The admission process can be carried out with the personal participation of the applicant or remotely. If you succeed in enrolling, the university issues an invitation to study to its student and signs a corresponding agreement with him. A student can obtain a residence permit directly in Iceland or first apply for a student visa at the diplomatic mission of the republic in Russia or Belarus. In addition to the contract and invitation, you must provide a document confirming payment for the first course of study. In all public higher education institutions, the cost of studying in any department and course is a fixed amount of 300 euros per year. There are no scholarships available to both international and local students in Iceland, but there is a well-developed grant system. Also, a foreign student has the right to obtain a loan for studying by contacting any of the local banks.

Students can obtain a residence permit for a year, after which they renew it annually upon entering the senior year.

The currency of the Republic of Iceland is the Icelandic krona. 1 EUR =118.60 ISK.

Family connections

You can also become a resident of the Republic of Iceland if there is an invitation from relatives (spouses, children, parents of retirement age) living in this country. The invitation must be endorsed by the immigration service, after which you can either apply for a Schengen visa or obtain a residence permit in Iceland. The initial validity period of the status will be 12 months, then extension for a similar period is possible.

In special cases, a residence permit in the Republic of Iceland can be obtained by foreigners in respect of whom there is a separate decision of the local government.

Immigration when starting a business and investing

For foreigners intending to register and subsequently conduct business in the Republic of Iceland, there are some legal restrictions, as for foreign investors. The following activities are restricted for third country nationals:

fishing in the territorial waters of the country;
mining and export of minerals outside Iceland;
a controlling interest in any Icelandic airline engaged in passenger or cargo air transportation can only be state-owned.

Initially, foreign businessmen or investors contact the Ministry of Commerce and submit business plans or applications for investment. Ministry officials conduct an expert assessment and make a decision on whether it is advisable to conduct a certain business or invest capital in the economy of their country. If the decision is positive, registration of enterprises and investment in the Icelandic economy becomes available. The minimum investment amount must be 200 thousand euros.

The currency of the Republic of Iceland is the Icelandic krona

“Moving to Iceland is the most amazing thing I have done in my life”: the story of a Russian woman

Iceland is a country of incredibly beautiful nature, cosmic landscapes and no less cosmic prices. We decided to ask Russian Ksenia Klishina, who moved there and has already managed to explore this amazing country from the inside, about what it looks like through the eyes of a local resident. Why Icelanders always complain about how much money they need to feel comfortable in one of the most expensive places on the planet, and who is contraindicated in moving to Iceland - read about all this in our new interview.

Iceland is a country of incredibly beautiful nature, cosmic landscapes and no less cosmic prices. Tourists who come there for a week or two can see all this. We decided to ask a Russian woman who moved there and has already managed to explore the amazing country from the inside about what Iceland looks like through the eyes of a local resident.

Why locals complain all the time about how much money it takes to feel comfortable in one of the most expensive places on the planet, and who is contraindicated in moving to Iceland - read about all this in our new interview.

tell me something about yourself

My name is Ksenia, I'm 23 years old. I was born in Tambov, but at the age of 12 my family and I moved to Moscow. My parents wanted to give me a good education, and in the end I studied at MGIMO at the Faculty of International Economic Relations.

How did you end up in Iceland? Was it a conscious decision or did it just happen that way?

While studying at MGIMO, I could take a third language to study and I wanted to choose something unusual. So I accidentally discovered Icelandic, and then it seemed to me the most beautiful language I had ever heard. Unfortunately, no one taught it at MGIMO, but this is how my interest in this distant northern country arose.

For a year after studying, I worked in a concert agency. And one fine day I came across an amazing Icelandic band Árstíðir (“Seasons”), whose music I fell in love with from the first second. By a happy coincidence, they had a concert announced in Moscow. And the day March 12, 2021 changed my life dramatically. At that concert, one of the musicians (at that time I didn’t even know that he was a musician, since I didn’t know what they looked like) met me before the show and exchanged contacts. I spent the next three days with the group. I walked around Moscow with them, went to another concert of theirs, and we immediately became good friends.

And when they heard that I was trying to learn Icelandic on my own, one of them said, why don’t you study in Iceland? He told me that he had a Russian wife, that she was studying at the University of Iceland, that it was inexpensive, and literally provided me with the entire moving plan in a couple of sentences.

And now, a year later I am in Iceland. I had never been to this country before moving, so leaving everything and moving to nowhere was crazy. But now I can say with confidence that this is the most amazing thing I have done in my life.

How can a person from the post-Soviet space move to Iceland? After all, this is one of the most developed and prosperous countries in the world.

There are only three main ways to obtain a residence permit in any European country: study, work or marriage. The last two categories were not an option for me. I moved alone, and to get a work visa to Iceland, you need to be a particularly in-demand, qualified and experienced specialist: a geologist, programmer, doctor, professor. The easiest thing for me was to study, so I entered the University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands).

It’s very simple to do: they take almost everyone. Tuition costs 75,000 ISK per year, which is also reasonable. The only problem is that there is not so much choice, only foreign languages are taught in English, and only partially, mostly teachers speak to students in the target language. There are bachelor's programs (3 years) and diplomas (1 year).

What about work? Is it easy for an immigrant to get a job somewhere?

Finding a job is quite difficult. A lot of things in Iceland are based on dating, as the country is very small. This can benefit sociable and friendly people. However, many, even travel companies, require good knowledge of the Icelandic language and a work permit. Students also need to receive the latter, and they give it only on the condition that you work no more than 40% of the time (about 60 hours) per month.

And although it’s easy to get, with such conditions few people will be ready to hire you. So, unfortunately, I know few immigrants in good positions; mostly these are people from creative fields, good specialists, or those who were simply lucky. You need to be prepared that no one will care about your education, and you will have to start with simple jobs: cashier, waiter, cleaner. They won’t even hire you as a store manager without knowing the language. But there is also a positive side: everyone’s salaries are very good, and if you have at least some kind of work - even collecting garbage on the street - no one will ever look down on you. If you have a job, you are an important member of society, you are doing something useful and you are great.

You said that in order to get a job you need to know Icelandic. Is it really possible for an unprepared person to learn it from scratch?

I studied the language a little before moving, but when I arrived, I realized that I didn’t understand anything. It took me six months to learn to isolate at least familiar phrases from speech. Icelanders speak very quickly and connect many words together, which adds to the complexity. The Icelandic language is not easy to learn due to its complex grammar and the almost complete absence of borrowed words. The language has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and names for new phenomena and technologies are created by a special language committee. Icelandic also has many unusual sound combinations. Russian speakers are lucky in this regard, because some of these sounds are found in Russian.

I am encouraged by the fact that we have foreign teachers at the university, so apparently it is still possible to learn Icelandic.

Many people imagine the Scandinavian countries as a real paradise on earth: people have high incomes, everything is stable, the state always takes care of its citizens. Is life really that good in Scandinavia?

This is true. Icelanders manage to complain, but from our point of view it really is practically paradise. Everyone has good income. Iceland has high taxes, but you always know where they go. The healthcare system is similar to ours: there are both free and private doctors. Operations can be done free of charge. Dentists are expensive. True, if a doctor prescribes medications, you can buy them at the pharmacy at a big discount, because the state covers part of the costs.

Education is partially paid: there are free universities, and there are private ones. In general, everyone has access to a good education if they want it.

How to go to study in Europe: step-by-step instructions from the first person.

Part of the tax goes to contributions to trade unions. It is mandatory to be a member of them, and they help resolve all issues if problems arise with the employer. The union also helps with paying for advanced training courses or those that can help in work, language courses, and gyms.

In general, Iceland is a very comfortable place to live. Icelanders complain about “not high enough” salaries and high prices, but everyone has a roof over their head, almost every family has one or two cars, new equipment. Teenagers start working part-time from the age of 15-16; they are exempt from paying taxes, so they can very easily earn money for their entertainment on their own. I’m used to seeing a different picture in Russia: people are chasing status, almost no one works before graduating from university, the vast majority live from paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford even a third of what Icelanders do.

Iceland is a small country, the competition for positions is also, of course, high, but if this position is not available, then you can also live very, very comfortably, without worrying about the future.

Another common opinion about Iceland is that everything is very expensive. How much money do you need on average to feel comfortable in this country?

The prices are indeed very high, but they correspond to local salaries. Costs vary greatly depending on personal needs. Probably the most expensive thing is housing. A lot of people want to build their lives in Iceland, so the demand for housing is growing, but houses are not being built so quickly. The tourism boom also played a role: many apartment owners rent them out not to locals for long-term rent, but to tourists through online services.

The rental price depends on the size of the apartment and its location. For a long time, I myself rented a house in the city of Kópavogur near Reykjavik (about 10 minutes by car) half-and-half with a friend. It cost approximately 70,000 ISK per month. It's almost impossible to find cheaper than this. In Reykjavik itself, apartment rentals range from 120,000 ISK per month to infinity.

Utilities and internet are usually included in the price, but in general it's around 10,000 ISK per month. Icelanders often don't turn off the lights in their homes at all because energy is practically free.

If you cook yourself, you can easily live on 15,000 ISK per month. If you buy a lot of fruits and meat, it will be noticeably more expensive. Restaurants are not cheap: one trip to a mid-level establishment can easily cost you 4,000 ISK or more.

So, I would say that you can live on a minimum of 100,000 ISK per month, but to feel good and not deny yourself anything, you need 250,000 ISK. But this is still less than the Icelandic minimum wage: about 300,000 ISK.

“Russians are considered “crazy””: a Russian’s story about life in Sweden.

What surprised you most about Iceland? What did you not expect to see there?

I had never been to Iceland before moving, so there were a lot of stereotypes. I didn’t think that there were forests and, in principle, trees there, but it turned out that there were a lot of them, although they were not as tall as in Russia.

I was amazed by the local nature. I read and had a rough idea of what to expect, but if you see it with your own eyes, it’s incredible. No photographs or descriptions can convey these feelings.

The Northern Lights are pure delight. The first time I saw him was in September, a month after moving. It was a tiny green line in the sky that disappeared after 5 seconds. Those around me laughed and said that soon I wouldn’t even pay attention to such little ones. And so it happened.

The society itself is also surprising. At first I thought Icelanders were strange. Now I’m used to a lot of things, but I’m still surprised that people really like to complain about everything around them: the weather, work, prices, family, problems. I always find it very funny when Icelanders complain about traffic jams or say that Reykjavik is too big a city.

Icelanders are quite reluctant to make contact. More precisely, they are very sociable, but it is difficult to make friends with them. However, if you get to know people, you soon begin to feel like you are in one big family. Wherever you go in the city, you can meet people you know. This makes it very cozy.

I didn’t expect to see so many people using illegal substances. It would seem that the country is tiny, and it’s all so easy to track. But in the end, this happens at every step, and in principle, no one is against it or interferes if it does not harm others. However, after strict Russia it is very strange to see this.

It is also surprising that not many people strive to develop, study, or build a career. But the Icelanders already have everything, so maybe it’s true, why overexert yourself. And a lot of people write music or at least play instruments.

What about the weather?

I expected more, or rather worse, from the weather. In fact, in summer it is quite warm here, since the sun is very active, although the temperature rarely rises above +14 °C. In winter, on the contrary, it is not so cold - usually from 0 to +8 °C. There is almost no slush because the sidewalks are heated and the snow melts quickly. The wind is strong very rarely - in Moscow, for example, sometimes it is exactly the same.

But outside the city, it sometimes chills to the bone, especially when it’s damp. In the city, at almost any time of the year, a raincoat or a waterproof jacket is enough, and under it, like with us, any clothes. By the way, no one has umbrellas.

An interesting story by a girl about life on a small island with 4 volcanoes.

Iceland is a very popular tourist destination. Probably everyone who has at least once been interested in traveling to this country knows about the Golden Ring. What places are not so popular with tourists yet?

I would say that bus tours cover almost all destinations and major natural attractions. But, of course, it’s more convenient to travel by car, since buses pass smaller places, which are also interesting, although less impressive.

My favorite destination - and one of the most popular - is the south coast because you can see everything there: waterfalls, lava fields, basalt black beaches, hot springs, volcanoes, glaciers. And my favorite waterfall is located there, it’s called Skogafoss. You can get close to it, and it’s amazing how quiet this tall and powerful waterfall is.

And in the north I was very impressed by the analogue of the Blue Lagoon - Myvatn Nature Baths. It's much less crowded, cheaper, and the views from the pool are amazing.

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How can you save money on your trip to Iceland, for example on accommodation, food or transport? Can you share any tips?

If you take care in advance, you can try to find accommodation using Couchsurfing, but there are few options. Nowadays there are many not very expensive pluses of Airbnb.

It is very profitable to travel in groups and rent a car for everyone: the rental itself does not cost much, and gasoline can be shared. The easiest way to save on groceries is not to go to cafes and restaurants, but to cook in your room. The best priced stores are Bónus, Polish Euromarket and Nettó.

How do locals feel about mass tourism? Do they welcome him or are they already tired of the endless stream of people?

Icelanders have a positive attitude towards tourism: nevertheless, most of the country’s economy rests on this. However, many tourists are very careless of nature: they throw garbage, climb over barriers. Icelanders perceive this behavior extremely negatively. Recently there was a scandal with a Russian blogger who drove a car off-road (this is prohibited by law) and proudly wrote about it on Instagram. As a result, Icelanders and all sympathetic foreigners condemned his behavior on all social networks, the tourist had to pay heavy fines, and local volunteers had to spend several days manually restoring the area, which was disfigured by wheels.

People go to Iceland primarily for its nature. What else is interesting?

Music! And there is a lot of it here. Reykjavik hosts several concerts almost every evening, some of them completely free. Therefore, if you have a free evening, you can go to the nearest bar and listen to Icelandic musicians live.

Extreme tourism is also very common. If finances allow, pay attention to horseback riding, trips and hikes on glaciers, descents into lava caves, and diving.

Where do Icelanders go on vacation themselves? And what do you do in your free time?

It is very expensive to order anything by mail here due to parcel taxes, so Icelanders often fly to the UK and Denmark for shopping. People go to Spain and the USA for the sun. Many people want to go to Russia, but they put it off because of visas.

“I lived for a year in the ‘happiest country in the world’ – Denmark – and I hope I will never live there again.” A story about why living in Denmark is actually not very good

As in all northern countries, hanging out in bars here is a nice thing to do. Moreover, people of all ages come. In the bar you can easily meet a group of 70-year-old grandmothers chatting about their own affairs over a glass of beer. Also, many people go out of town on weekends - either to their dachas, or simply on trips around the surrounding area.

Icelanders also love to go to swimming pools. But not swimming, but sitting together in the jacuzzi and discussing the latest news and politics. Many people also like to knit, and guys too. There is even a men's knitting club.

And the last question. Who do you think should move to Iceland?

It will be good here for those who are looking for peace and well-being, simplicity and unity with nature. There is no struggle for a place in the sun, everyone is equal. Here I almost never encountered racism or negative attitudes towards minorities. But those who like bustling city life, plenty of entertainment, and an ambitious environment will not find a place for themselves in Iceland. To be honest, I feel more at home here than ever in Moscow. I feel good when I am close to nature, when I see the ocean and mountains right from the window, when I live in a small town.

Of course, in Iceland there are much fewer opportunities in terms of career and entertainment, but for the latter you can fly to neighboring countries, and regarding your career, you can open your own business. This is a fairly popular idea because the competition is not that big, although it has its problems.

August 14, 2019

Immigration stages

A Russian, Belarusian or resident of another CIS republic can come to Iceland with a Schengen or national Icelandic visa. Visa-free entry is available for citizens of Ukraine - holders of biometric passports.

The Embassy of the Republic of Iceland, located in Moscow, operates in the Russian Federation. The scope of its consular jurisdiction also includes the Republic of Belarus. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark handles the issuance of visas to Iceland for Russians and Belarusians.

A residence permit must be applied to the Icelandic Immigration Directorate. Its offices can be found in Reykjavik and major cities of the country, which are its administrative centers. The period for consideration of an application for issuing status is 30 calendar days by law. Usually the Icelandic authorities are more efficient and a residence permit can be obtained in two or three weeks.

Most categories of applicants can become permanent residents of the Republic of Iceland after just 4 years of residence with a residence permit. During this time, you cannot leave the country for more than 18 months (combined all trips). An exception will be made for foreign spouses of Icelandic citizens and refugees. The latter category has a longer procedure for obtaining permanent residence than other applicants for immigration status. This practice is not typical for European countries.

The food is of excellent quality, but the prices are steep. Perhaps it’s normal for a local resident, but for tourists and immigrants (especially when you convert into rubles on Google), it’s a huge amount of money!
Gpetrio
https://pikabu.ru/story/quotzhivu_v_islandiiquot_4413173

You can become a permanent resident of the Republic only if the period of residence with a residence permit has been met and there are sufficient grounds for moving to the next immigration stage. You will need to provide evidence of legal and permanent income, proof of home ownership or long-term rental, as well as a certificate from the Icelandic police stating that the foreigner has no problems with local legislation.

You can become a citizen of Iceland after five years of residence with permanent residence. During the last year before applying for citizenship, you can be absent from the territory of Ice Island for no more than 90 days. As already mentioned, Icelandic citizenship can be a second one, but its applicant must notify the authorities of the country of his previous citizenship (in this case we are talking about the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus) that he has acquired the citizenship of another state. When acquiring Icelandic citizenship, you must pass an Icelandic language proficiency test and an integration test.

Video: how to move to Iceland

Immigration methods

There are many ways to immigrate to Iceland. They are available to migrants of various categories - highly qualified specialists, students, businessmen, refugees, etc. All options are accompanied by certain difficulties, but if all requirements are met and a competent approach is taken, it is quite possible to cope with them.

Professional immigration

This is not the most popular way to enter Iceland. In turn, it includes the following options:

Employment under a labor contract. This is mainly available to specialists in narrow specialties.
Hiring unskilled workers when there is a labor shortage in the country.

In general terms, labor immigration to Iceland is no different from moving to any other country. The main thing is to find an employer, receive an invitation to work from him and sign an employment contract. You will also need to obtain a work visa. After meeting all the requirements, you can submit a request for a residence permit. Another plus is that an immigrant can move to Iceland with his family (spouse, children), and after living in the country for more than 7 years, obtain citizenship.

But even here it will not be without difficulties. The employer must prove to the authorities that there are no candidates for the given position among natives of the country or immigrants from the EU.

Education

The advantage of this method of immigration is the reasonable price of training. To join the ranks of students, it will be enough to pass a language proficiency exam and receive the appropriate certificate, choose an educational institution and enroll in it. After this, the student must pay for one year of study and provide proof of his financial viability. Having received a visa and entered the country, the student receives a temporary residence permit for the entire period of study. During your studies, you are allowed to officially get a job and stay in Iceland. Having lived in the country for more than seven years, you can obtain citizen status.

Business immigration

Running your own business cannot serve as a basis for obtaining a residence permit. When opening a business, a foreigner receives a multiple visa, with which he can stay in the country for a long period of time. There are no restrictions on doing business for natives of EU countries. But immigrants from other countries are not allowed to join such areas as:

Fishing in Icelandic waters.
Extraction and use of natural energy resources.
Airlines.

To open your own business or make investments in the country’s economy, you must contact the Ministry of Commerce and submit your business plan or application for investment.

Marriage to an Icelandic citizen

This method of immigration is the easiest. By marrying a citizen of the country, you can immediately obtain a residence permit. You can obtain Icelandic citizenship after 5 years of continuous residence in the country, 4 of which are married. Another way is family reunification. It is available to minor children of Icelandic citizens and elderly parents. It is for this reason that many immigrate to Ireland as families.

Refugee immigration

Asylum seekers in Iceland rarely receive a negative response. The migrant only needs to prove the fact of persecution in his homeland, and that this really threatens his life. To obtain citizenship, a migrant must live in refugee status for only three years.

Purchase of real estate

According to Icelandic law, a foreign citizen has the right to purchase real estate, but not land. Land plots here are not sold, but are provided for rent. Otherwise, this method of moving to Iceland is quite simple; you only need to have the funds to purchase a real estate property. Having completed all the documents for the property, you can submit an application for a residence permit.

Immigration of pensioners

This option is suitable for seniors over 66 years of age whose adult children are Icelandic citizens and are able to provide for their parents. After seven years of cohabitation, they are eligible to apply for citizenship. However, in practice this is extremely rare. Therefore, it is not recommended to consider this method of immigration.

Immigration of children

The option of moving children to their parents is not the most common. In most cases, families move together immediately. To use this method, the following conditions must be met:

The child's parents must reside legally in Iceland.
The child's age must not exceed 18 years.

Required documents

The basic list of documents required to obtain a residence permit in Iceland includes:

a valid foreign passport, as well as photocopies of all its significant pages;
four color photographs;
documents confirming the applicant’s solvency;
confirmation that the immigrant owns real estate or has a long-term lease agreement;
insurance policy;
documentary support for the immigration status request;
a certificate stating that the applicant has no criminal record in the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus;
a receipt confirming payment of the state duty.

Documents must be submitted translated into the official language of the Republic of Iceland. If we are talking about immigration to Iceland for pensioners, then they should confirm their pension status with an appropriate certificate, and must also provide a certificate indicating the amount of pension benefits.

For minors, a birth certificate and an application from both parents will be required. In the case where a minor is applying for a residence permit with only one of them, the second must pay a visit to the notary's office and formalize in writing his consent for his child to receive immigration status in the Republic of Iceland. The impossibility of obtaining such a document must be justified documented.

Certificate of no criminal record is a required document when obtaining a residence permit

Obtaining a residence permit

Anyone who entered the country legally on a long-term visa has the right to apply to the Immigration Department for a residence permit. Having a residence permit, a foreigner has almost the same rights as native residents and receives a guarantee of social protection.

To obtain a residence permit, you must correctly prepare the following documents:

international passport;
4 photos;
documentary basis for obtaining status;
certificate of absence of serious diseases;
certificate of good conduct;
bank statement as proof of financial solvency;
contract with the employer (for labor immigration);
confirmation of place of registration in the country;
receipts for payment of all duties and fees.

Documents must be translated into the official language of Iceland.

Important nuances

Applicants for temporary residence status in Iceland do not need to undergo immigration testing or take an Icelandic language proficiency test. However, you will have to undergo fingerprinting when receiving a residence permit.

I love the Icelandic mentality! Maybe he annoys someone, but I just somehow tuned in to this wave right away... Probably, the main thing is to respect the country that has become your home, then everything will be just wonderful! The attitude towards foreigners is amazing... I don’t know if there is another country that treats them like this?
Rommie
https://valhalla.ulver.com/f300/t11664–2.html

Estimated costs

When obtaining the status of a temporary resident of Iceland, you must pay a state fee in an amount equivalent to 286 euros. Extension of status will cost an emigrant 160 euros. You can speed up the process of obtaining a residence permit by correctly selecting and preparing the necessary documentation. If it turns out that some documents do not meet the requirements, the process may take longer than what is required by Icelandic law. When obtaining a residence permit, a short interview is conducted with the immigrant, during which local immigration officials find out the intentions regarding residence in Iceland and the immigrant’s further plans for transition to permanent resident status. The interview can take place in English or even Russian, since the Icelandic Immigration Department has appropriate translators.

In addition to the costs of obtaining immigration status, you should also pay for the translation of documents, as well as their certification in the prescribed manner. The process of translation into Icelandic is best carried out in special translation agencies that have the appropriate accreditation. In such an organization, you can not only translate, but also certify the relevant documents in the prescribed manner.

Icelanders live by the principle: “we consider everyone friends until they prove otherwise,” so all everyday issues are resolved quite easily, foreigners are treated without prejudice, and you can easily make acquaintances. Everyone here speaks good English and learns Danish at school. Icelanders are very beautiful, healthy and well educated, they read, study and travel a lot.
Olga Khodos
https://www.obozrevatel.com/travel/news/39247-ispoved-emigranta-kak-zhivetsya-ukrainke-v-udivitelnoj-islandii.htm

Possible relocation options

There are several ways to emigrate to Iceland. If you want to obtain citizenship there and stay there, you can use one of them.

Employment

The sequence of actions when moving is as follows:

Find an employer;
Obtain permission and invitation;
Apply for a visa;
Get a residence permit.

When registering, an agreement is concluded between the applicant and the employer, which stipulates in detail all the points:

place of work;
salary amount;
job title;
basic rights and obligations of both parties.

You will also need:

information on contributions to the pension fund and joining a trade union (EU countries);
application for permission to work (for countries outside the European Union).

A specially created commission reviews the submitted documents and makes a decision.

Important! You can only stay in the country for three months. For further stay you need to apply for a residence permit.

His family has the right to move with the applicant. There are seven years left before obtaining citizenship.

Business immigration

For citizens of countries that are not members of the EU, some restrictions have been introduced on running their own business in Iceland. They apply to:

energy;
catching and selling fish;
aviation.

You can start working only after receiving permits from the Ministry of Commerce.

People who are engaged in business, obtaining permission from local authorities and regularly paying taxes, can stay in Iceland with a multiple visa.

Important! After seven years, you can become a full-fledged citizen.

Education

One of the simplest methods is to get an education in this country.
In terms of material difficulties, this will not be a problem when compared with other countries. A student will spend about $5,000 a year on this. To enter a higher education institution, the applicant will need:

decide on a university and pass entrance exams;
pay tuition fees;
find housing and move;
pass an exam on knowledge of English or Icelandic languages;
obtain a visa and passport;
submit the necessary package of documents to the migration service to obtain a residence permit.

Note! Only after seven years of stay on the territory of the state can you count on receiving legalization.

Starting a family

If you managed to marry a local resident, this is still not considered a compelling argument for obtaining citizenship.
To do this, according to the legislation of the country, you need to live together with him for at least four years from the date of filing a written request. Read also: What documents are needed for temporary registration of citizens in the Russian Federation?

Another important condition is that the wife (husband) has citizenship for at least five years before starting a family.

Buying a property

The procedure for acquiring property is no different from what happens in other countries.
A special agent can do all the necessary work. Personal presence will only be necessary when signing papers and handing them over to the owner. Interesting! Foreigners can take advantage of the opportunity to obtain a loan to purchase a house.

The homeowner is not given any concession when obtaining citizenship. However, some leniency on the part of local authorities is still possible.

But it is impossible to purchase land in Iceland. They are only allowed to be rented.

For refugees

It is quite possible to obtain a similar status when migrating to Iceland from Russia. For this you need to provide compelling reasons.

The country provides them with good social benefits.

After living in this situation for three years, you can expect to receive citizenship.

Retirement age

Elderly people can move in with their adult children.
They must be legal residents of Iceland and the parents are over 66 years of age. This is not the most common way. Therefore, they resort to it extremely rarely.

For children

The offspring may move in with their fathers or mothers. To do this, you need to adhere to the following nuances:

children must be under eighteen years of age;
parents are staying in Iceland legally.

Usually families migrate at the same time.

Other methods

Children can become full-fledged residents of the country through adoption. This applies to orphans and those left without guardianship in Russia. If the child is under twelve years old, he can be adopted by residents of Iceland. Therefore, they freely move there to live.

If children were born on the territory of this country and lived there for three years, then they automatically become its citizens.

Possible reasons for refusal to obtain a residence permit and permanent residence and ways to appeal decisions on refusal

Icelandic authorities rarely refuse a residence permit. But such a scenario is still possible. Typically, this happens for the following reasons:

the applicant for immigration status has problems with the immigration laws of the Republic of Iceland;
the applicant does not have sufficient grounds to request a residence permit;
the applicant poses a threat to the national security of the receiving state;
the potential immigrant does not have enough funds to live in Iceland or does not have a permanent and sustainable source of income;
the applicant is in the public service in the country of his citizenship (he is a military personnel, employees of special services, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the state apparatus);
a residence permit is requested on the basis of an obviously fictitious reason.

If you refuse, you should not fall into despair, but it is advisable to analyze its reason. Deficiencies in documents can be corrected quite simply, and Icelandic laws do not prohibit applying for immigration status literally the next day after refusal.

In more problematic cases, you can start drafting a letter of appeal, which should be submitted to the immigration service within two weeks after receiving the refusal. Correctly drafting this document and arguing your position can help the Icelandic immigration authorities review the decision.

If such an action does not help, then you can contact the Icelandic court of first instance. In this case, you will most likely have to resort to the help of a translator (since the process will take place in Icelandic), as well as lawyers with successful experience in resolving immigration issues.

If a residence permit is refused, you can appeal to the Icelandic court of first instance

Preparing for immigration

The future immigrant needs to carefully assess his capabilities and make sure that the desire to leave for Iceland is not fleeting. He has a long process of collecting documents ahead of him, during which time he should familiarize himself with the immigration legislation of Iceland and learn the languages - English and Icelandic - at least to the level of everyday conversation.

You need to understand your status so as not to get confused in terminology. If a person moves from Russia to Iceland, for Russians this is called emigration. For Iceland, he is an immigrant who has arrived to reside. For everyone else, it's migration - moving from one place to another.

Iceland attracts many migrants. Those who moved to the country legally fall under numerous assistance and social protection programs. A wealthy society generously shares its wealth so that there are no poor people or outcasts in it. Why is Iceland not overwhelmed by the flow of immigrants from disadvantaged countries? The answer is simple - geographical location. Iceland is difficult to get to. You can’t get there as an illegal immigrant on a fragile boat. You need a ticket for a passenger ship or airliner, but where is the guarantee that you will be allowed on board at check-in? No visa - no boarding.

The correct legal solution is to obtain a visa, which gives the right not only to enter, but also to apply for a residence permit after entry. There are few options, but they exist.

Documentation

What documents will be needed after the deadline for obtaining a passport approaches? You need to contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs or, as they also say, the police station at your place of residence. They will issue a passport there without any problems.

You will need to take with you:

application form;
ID card of a foreign citizen;
photographs of the established sample (3 pieces);
certificate of language knowledge (preferably);
documents confirming no criminal record and debts;
basis for obtaining citizenship;
evidence of legal residence in the country;
documents indicating the person's marital status.

Additionally, a visa and a foreign passport may be required. Russian citizens provide civil and foreign identification documents. This must be remembered.