How to travel to Iceland on a budget: personal experience

Immigration to Iceland is not the most affordable option for Russians. The reason for this is the cold climate, the remote geographical location of the island and strict migration policies. The population of the country also played a certain role in this. Despite the friendliness of Icelanders, they do not welcome a mixture of nationalities, and besides, the authorities themselves do not intend to increase the country's population at the expense of emigrants. However, such difficulties do not deter those wishing to move to Iceland. This is due to the country’s economic stability, social guarantees, high salaries, as well as quality education and medicine.

A little about Iceland

Iceland is a large European country located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Its total area is 103,000 square km. The capital of Iceland is Reykjavik, and the current currency is the Icelandic krona. Icelandic has been adopted as the official language.

The country neighbors Norway and Greenland. Almost the entire territory of the state is a volcanic plateau. Iceland has several active volcanoes, a large number of hot springs, geysers, and glaciers. The glaciers are considered the largest in the world, their area exceeds 11,000 square meters. That's why Iceland is called "glacier country." During the summer months, the island experiences white nights, and in winter you can see the northern lights.

Profitable marriage in Iceland for immigrants

A tempting publication has appeared in the media that the Icelandic government will pay 5,000 euros per month to immigrants who marry Icelandic girls. A very tempting offer, which, by the way, is not suitable for local male representatives because the minimum salary in this country is more than 10,000 euros.

“Realizing that at this rate the island will soon turn into the kingdom of the Amazons, the Icelandic government has decided to pay 5,000 euros to each immigrant who marries a local girl,” write some media outlets.

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:

1. Employment under a labor contract. This is mainly available to specialists in narrow specialties.
2. 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:

1. Fishing in Icelandic waters.
2. Extraction and use of natural energy resources.
3. 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:

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

“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.

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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

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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

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.

Emigration and moving for permanent residence to Iceland

This does not apply to representatives of EU countries. It is possible to register a company of any type of ownership. This can be a private enterprise, an open joint stock company, a partnership, a branch of a foreign company, a closed joint stock company, or a representative office of a foreign company. Each form of ownership is subject to its own tax. When running your own business in the country, you are allowed to stay with a multiple visa.

The second point can be fulfilled if the child was born on the island and his father recognized paternity. There may be another option: Iceland is not the place of birth, but the application was submitted before the child came of age. Until July 1982, document execution was limited to the mother's side.

Reasons for refusal

You can be refused a residence permit on the basis of compelling reasons. These include:

1. Problems with the law, criminal record. Icelanders have a particularly negative attitude towards serious and property crimes.
2. Insufficient financial viability of the applicant, such that he will not be able to live according to the accepted standard of living in the country. Icelanders spend from 50 euros per person daily. This is considered a minimum spending threshold.
3. Violation of Icelandic migration laws, other problems with Icelandic legislation.
4. Lack of some basic or additional documents.

Icelanders will definitely announce the reason for the refusal, and if this is possible, then you can try to fix the problem and try to request a residence permit again.

How to immigrate to Iceland

Whatever category the applicant belongs to, he must provide evidence of his cleanliness before the law and sufficient financial solvency. There is no need to renounce your previous citizenship.

There is an opinion that it is in Iceland that refugee status is least often denied. But still, to obtain this status (and with it very good social security), you need good reasons. Perhaps the low percentage of refusals is due to the fact that not everyone can get to the island, because people without documents simply will not be allowed on the plane.

Obtaining permanent residence

After three years of official residence in the country, an immigrant has the opportunity to apply for permanent residence. To do this you need:

• speak Icelandic at a conversational level;
• provide proof of permanent residence in the country (employment, family reunification, marriage to an Icelandic citizen, education, etc.);
• have your own or rented housing.

You can stay as a permanent resident of Iceland for a maximum of four years, after which you can obtain citizenship.

Iceland is looking for grooms and is ready to pay each immigrant $5,000 a month

I hasten to disappoint with a candidate with “solid dignity” for the role of grooms for Icelandic brides! By simply following the links according to the following scheme: mmgp.ru (posted here above) - then to the source and this is the site Dialog.UA - then from there a link is given to “Ukrainian Service 1492” where under the heading: “Let's get married: Iceland pays $ monthly 5,000 migrants marrying Icelandic women” and this note was posted on September 17, 2021 and at the end there was a note: “Translated by the editors of “Ukrainian Service 1492″ based on materials from Sunday Adelaja’s Blog” - and then there are no links to the blog we just searched on Google and ended up on this very “Sunday Adelaja's Blog” - and what do we see in the end? And we see that the three “chicks” standing in the photo (not to mention the rest of the better half of Iceland, it’s just gloomy!), unfortunately, remain without their expensive “bulls” and this despite the fact that they are from the very North! Africans! What more arrogance! (We will complain to the UN! To this very thing - what’s his name? In short, to the main one!)

Translation by Google (I didn’t bother with the processing - if you figure something out - the tea is not children!) “SundayAdelajablog has, however, discovered that there is no truth in this story, as the latest population data for Iceland actually shows slightly more men than women in Iceland, with 1,007 men per 1,000 women overall; in Reykjavik, there are 985 men for every 1,000 women, but in rural areas the ratio is 1,129 men for every 1,000 women.

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How to obtain citizenship

To become a citizen in Iceland you must meet one of the following criteria:

• successfully undergo the naturalization procedure, i.e. live in the country for 7 years and join Icelandic society;
• have both Icelandic parents;
• be an illegitimate child of an Icelandic citizen.

The main condition for obtaining Icelandic citizenship is the absence of criminal records and other problems with the law. Otherwise, immigration is simply impossible.

TravelHow I moved to Iceland and decided to stay there forever

Even after moving to Iceland, I was surprised that in the summer almost the entire country goes on vacation for a month, or even six weeks. This usually happens in July-August, so the office is half empty. After the Moscow realities, when going on vacation for two weeks, not letting go of the phone, constantly checking email and receiving calls, was considered an unaffordable luxury, it was amazing. But, as practice shows, the earth does not stop because of this, people return to work rested and satisfied and continue to work.

During my acquaintance with the country, a storm broke out. I was amazed at how strong the wind gusts could be and how quickly the weather could change. I have been to many countries with variable climates, but I have never seen anything like this before. Surprisingly, in the coldest month of the year the temperature hovers around zero, and in the city it rarely drops below minus five - all thanks to the Gulf Stream, which washes the island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I used to think that Iceland was frosty and snowy, but it turned out that this is not so: a lot of snow can fall in a day, but it will immediately be washed away by the rain. In the summer it’s not hot - days when the air warms up to 18-20 are considered a national holiday, and no one works.

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Double citizenship

If earlier immigration to Iceland was not popular due to the inability to have dual citizenship, now, or rather since 2003, some changes have occurred in the state. And according to the adopted innovations, citizens of the country received the right to obtain dual citizenship. This means that when immigrating to Iceland and obtaining citizenship here, a foreigner has the right not to renounce his former status. For this reason, foreigners have become more interested in Iceland.

How to get to Iceland to get married

Everything is in English, but I’ll tell you briefly. A number of Icelandic women reported on Facebook that they had received marriage proposals from strangers. It turned out that this is connected precisely with the article at the first link. This whole news is fake from beginning to end.

The original of this duck in English was first published at this link, back in early summer 2021: thespiritwhispers.com/2021/06/because-of-lack-of-male-iceland-gives.html - the source is also yellow, through and through.

Pros and cons of living in Iceland

Moving to Iceland comes with both positive and negative aspects.

To sum it up, we can say that moving to Iceland is not an easy task. Local authorities are reluctant to accept migrants; there is no shortage of labor here. But if you wish, you can fulfill all the requirements and obtain residency of the country.

Advantages of immigration to Iceland from Russia

Many, tired of the struggle for existence in the post-Soviet expanses, seek to find refuge in a much calmer country and society. Iceland fits these criteria perfectly.

2007 was marked by the UN designation of Iceland as the best country to live.

The benefits that an immigrant with a residence permit status in Iceland receives:

• the ability to travel throughout all European countries without visas;
• a chance to obtain permanent residence in Iceland (issued after three years of stay in the country with residence permit status);
• the possibility of mortgage lending and purchasing your own home;
• higher education at average European prices and, accordingly, a European diploma, which is quoted in all countries of the world and does not require nostrification;
• employment in Iceland, where wages for qualified specialists are very high;
• a calm and measured rhythm of life in a stable European state and confidence in the future.

Iceland is very different from other European countries. The spirit of the Vikings still lives in the local people. About 98% of the inhabitants of this Scandinavian island are native Icelanders. And the entire population is estimated at 300 thousand people. Icelanders greatly value the spirit of national unity and honor the centuries-old traditions of their people.

Iceland is a country of amazing beauty

Banks and exchange offices

The country's currency is the Icelandic krona (ISK), there are 100 aurars in 1 krona. Current rate: 1 ISK = 0.6 RUB (1 USD = 123.92 ISK, 1 EUR = 146.3 ISK).

You can exchange money at banks, The Change Group offices or hotels (commission is about 2.5 USD regardless of the amount). Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9:15 to 16:00.

Traveler's checks, like credit cards, are accepted everywhere. There are ATMs in all banks, large stores, hotels and on most main streets. They work with all types of credit cards.

Traveling around Iceland

When we went

Coast of Iceland / photo by the author
I traveled in May 2021, without a road I stayed in Iceland for a full 13 days. The journey took almost 2 days.

I decided on the trip in February. I didn’t plan it myself, but adapted to the team, but I can say that the May holidays are a good time to visit Iceland . Throughout the entire time we were accompanied by sunny weather, without heavy rains. Only in the evenings it was a little cold.

Why Iceland

The mesmerizing beauty of Icelandic nature / photo by the author
Visiting Iceland has been a long-time dream of mine.

I am much more moved by natural beauty than by any architecture. Natural beauty is wildly amazing. In my head I always had an image of mountains, ocean, endless fields and the beauty of wild Icelandic nature, which cannot be described in words. Not to say that I often came across pictures and stories about Iceland - no. Even none of my friends went at that time. I just always knew that the first place in the world I wanted to see was Iceland.

Therefore, when I saved up a sufficient amount of money and got a passport, I started moving towards Reykjavik.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ORGANIZING A TRIP TO ICELAND ON YOUR OWN

Above I have shared some basic general information that will be useful when you are thinking about traveling to Iceland on your own.

You can get acquainted with our seven-day itinerary around the country here. The article contains a detailed description of the attractions we saw and recommendations for visiting them. You can use the route as a basis and create your ideal trip.

My recommendations for the sequence of actions are as follows:

1. We decide on the duration of the trip. We buy plane tickets, you can choose the best option on Aviasales;
2. We book a hotel for the first and last night in Iceland. Booking to help;
3. We reserve a 4x4 car so that we can drive into any wilderness. Rentalcars to help;
4. We put marks on the map of the main attractions that you are going to see. Everything that is in the south of Iceland is described in detail in my report, including the time required for inspection;
5. All. Nothing further depends on you. Any clear schedule you plan will be ruined by rain, fog, trolls, whatever. Iceland itself will set the rhythm of the trip, just accept it.

How we traveled around Iceland

Having a car made it possible to freely travel around the island / photo by the author
We traveled around Iceland by car.

In 13 days we traveled 4500 km. We closed a full circle along the coast clockwise, starting and ending in Reykjavik.

The biggest expenses were for housing and gasoline. An analogue of our 95 for 2017 cost approximately 2.10 € . Considering that our plans were to travel around the entire island with the ability to go to any place we wanted and spend as much time there as we wanted, personal transport is a big plus.

• We spent 55,000 rubles .
• About 35,000 rubles . it took 13 days for fuel.

To save money, it is better to book a car 2-3 months before the trip. This way you can get the lowest price.

Local companies are attracted by price, choice of cars and unlimited mileage. Rental conditions are the same everywhere, the only differences are in the fleet.

Russian licenses issued after 2011 are valid in Iceland.

We saved as much as possible on the car - we took a small car. It cost 2 times less than an SUV.

The cost of a car for 2 weeks is from 700 € (50,000 rubles) without insurance. The downside is that it is difficult to get to some parts of the island. A passenger car simply won't get there.

Entertainment and attractions in Iceland

The main attractions of Iceland are natural: the Hekla volcano, geysers and glaciers, the Landmannalaugar valley, the Thorsmerk valley, the Westman Islands. Akureyri, Iceland's second largest city, makes a great base for exploring the surrounding area. From there it is not far to Húsavik, Godafoss waterfall and the island of Grimsøy.

The rugged coastline of the West Fjords is one of the most beautiful areas of the country. There are very few tourists there, as well as local residents: less than 3 thousand people live in the main city, Isafjörður.

Landmannalaugar is a must-see mountain region in the southeast of the island. There are hot springs bubbling there, and within a radius of 10 km there are many strange natural “artifacts” scattered: fields of solidified lava, deep canyons, unrealistically blue lakes, snowy slopes, smoking thawed patches with the smell of hydrogen sulfide.

Icelandic vodka Brennivin is the country's main unofficial alcoholic drink, which is made from potatoes and caraway seeds. Its name literally translates as “burning wine.” The Icelanders themselves call this drink “Black Death”.

• Blue Lagoon
• Thingvellir
• Mount Esya

How much did I spend

The entire trip including tickets cost me 150,000 rubles. That's pretty much what I expected.

I don’t regret a second about the money spent or the choice of country. I don't remember the costs at all.

There are amazing memories that I was able to experience and I would do it again. When I left Iceland, all I could think about was how much I wanted to return there someday. And I hope that I will return. Iceland is amazing. And a very touching country.

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

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