Profitable marriage in Iceland for immigrants

Minimum salary in Iceland 2021

Iceland does not have a minimum wage as such at the legislative level, but still sets it. Such matters are dealt with by trade union funds, which draw up special legal acts regulating the activities of various industries. If we take into account the current document for 2021, the national average minimum wage is $2000-2700 or 335,000 ISK. This amount is shown in gross form and is subject to further taxation at minimum tax rates.

Typically, citizens aged 18 years and older receive small salaries; individuals must work for the company for 6 months, but not less than 900 working hours. Such conditions allow you to count on the minimum wage, even if the contract determines the amount to be much less. The employee is given additional payment in the form of bonuses, allowances, and bonuses. If an employee has worked for less than six months or has not reached the age of majority, he may be paid below the minimum wage.

Separately, you can give examples of minimum wages in Icelandic krona for 2021 by industry:

• medicine – 724,000 or $5,300;
• marketing – 460,000, $3380;
• engineering – 284,000, $2090;
• production technology – 298,000, $2190
• software – 259,000, $2000;
• tourism – 212,000, $1,550;
• restaurant business – 185,000, $1360;
• handyman service – 168,000, $1230.

So is it really possible to marry an Icelander and live comfortably?

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.

Firstly, according to census data, in Iceland in general the number of men is even slightly higher than the number of women. The ratio is 1007 men per 1000 women. And if in Reykjavik the situation is slightly different, there really is the opposite preponderance (985 men per 1000 women), then in rural areas the ratio is 1129 men for every 1000 women.

Secondly, the Icelandic government has not announced such grants in any official source. So, if you are planning to marry an Icelandic woman, go ahead. But you don't need to rely on the cache.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that although this is fake, it is funny. If the goal of the virus was to increase awareness of the Iceland brand, then it was achieved. Women also received a portion of attention, although it’s not a fact that they needed it.

PS: If you still haven’t changed your mind about visiting Iceland, or any other country, not out of self-interest, but for the love of adventure and travel, then the form for finding the cheapest air tickets is below.

May be interesting: Choosing the most beautiful girl How does Wikipedia work?

Average salaries in Iceland for the most popular professions in rubles

Even despite the low population of 350 thousand people and a small number of industries, Iceland's economy has a high rating. GDP per capita per year is $70,000, the standard of living of the population per person is $977, for the average family $1900. The average salary is set at 533,000 ISK or $3,500-6,000, again in gross, the net amount is 30-40% less. The average hourly rate is from $18-30 after deducting Income tax.

It is worth saying that the main reason for the low level of demographics is isolation from other continents, since Iceland is located far in the northernmost part of Europe and therefore is called the Glacier Country. The country experiences fairly frequent winds, making it very cold, which also creates weak conditions for diversifying industries, such as agriculture and livestock. Few people want to move here, but for Russians recently the decisive factor is the size of the average salary; if its value is around $2000, then, in principle, citizens of the Russian Federation are ready to consider the issue of emigration.

A big plus for the economy is that Iceland is moving from a monocultural country to an industrialized one. To date, the Government has planned many projects to expand the production of renewable sources, to increase the flow of tourists to the country, to develop biotechnology and information technology, and to increase the share of the banking sector. In this regard, the number of jobs is increasing.

Healthcare in Iceland

Healthcare in Iceland is good. Thanks to a well-organized system for training medical workers, equipping medical institutions with the most modern equipment and the state's care for its residents, Iceland can boast of a long life expectancy - the average for both sexes is 81 years. Infant mortality is very low - about 5.3 babies per 1000 births, maternal mortality - 3 mothers per 100,000 births. There are 50 medical districts in Iceland, in which 25 hospitals are located, providing medical services at the highest level. At one time there was an epidemic of tuberculosis in the country; today this disease almost never occurs.

Salary levels for other professions after taxes

Iceland is considered a small European state, but there is also staff turnover in the regions. Mainly in large cities, where Icelanders change jobs or move up their careers. Given their population, this doesn't happen often. Large cities include Reykjavik - 117 thousand people, Kopavogur - 30 thousand, Hafnarfjordur - 26 thousand, even there people know each other well, so they live like one big family.

Average salaries by region are almost the same, there just aren’t that many vacancies, especially if you live outside the cities. Icelanders love their country very much and rarely move anywhere. Their attitude towards immigrants is not entirely friendly; the population is afraid of losing their measured, conservative lifestyle to which they are so accustomed. Because of this, they are quite closed in communicating with foreigners.

For Icelanders, any job is good; many of them become farmers, fishermen, and open their own small businesses. Among residents of suburban areas, it is common to hunt whales, grow vegetables in greenhouses and raise sheep; other residents work in such positions and receive a net average salary:

A few words about Iceland's immigration policy

Iceland applied to join the European Union back in 2009. But even in 2021, “things are still there.” Despite the government's Euro-orientation policy, Icelandic citizens voted against joining the European Union in a referendum.

The problem is the Brussels Agreements imposed by the European Union, which significantly limit fish production (the majority of budget revenues) and the development of farms, on which the entire agricultural sector of the economy of this small country rests.

Despite its open reluctance to join the European Union, Iceland has been a signatory to the Schengen Agreement since 1996. Therefore, a trip to the country of the Vikings means a trip to a state that is part of the Schengen zone. Since this interstate association has uniform immigration rules, they also apply to Iceland.

In recent years, tens of thousands of Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians have visited Ice Island, obtaining visa permits on their own. You can come to Iceland with a Schengen or national visa.

Iceland is a country of indescribable harsh northern beauty

For almost all CIS citizens, the conditions for crossing the border and staying in Iceland are identical. Citizens of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova can come even without the need to open a Schengen visa if they are holders of biometric passports.

This is provided for by agreements on a visa-free regime for citizens of these countries when visiting the European Union and, in particular, the Schengen states. This rule applies only to short-term trips (up to 90 days within six months) for the purpose of tourism and private visits.

If travelers from these countries are not holders of biometric passports, then they will have to apply for a Schengen visa or a national Icelandic visa, depending on the purposes and timing of the planned visit. Also, a national visa to Iceland will be required for those foreigners who are going to come to this country for a period of more than three months.

Salary taxes in Iceland

Taxation in Iceland is similar in some principles to Ireland, it refers to the recognition of taxable income of non-residents. According to Icelandic regulations, a foreigner working in the country for more than one hundred and eighty-three days is required to show all income, even if he received it in another country. If the stay is less than six months, only the average salary and benefits received in Iceland are subject to income tax.

As has already become clear, the main tax deducted from the average salary is income tax. Every employer or employee must submit a declaration and pay Income tax on time, otherwise the fines will be large.

For calculation we take:

• in category A – the entire average salary in monetary terms for the reporting period;
• in category B – profit from business activities;
• in category C – income from capital investments.

The tax system in Iceland follows the European classification with progressive rates. In 2021, the Government has revised the percentage of average salaries. Today, in order to calculate the amount of income and municipal taxes, you need to follow the following rules:

For social security, the employer pays a monthly contribution for the employee in the amount of 6.6% of the average salary and additional income. There are additional rates for certain professions, for example, for seafarers an additional 0.65% is added. For expats, they also contribute to the Insurance Fund - for them the established amount is 0.425% per month. The same procedure applies to self-employed individuals.

According to Icelandic pension legislation, a resident is required to contribute a monthly amount to the state pension fund. The monthly payment from the employee is 4%, from the employer 8%. As a result, 12% of the average salary is spent on insurance. In addition to contributions to government institutions, you can make voluntary contributions by transferring to the Private Pension Center. For this purpose, a personal contract is concluded, the terms of payments in the event of retirement are discussed.

What expenses do people in Iceland bear?

From the point of view of Russians, salaries in Iceland are decent. But, in fact, this is not entirely true; this country has a high standard of living, and taxes must be paid on all income. Because of this, not every salary will be enough to live comfortably.

First of all, after receiving income, each employee must pay two types of tax:

1. National - in the amount of 22.75% of the rate. It must be paid to the country's budget by everyone working in it.
2. Municipal. The rate depends on the place of residence, it can range from 11.2 to 13.3%. It is included in the budget at the place of residence.

The total amount of deductions from the earnings of the working population reaches 35.5%. Those who conduct entrepreneurial activities will have to pay even more - they give 37.2% of their income. People with income up to $1,520 (translated into rubles 95,760) are exempt from paying income taxes.

Prices for food, housing and medical care in the country are more than decent. To eat enough, live decently and rent housing, you need to earn a salary closer to the upper limit of the average income on the island. Residents of the country have to spend money on:

1. Food – prices are several times higher than in Russia. Let's give examples: a liter of drinking water or a loaf of bread will cost 2 dollars (or 126 rubles), a dozen eggs cost 4 dollars (252 rubles), and a kilogram of chicken fillet can be bought for 20 dollars (1,260 rubles).
2. If you are used to dining out, then you will have to shell out $45 to visit a cafe (the average bill in rubles is 2,835). Thus, you will have to pay 56,700 rubles (or $900) just for food on weekdays, which can be a large part of your salary.
3. Fuel is also not cheap - the price of a liter of gasoline of the popular AI-92 brand will cost 2.5 dollars (translated into rubles 157.5). This price is not too high by European standards.
4. Renting housing on the island will depend on the city of your stay. If we consider the capital, then in a residential area on the outskirts a one-room apartment will cost $800 (50,400 rubles), in the center similar housing will cost $1,300 (81,900 rubles). It is cheaper to rent an apartment for a family - a three-room apartment in the center of Reykjavik costs $1,800 per month (113,400 rubles).
5. There are roads and doctors' services here. As throughout the world, in Iceland the biggest expense is visiting the dentist - a simple filling costs $200 (15,600 rubles). Many island residents turn to other European countries for more affordable medical care.

Despite the availability of mortgages, many citizens do not have the opportunity to purchase their own apartment - a square meter of housing in a residential area of ​​the capital costs $2,200, and in the city center a similar area will cost $2,800. For this reason, people buy an apartment with installment payments for many years , but only those who have an above-average salary and a stable job with prospects for career growth.

Prices in Iceland for main groups of goods

How much an Icelander spends on average as a salary can be found out by looking at the prices for the main groups of goods. The cost of living, or cost of living for one person without rent, is about $1,000. With the cost of apartments, it turns out to be $1000-1200 more; renting a house in the center or in a big city will be twice as expensive.

Often locals have their own apartment, while expats, students or immigrants rent housing. If you want to buy an apartment, then you should pay for 85 sq. m. $297,500. By and large, in Russian megacities the cost is the same, only average salaries are much lower.

What residents of the Glacier State can boast about is the prices for utilities. They are quite acceptable here. The total bill is $90 per month, which includes electricity, heating, cooling, water, and trash. Internet is paid separately for $47.

Groceries costs per 1 kg will be as follows:

• vegetables – $2-4;
• fruit – $2.25;
• cereal – $2.6;
• fermented milk products – $9-12;
• milk – $1.11;
• chicken eggs 12 pieces – $4.50
• meat, semi-finished products – $22-30;
• fish, seafood – $15;
• baked goods – $2.66
• alcohol – $18;
• pack of cigarettes – $9.50.

An Icelander spends $500 on clothes during the season; they mostly need warm clothes, since Icelanders may only need a summer wardrobe on vacation.

The list of transportation costs includes:

• monthly pass – $86.42;
• one-way ticket on public transport – $3.42;
• taxi for 1 km – $2.21;
• gasoline for 1 liter – $1.44;
• the cost of an economy class car is $24,000.

For entertainment, locals prefer to visit the theater, go to the cinema, meet friends in a pub, restaurant or coffee shop. The average restaurant dinner bill is $88 for two people. For a mug of beer they pay from $7-9, and for coffee $3.88.

Advantages and disadvantages of working in Iceland

The most important advantage that awaits a visitor here is a high salary. Finding an unskilled job with an income of 10 euros/hour in Reykjavik is quite possible. That is, in terms of wages, Iceland is approximately on the same level as the UK, noticeably ahead of most EU countries. But getting to Foggy Albion is much more difficult. Iceland has less stringent rules for hiring temporary workers.

However, there are also disadvantages. Firstly, you should immediately forget about renting an apartment. At best, you will have to rent a room. Real estate in Iceland is very expensive. Secondly, food prices are simply sky-high, even more expensive than in Norway. Thirdly, the weather in the winter months is not as mild as in Western Europe. There are no Siberian frosts in Iceland, but -10 °C is quite common here.

Professions in demand

Work in Iceland for Russians and Ukrainians is presented mainly at fish processing enterprises. It pays the best. In recent years, Reykjavik has begun to encourage the opening of IT companies in every possible way, but the number of specialists from the CIS invited to them is still insignificant.

Foreigners also very often take up jobs in construction and on livestock farms.

When searching for vacancies, it is recommended to pay attention first of all to those that offer housing. This way a person can save on rent.

Pensions in Iceland

The retirement age in Iceland for people working for private companies is 67 years, for public companies it is 65 years. On average, an Icelander retires at the age of 68-69. It is very important for Europeans to save enough money for a comfortable old age, which is why they have been faithfully making contributions for many years. Payments consist of a universal and professional amount, resulting in 60-70% of the average salary, which amounts to a minimum pension of 200,000 crowns or $1,600.

A good pension guarantees not only financial security, but also quality care. Since in Iceland it is not customary for children to care for their parents in old age, pensioners apply to a nursing home. This is done independently without any pressure. But to get there you need to work hard and wait for a place.

In nursing homes, housing is provided in the form of a one-room apartment with good repair and comfortable conditions. In addition, retirees can attend group events, practice yoga, singing lessons, drawing lessons and much more. Children visit the residents weekly. Such nursing homes are called sanatoriums or boarding houses. For such pleasure, a pensioner pays 300,000 crowns or $2,400 monthly. This amount includes housing, food, medical supervision, and group activities. Many pensioners lose their entire pension, and if someone doesn’t have enough, the state pays extra.

What are the ways to migrate to Iceland?

You also need to have a certain amount for your maintenance, or an employment contract with any Icelandic enterprise. In general, the requirements will depend on which migration method has been chosen, since for students and entrepreneurs, for example, the requirements will be very different.

The most important condition for becoming a citizen of this country is the complete absence of a criminal record or any problems with the law. Otherwise, migration is not possible. Moreover, for more than 10 years in Iceland it has been possible to live with dual citizenship.

How to find work in Asian countries

In Asian countries, in addition to working in large travel companies, you can look for work locally after arriving in the country.

There are many Russian tourists in Thailand, Vietnam, Goa.

1. Therefore, it is possible to get a job as a salesperson in travel agencies and shops.
2. Chefs and waiters with knowledge of Russian are often required to work in cafes, hotels and guesthouses to serve Russian-speaking tourists.
3. Nannies are also required for Russian-speaking kindergartens and to look after children at home.
4. Many of our compatriots prefer to use the services of Russian-speaking specialists when it comes to cosmetic services, skin and hair care, not trusting local specialists.
5. You can organize assistance for tourists and independent travelers in renting housing, motorbikes, purchasing and activating local SIM cards and other services.

Often, advertisements for required vacancies are published in Russian-language groups on social networks: Facebook and Contact, which celebrate life and vacation in individual Vietnamese and Thai resort cities.

This is interesting! In India, work in mass shooting in Indian films is relevant and well paid. Filming is called shooting. They are held mainly in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai. Meals and travel are free. Extras actors earn 2500-3500 rupees per day. If the work takes place on the beaches of Goa, then 1500-2000 rupees. Minimum requirements: neat appearance and being sober. Actors with an athletic build are often required. Some extras have made shooting their main job. You can make good money on it and do almost nothing.

There are more chances to get to the shooting of a film in the summer season, when the rainy season begins and many foreigners leave Goa.