Temporary residence
With temporary residence registration, a person retains his legal residence and the rights that come with it, but registers the residence where he stays temporarily.
Temporary residence within Iceland
Registration of temporary residence within Iceland is permitted for those who need it due to:
- Studies
- Illness
- Due to the work of members of parliament and ministers
If required, the applicant's spouse and children can also be registered with the temporary residence.
If the requirements for a registration of a temporary residence are no longer met, it should either be notified in Registers Iceland‘s reception at Borgartún 21, or by sending an e-mail to skra@skra.is and request a cancellation of the residence registration.
Requirements: confirmation of studies from the appropriate educational institution
- The registration is available to those who, due to their studies, have to live somewhere other than their permanent residence (legal domicile).
- Temporary residence registration is only permitted in properties that are registered as residential buildings in the property register.
Requirements: a certificate confirming the necessity for a temporary relocation, issued by a doctor with a license to practice in Iceland.
- The registration is available to those who, due to illness, have to live somewhere other than their permanent residence (legal domicile).
- Temporary residence registration is only permitted in properties that are registered as residential buildings in the property register.
Temporary residence registration is available to elected members of parliament and ministers
- It is allowed to keep the legal domicile in the place where the person had a permanent residence before taking office
- Temporary residence registration is only permitted in properties that are registered as residential buildings in the property register.
Temporary residence abroad
Registration of temporary residence abroad is permitted for those who need it due to:
- Studies
- Illness
- Work abroad on behalf of the Icelandic government
If required, the applicant's spouse and children can also be registered with the temporary residence.
If the requirements for a registration of a temporary residence are no longer met, it should either be notified in Registers Iceland’s reception at Borgartún 21, or by sending an e-mail to skra@skra.is and request a cancellation of the residence registration.
Requirements: a confirmation of studies from a relevant university or equivalent educational institution.
- The registration is available to those who, due to their studies, have to live somewhere other than their permanent
- residence (legal domicile).
- The registration is valid for up to 4 years.
- The applicant must have had a continuous legal residence in Iceland for at least 2 years before the studies begin.
- The applicants legal domicile must be registered in Iceland if the temporary residence is registered abroad.
- In accordance with the Nordic Agreement, individuals studying in the Nordic countries are not entitled to a registration of temporary residence.
Requirements: a certificate confirming the necessity for a temporary relocation abroad, issued by a doctor with a license to practice in Iceland.
- The registration is available to those who, due to illness, have to live somewhere other than their permanent residence (legal domicile).
- The applicant must have had a continuous legal residence in Iceland for at least 2 years before the studies begin.
- The registration is valid for 1 year and a new certificate must be submitted if an extension of the registration is requested.
- If the registration has been extended more than twice, Registers Iceland may request a confirmation from the country of residence that the legal domicile has not been registered there.
- The applicants legal domicile must be registered in Iceland if the temporary residence is registered abroad.
- In accordance with the Nordic Agreement, individuals studying in the Nordic countries are not entitled to a registration of temporary residence.
Requirements: a confirmation of employment in a specified country, from the relevant embassy or organization.
- Only Icelandic citizens can apply for temporary residence on these grounds.
- For employees of embassies, permanent committees, consulates and international organizations of which Iceland is a member.
The applicants legal domicile must be registered in Iceland if the temporary residence is registered abroad.
Note – Only Icelandic citizens can apply for temporary residence on these grounds.
Temporary residence due to unforeseen circumstances
Registration of a temporary residence due to unforeseen circumstances is available to those who have been forced to leave their homes by order of the authorities due to natural disasters, criminal behaviour or other unforeseen circumstances.
The legal domicile will remain registered in the vacated building and the temporary residence is registered where the applicants reside temporarily due to the circumstances. No condition is placed on the type of housing in which the residence is registered.
- Announcement from a police chief regarding the decision to evacuate premises in a specific area due to a state of danger or an imminent state of danger and is only permitted to persons to whom the decision applies and is specified in the aforementioned decision.
- The registration is valid for 12 months from when the police chief announces that the conditions for the registration no longer exist.
- In cases of fire or accidental damage to premises that requires extensive repairs. The condition is that the confirmation of the fire by the chief of police or from the relevant insurance company must be provided.
Individuals must notify of the cancellation of residence registration themselves, otherwise it is automatically cancelled when 12 months have passed since the initial registration.
- Announcement from a police chief regarding the decision to evacuate premises in a specific area due to a state of danger or an imminent state of danger and is only permitted to persons to whom the decision applies and is specified in the aforementioned decision.
Temporary residence due to living in commercial property
Registration of a temporary residence is permitted for persons living in a commercial building. When an application to be registered with a temporary residence in a commercial building is submitted. In order to be registered with a temporary residence in a commercial building, the applicant will be registered with an unspecified legal domicile in the same municipality as the commercial building.
Requirements: Documents confirming the residence in the commercial building must be submitted with the application in order for the application to be processed.
- Registration is valid for 12 months.
- When a temporary residence is registered in a commercial building, the legal domicile will always be registered as unspecified in the same municipality.
- A new application must be submitted if the applicant wishes to keep the registration at the same address.
- If a new application is not submitted before the registration expires it will be cancelled when 12 months have passed.