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Iceland

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
2,220
Top destination, 2023
Denmark
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
1,698
UK visas issued, 2025
159
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
0.0%
NationalityISISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<ISICELAND<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
IS0<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Iceland need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaFree movement (EU/EFTA citizens)Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaNo visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Iceland move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Denmark908
  2. Sweden465
  3. Norway193
  4. Germany167
  5. Netherlands125
  6. Japan73
  7. United States60
  8. Switzerland50
  9. Italy32
  10. Belgium30
  11. Austria28
  12. South Korea20
  13. Canada15
  14. Finland13
  15. Hungary12

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

2,1174,233200020032006200920122015201820212023
2,1174,2332000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20002,294
20012,409
20022,791
20032,490
20042,456
20052,552
20062,448
20072,651
20082,877
20094,233
20104,228
20114,193
20123,989
20133,408
20143,547
20153,863
20163,309
20172,971
20182,992
20192,928
20202,054
20212,032
20222,150
20232,220
Share going to the top destination
40.9%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Iceland who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Denmark8,868
  2. Norway8,658
  3. Poland2,546
  4. Brazil556
  5. Luxembourg477
  6. Australia403
  7. Chile354
  8. Faroe Islands304
  9. Finland211
  10. South Africa189
  11. Hungary175
  12. Greenland157

Living abroad by year

12k23k19901995200020052010201520202024
12k23k19902000201020202024
Data table
19906,586
19958,745
200011,709
200513,497
201016,404
201519,596
202020,887
202423,326
Living abroad, 2024
23,326
Change since 2000
+99.2%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
38.0%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Iceland by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B2676
  2. C1/D523
  3. F1197
  4. J159
  5. O128
  6. L225
  7. F220
  8. P118
  9. G417
  10. H1B17

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

1,1252,249201720182019202020212022202320242025
1,1252,24920172019202120232025
Data table
20171,718
20182,249
20191,462
2020466
2021483
20221,602
20232,138
20241,763
20251,698
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR17
  2. CR14
  3. I52
Immigrant visas, FY2025
13
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
4
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Iceland who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Iceland with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

501002015201620172018201920202021202220232024
50100201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015100
2016100
201790
201890
201970
202080
202180
202270
202360
202470
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens40
  2. Employment-based preferences20
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)200
  2. Spouses and children190
  3. Intracompany transferees (L-1)150
  4. Specialty occupations (H-1B)120
  5. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)20
  6. Other temporary workers10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Iceland)
70
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Iceland)
100
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
47,590
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Iceland (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Iceland (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Study80
  2. Work68
  3. Family6
  4. Visitor3
  5. Other2

Visas issued by year

99197201020132015202120232025
99197201020132015202120232025
Data table
20103
20114
20131
20143
20152
20161
2021131
2022197
2023154
2024142
2025159
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
100
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Iceland, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
2025015500
202405000
2023015050
20220152000
20210101500
2020020500
201901530350
201804015200
201705025100
20165252000
2015151535250
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Iceland, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

482005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222025–26
482005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–063
2006–074
2007–085
2008–093
2009–103
2010–115
2011–128
2012–133
2013–144
2014–156
2015–166
2016–176
2017–184
2018–192
2019–204
2020–212
2021–223
2023–243
2025–263
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills2
  2. Specialist Skills1
Granted, 2025–26
3
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Iceland living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

46912012201420162018202220242025
46912012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201265
201363
201471
201572
201668
201757
201853
201956
202278
202386
202491
202590
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student25
  2. Spouse or Child of Japanese National16
  3. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services13
  4. Dependent12
  5. Permanent Resident11
  6. Designated Activities4
  7. Professor2
  8. Highly Skilled Professional2
  9. Business Manager2
  10. Religious Activities1
Residents, December 2025
90
In work-related statuses
22
Share in work-related statuses
24.4%
Students
25
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Iceland

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Iceland, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Denmark81200.0%

Applications by year

5911720092010201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
59117200920142017202020232024
Data table
200948
20102
201336
2014114
2015116
2016117
201790
201888
201985
20208
20213
202242
202329
20248
Refusal rate, 2024
0.0%
Refusal rate, 2019
1.2%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Iceland in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Other reasons114
  2. Work87
  3. Family67
  4. Education46
First permits by country
  1. Spain170
  2. Switzerland43
  3. Belgium39
  4. Portugal24
  5. Hungary9
  6. Malta8
  7. Estonia5
  8. Czechia3
  9. Bulgaria3
  10. Slovakia2
  11. Latvia2
  12. Serbia2
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)1
  2. Other paid activities86
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
0
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
724
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
1,761
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
4,620
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
219
Changed status into work, 2025
4
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Iceland in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025731003
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland202514131
Austria202533312
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Iceland

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Iceland, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Canada1——
China1——
Finland1——
France1——
Germany1——
India1—1
Japan1——
Norway1——
Poland1——
Russia1——
Slovenia——1
Sweden1——
Türkiye1——
United Kingdom1——
Countries
14
Missions
15
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Iceland, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

1332652000200320062009201220152018202120242025
133265200020052010201520202025
Data table
200036
200139
200265
200349
200461
200567
200681
2007111
2008121
200995
2010137
2011152
2012156
2013209
2014219
2015218
2016213
2017192
2018179
2019188
2020167
2021193
2022195
2023221
2024244
2025265
Remittances received, 2025
US$265 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.7%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more