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Europe · Icelandic · updated 2026-10

Moving to Iceland: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $3,750 a month to live in Reykjavík, and a family of four about $8,200, including rent. Iceland usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 4 yrs, with citizenship after 7 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Remote work long-term visa.

Monthly budget
$3,750
Very high cost
Safety
73
Safe
Stability
92
Very stable
Family
83
Excellent
Main city
Reykjavík
Language
Icelandic
Permanent residence
4 yrs
Citizenship
7 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Iceland?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Iceland, per month in US$

One person
$3,750
Family of four
$8,200
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Reykjavík centre
$1,800
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$3,350
Estimate
Price level
130
US = 100
Income per person
$7,435
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
73
Safe
Homicides per 100k
1.29
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+1.32
Rule of law+1.61
Control of corruption+1.82
Government effectiveness+1.55
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (92/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
83
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.745
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
2.8
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
82.8 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$7,642
per person / year
Education spending
7.3%
of GDP

Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
Remote work long-term visa6 months for remote workers earning about ISK 1,000,000/month (over €7,000).
Job offer
Work permit for expertsSpecialised roles with an Icelandic employer.

Who gets easier access to Iceland

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
4 yrs
Citizenship
7 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: island.is/en/o/directorate-of-immigration

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Iceland?

About $3,750 a month for one person and $8,200 for a family of four in Reykjavík, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,800 a month and a 3-bedroom around $3,350. Prices are 130% of US levels. Iceland is the 74th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Iceland safe to live in?

Iceland scores 73/100 for safety (safe), ranking 27th of 76. The homicide rate is 1.29 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Iceland politically stable?

Iceland scores 92/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 6th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Iceland good for families?

Iceland scores 83/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 11th of 76. Life expectancy is 82.8 years and under-5 mortality is 2.8 per 1,000 births. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Iceland?

Usually 4 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Iceland?

Usually 7 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Iceland without a job offer?

Yes. Remote work long-term visa: 6 months for remote workers earning about ISK 1,000,000/month (over €7,000).

Does Iceland have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Remote work long-term visa. 6 months for remote workers earning about ISK 1,000,000/month (over €7,000).

Who can live and work in Iceland without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Iceland can move