Want to live and work in Iceland?

Iceland is expensive in almost everything. A one-bedroom apartment in central Reykjavik costs between 1,500 and 2,000 USD per month, with tight supply and long waiting lists. Neighbourhoods such as 101 Reykjavik (centre), Vesturbær, and Hlíðar have the highest prices. Akureyri and Selfoss offer cheaper alternatives, but with low market turnover.

Supermarket food costs almost twice as much as in Copenhagen. Chains such as Bónus and Krónan are the cheapest, and help control spending. Mid-range restaurants in Reykjavik charge between 25 and 40 USD per meal. Alcoholic beverages carry very high tax and are only sold at state stores (Vínbúðin). Geothermal and electrical energy is abundant and cheaper than the rest of Europe.

The average salary covers costs with room to spare. Qualified professionals in healthcare, technology, and energy earn well above the European average. Public healthcare is practically free, and public schools cover everything from nursery to university. Overall, it is a nominally expensive country, but the quality-of-life, safety, and services equation is excellent.

Basic and secondary education is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 16. Public schools teach in Icelandic, with English and Danish as second languages. There are also some international schools in Reykjavik (International School of Iceland), aimed at foreign families and expats.

Higher education at Icelandic public universities is free for EEA citizens and charges only a symbolic registration fee (around ISK 75,000, about 500 euros per year). For non-EEA students, the system varies by university, with tuition in specific programs. The University of Iceland (Haskoli Islands) in Reykjavik is the oldest and most comprehensive. There is also Reykjavik University (private), the University of Akureyri, and the Iceland University of the Arts.

Several graduate programs are offered in English, especially in polar studies, geothermal energy, volcanology, marine biology, and Icelandic studies. For foreign students, the study visa covers stays above 90 days, with permission for part-time work. After graduation, there is the possibility of extending status to look for work.

Iceland practically every year ranks first in the Global Peace Index. Violent crime is extremely rare, and Reykjavik is considered one of the safest capitals in the world. Children often play in the streets, and it is normal to see baby strollers left on the sidewalk while parents step into a cafe. Iceland's police do not carry weapons in day-to-day duty.

The most common crimes affecting foreigners are petty theft in crowded tourist spots (Laugavegur in Reykjavik, Blue Lagoon) and unlocked bicycles being taken. These are generally avoided with normal precautions. Natural accidents (volcanic activity, snowstorms, dangerous trails, frozen sea) are the real greatest risk, especially for tourists who underestimate the environment.

The emergency number is 112. The Coast Guard (Landhelgisgaeslan) carries out search and rescue operations, with helicopters covering the entire country. Iceland is also a NATO member, although it has no armed forces of its own, historically relying on a US military presence at Keflavik.

Iceland has one of the richest medieval literary traditions in the world, with the sagas (Volsunga Saga, Njal's Saga, Egil's Saga) written in the 12th and 13th centuries. The tradition continues: Iceland has one of the highest rates of book publication per capita in the world, and Christmas includes the Jolabokaflod (book flood at Christmas, with book exchanges on December 24th night).

Bathing in geothermal pools is part of daily life. Almost every neighborhood has a public heated swimming pool (sundlaug) with various temperatures, saunas, and hot pots. Visiting is a weekly habit and a social gathering point. Famous tourist spots like the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, and Myvatn Nature Baths are just the more expensive version of something found everywhere.

Icelandic music is a surprisingly successful cultural export: Bjork, Sigur Ros, Of Monsters and Men, Asgeir, and Dadi Freyr are known worldwide. Festivals like Iceland Airwaves in Reykjavik (November) attract fans from around the world. Traditional food includes smoked lamb (hangikjot), dried fish (hardfiskur), skyr (Icelandic yogurt, now sold globally), pylsa (Icelandic hot dogs), and drinks like Brennivin (caraway schnapps). Folklore includes belief in elves and hidden beings (huldufolk), with public works occasionally rerouted to avoid disturbing stones considered sacred.

Iceland covers around 103,000 square kilometres, positioned on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the Eurasian and North American plates are pulling apart. This explains the intense volcanic activity, with around 30 active volcanic systems. Recent eruptions at Fagradalsfjall (2021) and on the Reykjanes Peninsula (2023 and 2024) are reminders of the living nature of the territory.

Glaciers cover 11 percent of the island, with Vatnajökull being the largest in Europe outside the Arctic. Fjords cut into the east and west, with high cliffs and deep bays. The interior is virtually uninhabited, with lava deserts, black sand plains, and volcanic highlands. The coast concentrates all the population, with Reykjavik in the southwest and Akureyri in the north.

The climate is subarctic oceanic, with long winters that are not extreme due to Atlantic influence, and cool summers with nearly uninterrupted light between May and July. Biomes include alpine tundra, volcanic desert, coastal meadows, and sparse forests (Iceland is one of the least wooded countries in Europe). Population density is very low, at around 3.8 people per square kilometre.

The most common path for professionals is residence through qualified work, with an offer from an Icelandic employer in a labor shortage area (technology, healthcare, construction, tourism, fishing). Professionals with higher degrees, experience, and above-average salaries may have a faster process. Citizens of EEA countries (EU + Norway, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland have facilitated access through free movement agreements.

The Long-Term Visa for Remote Work was created in 2020 and is for remote workers from outside the EEA with a minimum monthly income of about ISK 1,000,000 (about 6,500 euros), working for a company outside Iceland, and provides residency for up to 180 days, renewable under specific circumstances. It is one of the highest income requirements in Europe for this category. Students have their own visa, and family reunification covers spouses and children.

Iceland does NOT have a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation with the United States. Icelandic citizens are NOT eligible for American E-1 and E-2 visas based on treaty. Internally, after 7 years of legal residence (4 years if married to an Icelander), it is possible to apply for Icelandic citizenship, with Icelandic language proficiency required. Dual citizenship has been permitted since 2003.