Residence permit for spouse or cohabiting partner
family reunification
Spouses and cohabiting partners of Icelandic and Nordic citizens, permanent residents and holders of qualifying temporary permits can get a residence permit. Cohabiting partners must have lived together for at least a year, and the applicant must have been 18 when the relationship began. The sponsor must show at least ISK 415,922 a month for a married couple. Family reunification also covers children under 18 and parents aged 67 or older.
Life in Iceland
Money
3
Currency
Icelandic Króna
ISK
Icelandic Króna
Cost of living
130
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
31.49–46.29%
Income tax (national)
VAT 24%
Withholding rates combine state and municipal tax: 31.49% up to ISK 498,122 a month, 37.99% to ISK 1,398,450, 46.29% above; personal tax credit ISK 72,492 a month.
Living
1
Happiness
#2 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Spouses, cohabiting partners, children under 18 and parents aged 67+ of qualifying sponsors in Iceland.
Eligibility
Sponsor
An Icelandic or Nordic citizen, a permanent resident, or a holder of a qualifying temporary permit (expert, labour shortage, athlete, contract, student, spouse, protection, humanitarian, special ties).
Relationship
Applicant must have been at least 18 when the marriage or cohabitation began; cohabiting partners must have lived together at least one year.
Age and time together
- Minimum age at start
- 18
- Cohabiting partners
- 1 year
Official wording
Applicant at least 18 when the marriage or cohabitation began; cohabiting partners must have lived together at least one year.
Means
Show the sponsor's monthly means, and for cohabiting applicants their own monthly means.
Means to show
- Sponsor, individual
- ISK 259,951
- Sponsor, married couple
- ISK 415,922
- Each extra family member 18+added to sponsor amount
- ISK 129,976
- Cohabiting applicanta month, their own
- ISK 259,951
- Extra amount applies per additional family member aged 18 or over
Official wording
Sponsor: ISK 259,951 (individual), ISK 415,922 (married couple), plus ISK 129,976 per extra family member 18+. Cohabiting applicants need their own ISK 259,951 a month.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementAddress
- Document checklistMarriage or cohabitation proof
- FeesFirst family reunification permit
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 2 more requirements
- 4 documents
- 3 fees
- 3 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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Official sources
- Ísland.is - Residence permit for spouse
- Ísland.is - Residence permit for spouse: requirements
- Directorate of Immigration (Ísland.is) - The right to family reunification (24 Nov 2023)
- Directorate of Immigration (Ísland.is) - Increase in fees for residence permit and citizenship applications (22 Dec 2025)
Other routes to Iceland
- Visit & tourismSchengen tourist & business visa
- StudyResidence permit for students
- Work permitsResidence permit based on work
- Permanent residencePermanent residence permit
- Status in-countryRight of residence for EEA/EFTA citizens
- CitizenshipIcelandic citizenship by application
