Iceland delays departure centre law by one year

Iceland plans to postpone the law governing a departure centre until 1 December 2027 because preparing its premises has taken longer than expected, mbl.is reported.

A majority of Parliament’s General and Education Committee is expected to present a bill in the coming days proposing the delay. The preparation has been held up in part by planning matters, according to a government announcement.

The centre is a specialised facility for people deprived of their liberty and must meet strict requirements for accommodation and security. After Parliament passed the bill, the Ministry of Justice began work to find and prepare suitable premises. The ministry concluded that the necessary work could not be completed before the law was due to take effect.

The postponement would also delay until the same date changes to the Foreign Nationals Act linked to the centre’s operation. Until the centre opens, existing legal powers to arrest and remand people under that act will remain unchanged.

A separate provision requiring the minister to issue regulations on screening nationals of third countries is not connected to the centre’s operation. The bill proposes that this provision take effect on 1 December 2026.