Iceland proposes longer wait for permanent residence permits

Iceland’s government has approved a bill that would extend the general residence requirement for permanent residence permits from four years to six, mbl.is reported. The proposal is part of what the Justice Ministry says would be the most extensive changes to the residence permit system in a decade.

The bill would also require both spouses to be at least 24 when a family reunification permit is granted. The minimum period of cohabitation for family reunification would increase from one year to two, and applicants would need housing suitable for the whole family.

Other proposed changes include requiring applicants for permanent residence to have no public debts. Identification would become a separate condition for a residence permit, and authorities could take photographs and fingerprints earlier in the application process.

The government says the changes are intended in part to bring Iceland’s rules into line with those of other Nordic countries. According to the ministry, Iceland issued 37 percent more residence permits per capita than the other Nordic countries between 2020 and 2024. The number of permit holders has increased fivefold since 2017, while most conditions have remained unchanged since 2016.

The bill would also allow people suspected of being victims of human trafficking or labour exploitation to receive residence permits for up to 12 months, subject to certain conditions. This would give them time to seek legal redress and find other work without risking their right to remain in Iceland. The proposal would also abolish residence permits for au pairs from outside the European Economic Area.