The government of Iceland has officially announced comprehensive immigration changes to make it easier to obtain jobs for international researchers. The new policy, based on parliamentary changes to the Icelandic Act on Foreign Nationals and the Foreign Nationals’ Right to Work Act, is progressive as it does away with the need for international students to apply for a separate, stand-alone work permit.
New Part-Time Limits and Holiday Exemptions
The new study residence visa regime implemented by the Directorate of Immigration allows foreign students to legally work up to 60% of full-time employment while studying. The required number of hours is cumulative, from all employers combined. There are, however, important exceptions in the state rules and regulations which allow students to work at full-time rates during official holidays of the university, formal work experience (internship) or during a required module of workplace experience. In addition, post-doctoral graduates are eligible for a specialist 12 month extension to allow time for them to look for high-quality jobs without having to apply for their own extension of permission to work.
Stricter Academic Compliance Monitoring Implemented
The original licensing process has been streamlined as far as possible, while at the same time the state has established comprehensive monitoring mechanisms to ensure the quality of education. Now international scholars will be legally obligated to submit full employment records on each of their two annual periods of residence in the country. In order to preserve the focus on academic study as a priority, students will need to complete at least 75% of a full-time academic course load successfully each year in order to remain enrolled legally. If failure to comply with these strict hours limits or course requirements occurs, all employment privileges can be taken away immediately.
How Will Iceland Support Students? Iceland eliminated the requirement for international students to obtain a separate, standalone work permit, merging it directly with their study visa.
What Are The New Hours? Foreign students can now legally work up to 60% of full-time hours during the active academic semester.
Can Students Work Full Time? Yes, international students are permitted to work full-time during official university holiday breaks, internships, and mandatory training.
Who Qualifies For Graduate Visas? Doctoral (PhD) graduates qualify for a specialized 12-month post-study visa extension to look for professional employment.
Are Academic Requirements Becoming Stricter? Yes, students must successfully complete at least 75% of a full-time academic course load annually to maintain their legal status.
