Nationality of Iceland: all obtaining pathways
Iceland requires seven years of legal residence for ordinary naturalization, reduced to four for citizens of the Nordic countries. Marriage to an Icelandic citizen opens the pathway at four years of residence, and birth citizenship is transmitted by ius sanguinis.
1Naturalization by residence
Naturalization by residence
Requirements
- 7 years of domiciled residence in Iceland
- Citizens of the other Nordic countries: 4 years
- Good conduct and means of support
- The grant requires an Act of the Althingi (parliamentary procedure)
- Support of two persons resident in Iceland
- No public debts or criminal record
Documentation
- Application to the Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun)
- 7-year residence certificate
- Criminal record certificate
- Icelandic language command certificate
- Proof of means of subsistence
- Tax return
- Valid passport
- Birth certificate
2Naturalization through marriage
Naturalization through marriage
Requirements
- Marriage to an Icelandic citizen and cohabitation in Iceland
- 3 years domiciled in Iceland since the marriage
- The Icelandic spouse must have held citizenship for ≥5 years
- Alternative: registered cohabitation — 5 years since registration with an Icelandic partner (≥5 years of citizenship)
- Child of an Icelander: 2 years of residence with the Icelandic parent (≥5 years of citizenship)
- Good conduct and means of support
Documentation
- Marriage certificate
- Passport of the Icelandic spouse
- 4-year residence certificate after the marriage
- Icelandic language command certificate
- Criminal record certificate
3Citizenship by birth (ius sanguinis)
Citizenship by birth (ius sanguinis)
Requirements
- At least one parent is an Icelandic citizen (ius sanguinis)
- Born in Iceland to an Icelandic mother
- Born in Iceland to an Icelandic father and a foreign mother (if the parents are married)
- Citizenship is transmitted with no generational limit
Documentation
- Birth certificate
- Parents' passports
- Proof of the parents' Icelandic citizenship
Frequently asked questions about the nationality of Iceland
How many years of residence does Iceland require to naturalize?
According to the main pathway of Iceland (Naturalization by residence), the term is 7 years of residence in Iceland (4 years for Nordic citizens). The complete details of requirements and exceptions appear in the fact sheet.
Can the nationality of Iceland be obtained by marriage?
Yes, through the Naturalization through marriage pathway (3 years domiciled in Iceland after the marriage, cohabiting, with an Icelandic spouse holding ≥5 years of citizenship). The complete requirements appear in the fact sheet of that pathway.
What documentation does naturalization in Iceland require?
The Naturalization by residence pathway requires: Application to the Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun); 7-year residence certificate; Criminal record certificate; Icelandic language command certificate; Proof of means of subsistence; among 3 more documents.
What pathways exist to obtain the nationality of Iceland?
Iceland provides 3 pathways: Naturalization by residence, Naturalization through marriage, Citizenship by birth.
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