Language / Au-pair in Iceland
One documented route of this kind in Iceland, with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Au Pair Residence Permit
Non-EEA/EFTA nationals aged 18–25 may reside in Iceland as au pairs under Article 68 of the Foreign Nationals Act. The permit is granted for the duration of the au pair contract, up to one year, and may be renewed once for a further year. The au pair lives with a host family, performs childcare and light household duties, and receives a weekly allowance plus free accommodation and meals.
- Processing time
- Not specified by the Directorate; apply well before the intended start date.
- Validity
- For the duration of the au pair contract, maximum 1 year. May be renewed once for a further year (maximum total stay as au pair: 2 years).
- Language requirement
- None mandated for the permit itself.
- Permanent residence
- Not applicable — au pair permit does not lead to permanent residence.
- Citizenship
- Not applicable — au pair permit does not lead to citizenship.
Requirements
- Non-EEA/EFTA national
- Aged 18–25 at time of application
- No familial connection with the host family
- Valid passport
- No disqualifying criminal convictions
- Proof of secure means of support for the entire permit duration
- Health insurance valid in Iceland for minimum 6 months, covering at least ISK 2,000,000
- Signed au pair contract with the host family
- Host family must meet all official requirements (Icelandic citizen or PR holder, child in household, no family ties to au pair)
Required Documents
- Completed application form required
- Valid passport copy — personal data page and signature page with machine-readable zone; passport must be valid at least 90 days beyond permit end date required
- Passport-size photograph (35x45 mm) required
- Criminal record certificate from country of residence, issued within the past 12 months required
- Health insurance confirmation — valid in Iceland for minimum 6 months from registration, minimum ISK 2,000,000 coverage required
- Proof of financial means of support for entire permit duration required
- Signed au pair contract required
- Payment receipt (if fee paid by bank transfer) required
- Apostille or chain authentication for all foreign public documents; certified translations for documents not in English or a Nordic language required
- Power of attorney (only if authorising another person to receive application updates)
Official fees
- Application fee (initial permit) 120,000 ISK
- Application fee (renewal) 120,000 ISK
Process Steps
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1
Arrange host family placement
Secure a signed au pair contract with a qualifying host family in Iceland. The family must meet all Directorate of Immigration requirements (Icelandic citizen or PR holder, child in household, no family relationship with you).
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2
Gather documents
Collect all required documents: passport, photograph, criminal record certificate (max 12 months old), health insurance confirmation (min ISK 2,000,000 coverage), proof of financial support, and the signed au pair contract. Have all foreign documents apostilled and non-English/Nordic documents professionally translated.
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3
Pay the application fee
Pay the non-refundable fee of 120,000 ISK. Obtain a payment receipt if paying by bank transfer.
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4
Submit paper application
Post or hand-deliver the complete paper application to the Directorate of Immigration (Hlíðasmári 6, 201 Kópavogur). Do not be in Iceland during processing if you require a visa.
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5
Await decision and travel
Wait for the Directorate's decision. Once the permit is granted, travel to Iceland and register your domicile.