National Registry in Iceland

Þjóðskrá á Íslandi
The following information explains when an individual is entitled to register in the National Registry in Iceland, and how this is done.

Rules on registration in the National Registry

The inter-Nordic civil registration agreement between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden applies to persons who move to Iceland from another Nordic country. Under the agreement you can only be registered at one domicile in the Nordic region. The rules of the state to which you are moving determine how you are to register.

In Iceland, Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá Íslands) handles registration of legal domicile and issues identification numbers (Id. Nos.). Nordic nationals who intend to live and work in Iceland for less than six months usually do not need to transfer their domicile to the country. If they need an Id. No., for example, for study or work, their employer, the Directorate of Labour or the educational institution must apply for an Id. No. for the person concerned

Persons who move to Iceland from one of the Nordic countries, and live and work in Iceland for more than 6 months, must transfer their legal domicile to Iceland. To do this you can either visit Registers Iceland in Reykjavík or the office of your local authority and submit a notice of your move.

 

To report a move to Iceland from another Nordic country

A person who moves to Iceland from another Nordic country must report the change of address within one week of arrival. This is done in person at Registers Iceland or the office of municipality of residence. The person will be registered in the National Registry in Iceland from the date stated as the date of moving and Registers Iceland will notify the country of departure of the move. If the person gives notice of a move to Iceland after over a week has elapsed from the actual date of the move, he/she will be registered in the National Registry from the date of notification of the move.

What to bring with you

A passport or other valid travel document must be presented when notifying a move to Registers Iceland or the office of the municipality concerned.

Registration of children

The same rules on registration in the National Registry apply to children and adults. If a child is to move to Iceland from abroad, information must be provided on legal custody of the child.

If a child moves from one parent to another or to a third party and parents have joint custody, an agreement must be presented from both parents on the change in the child's domicile attested to by a District Commissioner.  This applies in particular to Icelandic children who are the subject of an agreement on child custody and legal domicile. The child’s domicile will be entered in the National Registry based on the agreement. In the case of joint custody, this means that when a child moves abroad, transferring from one parent to another, an agreement on the child's domicile must always be concluded and attested to by a District Commissioner before the child leaves the country. The same applies when an unaccompanied child comes to Iceland when transferring from one parent to the other: information on the custody of the child must be available and an agreement on the child's domicile attested to by a District Commissioner.

In cases where a foreign child comes to Iceland alone or with one parent, documentation on the custody of the child must always be provided.  In the case of joint custody the consent of the parent who is not moving to Iceland is required if that parent resides in the country of previous residence.

Identification number (Id. No.)

All persons registered in the National Registry receive an Id. No. (kennitala). Individuals who have received an Id. No. keep that number for their entire lifetime, even if they move from Iceland.   

Further information:

Further information is available on the District Commissioners’ website or by phone +354 5155300

Contact the authorities
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Info Norden is the information service of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Here you can find info and tips if you wish to move, work, study, seek support or start a business in the Nordic region.