Iceland · Working holiday
Iceland Working Holiday
Age limit and funds needed: Ages 18–30 · ISK 260k/mo ≈ $2,130
Working Holiday: Youth Mobility residence permit (Andorra, Canada, Chile, Japan, United Kingdom)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Working Holiday is a working holiday route for Iceland. Conditions: ages 18–30 · funds needed ISK 260k/mo ≈ $2,130. You can stay 1 yr, renewable. Local work: casual jobs. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- ISK 40k ≈ $330
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee ISK 40k ≈ $330; income to show ISK 260k+/mo ≈ $2,130. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesISK 40k ≈ $330
- ISK 40,000 (≈ $330)Processing fee for applicants from Andorra, Canada, Chile and the United Kingdom; Japanese citizens pay no fee.
Shown, not spentISK 260k+/mo ≈ $2,130
- ISK 259,951 a month (≈ $2,130)Minimum secure means of support for an individual, before tax, for three months after the permit is issued (equal to the basic financial assistance of the City of Reykjavík).
RenewalRenewal rules
Andorran, Canadian, Chilean and British citizens can renew the permit for up to one year; Japanese citizens cannot renew.
Permanent residenceTime here doesn't count
The Working Holiday permit is not a basis for a permanent residence permit.
Presence rulesStay rule
The residence permit can be revoked if you stay abroad for more than three consecutive months.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Only for passports from 5 countries
- Only for ages 18–30
What you'll need
Who can apply6
- The applicant is a citizen of Andorra, Canada, Chile, Japan or the United Kingdom.
- The applicant is 18 to 30 years old when applying.
- The purpose of the stay is to experience Icelandic culture and the general way of life.
- The applicant has not held a Working Holiday permit in Iceland before; Japanese citizens must live in Japan.
- The applicant does not intend to take up residence in Iceland.
- UK citizens may not work as professional sportspeople, coaches or in jobs they are not qualified for.
What you must show2
- Secure means of support of ISK 259,951 (≈ $2,130) a month before tax for three months after the permit is issued; own savings in a bank statement count.
- Processing fee: ISK 40,000, (≈ $330) or no fee for Japanese citizens.
Documents4
- A return ticket from Iceland or proof of funds for one.
- A sworn declaration on the purpose of the stay for Andorran and Chilean citizens.
- Health insurance valid in Iceland with at least ISK 2,000,000 (≈ $16,400) cover for three months from registering a legal domicile.
- A criminal record certificate from the country of residence, not older than 12 months.
Steps1
- Applicants are visa-exempt and may apply while in Iceland if their Schengen stay stays within 90 days in 180.
After you arrive1
- The permit lapses if the holder stays abroad for more than three consecutive months.
When you become tax resident
How Iceland decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 1 year at first, renewable
- Tax residence
A person staying in Iceland for six months or more in a twelve-month period is a resident with unlimited tax liability from the day of arrival; municipal tax is 14.94% on average and included in the brackets.
- Foreign-source income
Employment income less the mandatory pension fund contribution; residents are taxed on worldwide income, non-residents on income from Icelandic sources.
All tax rules for Iceland Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Health insurance valid in Iceland with at least ISK 2,000,000 (≈ $16,400) cover for three months from registering a legal domicile
- Bank account / funds
Secure means of support of ISK 259,951 (≈ $2,130) a month before tax for three months after the permit is issued
- Police certificate and civil documents
A criminal record certificate from the country of residence, not older than 12 months
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence permit of up to one year under bilateral youth mobility agreements, with an unrestricted right to work. 1
What you must show and pay
- Income of at least ISK 259,951 a month (≈ $2,130) · Minimum secure means of support for an individual, before tax, for three months after the permit is issued (equal to the basic financial assistance of the City of Reykjavík). 1
- A fee of ISK 40,000 (≈ $330) · Processing fee for applicants from Andorra, Canada, Chile and the United Kingdom; Japanese citizens pay no fee. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is a citizen of Andorra, Canada, Chile, Japan or the United Kingdom. 1
- The applicant is 18 to 30 years old when applying. 1
- The purpose of the stay is to experience Icelandic culture and the general way of life. 1
- The applicant has not held a Working Holiday permit in Iceland before; Japanese citizens must live in Japan. 1
- The applicant does not intend to take up residence in Iceland. 1
- UK citizens may not work as professional sportspeople, coaches or in jobs they are not qualified for. 1
- Secure means of support of ISK 259,951 (≈ $2,130) a month before tax for three months after the permit is issued; own savings in a bank statement count. 1
- Processing fee: ISK 40,000, (≈ $330) or no fee for Japanese citizens. 1
- A return ticket from Iceland or proof of funds for one. 1
- A sworn declaration on the purpose of the stay for Andorran and Chilean citizens. 1
- Health insurance valid in Iceland with at least ISK 2,000,000 (≈ $16,400) cover for three months from registering a legal domicile. 1
- A criminal record certificate from the country of residence, not older than 12 months. 1
- Applicants are visa-exempt and may apply while in Iceland if their Schengen stay stays within 90 days in 180. 1
- The permit lapses if the holder stays abroad for more than three consecutive months. 1
Stay
- Up to one year; Andorran, Canadian, Chilean and British citizens can renew for up to one year; Japanese citizens cannot renew.
- First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Citizens of the partner countries listed. Open to: Andorra, Canada, Chile, Japan, United Kingdom.
Work
Unlimited work permit included; the holder may change employers without applying for a work permit.
Family
The permit does not confer the right to family reunification.
Official sources
- Residence permit for Working Holiday / Youth Mobility · Directorate of Immigration of Iceland (Ísland.is) · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence permit for Working Holiday / Youth Mobility: rights and obligations · Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun) · checked 2026-10-11
Working Holiday and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working Holiday | Ages 18–30 · funds needed ISK 260k/mo ≈ $2,130 | 1 yr, renewable | Casual jobs |
| Working Holiday Portugal | – | 1 yr | Casual jobs |
| Working Holiday · Argentina Spain | – | 1 yr | Casual jobs |
| Working Holiday · Australia Italy | Ages 18–35 · funds needed €10k ≈ $11k | 1 yr | Casual jobs |
| Working Holiday · Australia Greece | – | 1 yr | Casual jobs |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Working Holiday?
Income of at least ISK 259,951 a month (≈ $2,130). Minimum secure means of support for an individual, before tax, for three months after the permit is issued (equal to the basic financial assistance of the City of Reykjavík). A fee of ISK 40,000 (≈ $330). Processing fee for applicants from Andorra, Canada, Chile and the United Kingdom; Japanese citizens pay no fee.
How long can I stay on the Working Holiday?
Up to one year; Andorran, Canadian, Chilean and British citizens can renew for up to one year; Japanese citizens cannot renew.
Can I work on the Working Holiday?
Casual jobs. Unlimited work permit included; the holder may change employers without applying for a work permit.
Can I bring my family on the Working Holiday?
The permit does not confer the right to family reunification.
Who can apply for the Working Holiday?
Citizens of the partner countries listed. Open to: Andorra, Canada, Chile, Japan, United Kingdom.
Does the Working Holiday lead to permanent residence in Iceland?
Time on the Working Holiday doesn't count toward permanent residence in Iceland.
How are Working Holiday holders taxed in Iceland?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Working Holiday. The standard rules apply: Employment income is taxed in three monthly brackets: 31.49% up to ISK 498,122, (≈ $4,080) 37.99% up to ISK 1,398,450 (≈ $11,500) and 46.29% above, including municipal tax.
More in Iceland
Similar visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Residence permit for Working Holiday / Youth Mobility · Directorate of Immigration of Iceland (Ísland.is) · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence permit for Working Holiday / Youth Mobility: rights and obligations · Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.