Public universities in Iceland charge no tuition fees – at the University of Iceland you pay a registration fee of ISK 100,000 for 2026/27, and tuition fees planned for non-EEA students from autumn 2027 do not affect EU/EEA citizens. The Study in Iceland portal lists 7 universities, and English-taught programmes are growing, especially at master's level. Check deadlines and monthly costs.
EU/EEA citizens don't need a visa. If you stay in Iceland for more than 3 months, you register your residence with Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá) – no later than 3 months after arrival. If you stay longer than 6 months, registration is compulsory.
You fill in form A-271 online and, after arrival, visit the office with your passport or ID card. You need:
Documents must be in Icelandic or English – others need a certified translation. Processing takes up to 10 working days, and once registered you get an Icelandic identification number, the kennitala.
Students from outside the EEA need a residence permit for students from the Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun). You must be enrolled full-time (30 ECTS per semester). The application is submitted on paper – by post or at the Directorate's office in Kópavogur – and the processing fee is ISK 70,000. If you need a visa to enter Iceland, you must not be in Iceland while your application is being processed. To get a decision before the semester starts, apply by 1 May for the autumn semester or by 1 October for the spring semester. You will need, among other things, a valid passport, confirmation of enrolment, a criminal record certificate, health insurance with cover of at least ISK 2,000,000 and proof of means of support – from 18 May 2026 ISK 259,951 a month. The permit is granted for up to one year and can be renewed.
Note: the service page on Ísland.is gives 1 May as the deadline, while an earlier news item from the Directorate of Immigration mentioned 1 June – check the current deadline on the Directorate's website before you apply.
Health insurance: after you register your residence, there is usually a 3-month wait before you are covered by Icelandic health insurance. If you were insured in another EEA country, you may get it sooner – bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to cover the start. Students from outside the EEA need private insurance at least for this period.
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
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