Your first 90 days in Iceland: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The six-month health-insurance waiting period catches nearly everyone, and it runs from registered domicile, not from arrival. Budget for genuine private cover for that window rather than travel insurance, which will not satisfy the permit condition or a hospital.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Complete the residence permit with Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá) — a legal domicile registration plus the mandatory medical examination
The medical examination must be done within two weeks of arrival, and the permit card is only issued afterwards
Non-EEA nationals must normally have the permit granted BEFORE travelling to Iceland; arriving first and applying from inside the country is not the normal route and is frequently refused.
Get your kennitala (Icelandic identification number)
Housing, banking, phone contracts, the health service and payroll all run on it — without a kennitala you are functionally invisible in Iceland.
Assigned by Registers Iceland when your legal domicile is registered; a temporary 'system' kennitala can be issued earlier for tax purposes but does not carry the same rights.
Open a bank account
Landsbankinn, Íslandsbanki and Arion all require the kennitala and an in-branch identity check; once you have it the process is quick. Iceland is effectively cashless, so getting a domestic card matters more than usual — bridge with a multi-currency card until the account opens.
Enrol in healthcare
Sjúkratryggingar Íslands covers you after six months of legal residence, and that waiting period is the single most expensive detail of moving to Iceland — private insurance for the gap is mandatory in practice and often required as a condition of the permit. EEA arrivals can shorten this with an S1 or A1 form.
Sort your driver's license
EEA licences are valid and exchangeable on paper. Licences from outside the EEA may be used for a limited period after establishing domicile, and exchange depends on reciprocity — US licence holders commonly end up taking a practical test, and the winter-driving component is not a formality.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Iceland?
Add your email for new Iceland guides and a heads-up when the arrival rules or figures change. We never file anything ourselves.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Iceland: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Iceland?
Complete the residence permit with Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá) — a legal domicile registration plus the mandatory medical examination — The medical examination must be done within two weeks of arrival, and the permit card is only issued afterwards. Non-EEA nationals must normally have the permit granted BEFORE travelling to Iceland; arriving first and applying from inside the country is not the normal route and is frequently refused. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the kennitala and do I need one?
kennitala (Icelandic identification number) is Iceland's personal tax/ID number. Housing, banking, phone contracts, the health service and payroll all run on it — without a kennitala you are functionally invisible in Iceland. Assigned by Registers Iceland when your legal domicile is registered; a temporary 'system' kennitala can be issued earlier for tax purposes but does not carry the same rights.
Can I drive in Iceland on a US license?
EEA licences are valid and exchangeable on paper. Licences from outside the EEA may be used for a limited period after establishing domicile, and exchange depends on reciprocity — US licence holders commonly end up taking a practical test, and the winter-driving component is not a formality. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Iceland?
Sjúkratryggingar Íslands covers you after six months of legal residence, and that waiting period is the single most expensive detail of moving to Iceland — private insurance for the gap is mandatory in practice and often required as a condition of the permit. EEA arrivals can shorten this with an S1 or A1 form. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Iceland's system treats foreign residents.