Working & living in Iceland
Free, plain-English guides for foreigners moving to Iceland for work — no Icelandic required to read them, or to land many of the jobs. Pick a topic below, then browse open jobs.
Start here🧭 Moving to Iceland: A Step-by-Step Checklist for Newcomers
Moving to a new country is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming when you do not yet know where to start.
Open the checklist →Finding work
Land a job here — in English.
How to get a job in Iceland without speaking Icelandic
A practical guide to finding work in Iceland in English. Which jobs need no Icelandic, where to look, and how to apply as a foreigner — step by step.
Read guide →Which Icelandic industries hire English speakers
The Icelandic industries most open to English speakers and foreigners — tourism, logistics, construction, care, cleaning and tech. Where newcomers find work.
Read guide →Construction Jobs in Iceland for Foreigners: What to Know
Construction jobs in Iceland for foreigners: which roles hire from abroad, whether you need Icelandic, safety rules, and how to find and apply for openings.
Read guide →Writing a CV that works in Iceland (European style)
How to write a CV for jobs in Iceland: European format, length, what to include and what to leave out. Practical tips for foreigners applying in English.
Read guide →Job interviews in Iceland: what to expect
How job interviews work in Iceland — informal but punctual, what employers ask foreigners, and how to prepare. A confidence-building guide in plain English.
Read guide →Learning Icelandic for Free or Cheap: A Practical Guide for Foreigners
You can find work in Iceland without speaking Icelandic, but learning some opens more doors. Here are free and low-cost ways for foreigners to start.
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Paperwork & money
Kennitala, tax, banking — and your rights.
How to Get a Kennitala in Iceland: A Step-by-Step Guide for Newcomers
New to Iceland? Learn what a kennitala is, why you need one for work, banking and daily life, and the general steps EEA and non-EEA newcomers take to get set up.
Read guide →Kennitala & work permits: working in Iceland as a foreigner
What a kennitala is, who needs a work permit in Iceland, and the difference between EEA/EFTA and non-EEA workers. A plain-English starter guide for foreigners.
Read guide →Opening a Bank Account in Iceland as a Foreigner: A Newcomer's Guide
A clear, friendly guide to opening a bank account in Iceland as a foreigner — why you need one, getting your kennitala first, the main banks, what to bring, and using electronic ID.
Read guide →Getting a Tax Card and How Income Tax Works in Iceland: A Guide for Foreign Workers
A clear, friendly guide to the Icelandic tax card (skattkort), the personal tax credit, and how income tax works for foreign workers in Iceland.
Read guide →Your Rights as a Worker in Iceland: What Every Employee Is Entitled To
A plain-English guide to your rights as a worker in Iceland — wage agreements, contracts, holiday and sick pay, working hours, and where to turn for help. The same rights apply to foreigners.
Read guide →Trade Unions in Iceland Explained (Stéttarfélag): A Guide for Foreign Workers
What an Icelandic trade union (stéttarfélag) is and why it matters if you work in Iceland as a foreigner. Learn about dues, your rights, member benefits, and how unions help underpaid workers.
Read guide →Avoiding Job Scams and Worker Exploitation in Iceland: A Guide for Foreign Workers
Learn how to spot job scams and worker exploitation in Iceland, protect yourself with written contracts and payslips, and know who to contact for help.
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Settling in
Housing, healthcare, family and getting around.
Finding a Place to Rent in Iceland: A Newcomer's Guide
A friendly guide for foreigners on finding a rental in Iceland: where to look, what you need, deposits and leases, your tenant rights, and how to avoid scams.
Read guide →Cost of living & salaries in Reykjavík for newcomers
What newcomers should know about the cost of living and pay in Reykjavík, Iceland — housing, transport, daily costs and how wages and unions work, in plain English.
Read guide →Healthcare for Foreign Workers in Iceland: A Newcomer's Guide
How to access Iceland's health system as a foreign worker: registration with Sjúkratryggingar Íslands, your kennitala, the heilsugæsla, waiting periods, and the EHIC.
Read guide →Childcare and Schools in Iceland for Foreign Families
A warm, practical guide to childcare and schools in Iceland for foreign families: preschool (leikskóli), day parents, free compulsory school (grunnskóli), after-school care, and the first steps to get started.
Read guide →Getting Around Iceland Without a Car: A Newcomer's Transport Guide
How to get around Iceland without a car as a newcomer — Reykjavík's Strætó buses and the Klappið app, walking and cycling, airport transfers, and how transport shapes your job search.
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📚 More guides
The Foreign-Worker Job Market in Iceland: 2026 Snapshot
Original data on jobs open to foreigners in Iceland: how many require no Icelandic, which sectors hire international workers, and where the jobs are. June 2026.
Read guide →How to move to Iceland: a step-by-step guide for foreigners
Thinking of moving to Iceland? A practical, step-by-step guide for foreigners — visas and the right to live here, finding a job, kennitala, housing, money and settling in.
Read guide →Immigrating to Iceland: who can move there, and how
Can you immigrate to Iceland? A clear guide to who is eligible — EEA/EFTA vs non-EEA — how the process works, whether it's easy, and how a job fits in.
Read guide →