Service Contract or Academic Collaboration Residence and Work Permit

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Get your free results Read the five questions ↓

What type of worker, employment situation, occupation or professional activity is this pathway actually designed for?

There are two strands. The first is specialist workers of a foreign company sent to carry out a service in Iceland under a service contract, where the contract states that this person is needed and has the specialisation for the service. The second is employees of a foreign employer doing teaching, academic or scientific work in Iceland under a cooperation agreement with an Icelandic employer.

See recorded sources

https://island.is/en/apply-for-a-work-permit/specialist-teaching-academic-or-scientific-workers-under-a-contract
The service contract or the certified Annex to it states that it is necessary for the person who applies for a work permit to perform the service to be provided and the person concerned has specialization to perform the service in question.
https://island.is/en/apply-for-a-work-permit/specialist-teaching-academic-or-scientific-workers-under-a-contract
The cooperation agreement must state that it is a job that the employee of the foreign employer will perform in Iceland on the basis of cooperation between the Icelandic employer and the foreign employer in relation to teaching, academic or scientific work.

Does the applicant need a job offer, employer, sponsor, transfer relationship or other employer involvement? What is important about that employer relationship?

The employer is a foreign company or employer. For service contracts, the foreign service company must have no business in Iceland and must have signed a service agreement with the Icelandic user company. For academic work, there must be a cooperation agreement on teaching, academic or scientific work between the Icelandic and foreign employers; cooperation agreements on other work are not covered.

See recorded sources

https://island.is/en/apply-for-a-work-permit/specialist-teaching-academic-or-scientific-workers-under-a-contract
The foreign company that is supposed to provide services in Iceland does not have a business in Iceland.
https://island.is/en/apply-for-a-work-permit/specialist-teaching-academic-or-scientific-workers-under-a-contract
A service agreement has been concluded between the foreign service company and the domestic user company.
https://island.is/en/apply-for-a-work-permit/specialist-teaching-academic-or-scientific-workers-under-a-contract
A cooperation agreement on teaching, academic or scientific work between the domestic and foreign employer must be available. Cooperation agreements on other work are not covered.

What are the few decisive professional characteristics of the pathway: occupation, qualifications, experience, salary, skill level, shortage status, labour-market condition or equivalent?

The permit is granted only in exceptional circumstances, to specialist employees, and not for general non-professional work. Wages in Iceland must follow Icelandic law and collective agreements. For academic cooperation, the employee must have completed the university studies needed for the work.

See recorded sources

https://island.is/en/permit-based-on-work/requirements
such a permit may be granted in exceptional circumstances, to specialist employees on the grounds of a service agreement or collaboration agreements on educational, academic or scientific work.
https://island.is/en/apply-for-a-work-permit/specialist-teaching-academic-or-scientific-workers-under-a-contract
Permits in this category are not granted for general non-professional work.
https://island.is/en/apply-for-a-work-permit/specialist-teaching-academic-or-scientific-workers-under-a-contract
The employee's wages and salaries while in Iceland are in accordance with the law and the applicable collective agreements in Iceland.
https://island.is/en/apply-for-a-work-permit/specialist-teaching-academic-or-scientific-workers-under-a-contract
The relevant employee of the foreign employer must have completed the university studies necessary to carry out the relevant work.

What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?

Work may not start before the work permit is granted, and the holder may work only for the employer named on the work permit. The permit gives the right to family reunification for a marital spouse, a cohabiting spouse after at least one year of cohabitation, children under 18 in the holder's custody, and parents aged 67 or older.

See recorded sources

https://island.is/en/permit-based-on-work/rights
The applicant may not start working until a work permit has been granted.
https://island.is/en/permit-based-on-work/rights
The holder may not work for an employer other than the one to whom the work permit was granted.
https://island.is/en/permit-based-on-work/rights
The permit confers the right to family reunification for the holder's marital spouse , cohabiting spouse , after at least one year of cohabitation, children under the age of 18 , if the holder has custody of them, parents 67 years or older

How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?

The permit is generally granted for no more than one year on the same contract, never longer than the work permit. It may be renewed for up to six months at a time. It cannot lead to a permanent residence permit.

See recorded sources

https://island.is/en/permit-based-on-work/rights
The permit shall generally not be granted for a longer period than one year on grounds of the same contract, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit.
https://island.is/en/permit-based-on-work/rights
The permit may be renewed for as long as six months at a time, however, not longer than the period of validity of the work permit.
https://island.is/en/permit-based-on-work/rights
The permit can not be a basis for a permanent residence permit

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

Explore more pathways in Iceland · All pathways

Your story.
Your next step.

Get your free results

Not legal advice. No eligibility verdict or ranking. Check the linked sources before applying.

Service Contract or Academic Collaboration Residence and Work Permit

What type of worker, employment situation, occupation or professional activity is this pathway actually designed for?

Does the applicant need a job offer, employer, sponsor, transfer relationship or other employer involvement? What is important about that employer relationship?

What are the few decisive professional characteristics of the pathway: occupation, qualifications, experience, salary, skill level, shortage status, labour-market condition or equivalent?

What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?

How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?

Your story.Your next step.

Your story.
Your next step.