Work in Iceland

Renowned for its natural beauty and high standard of living, Iceland made Lonely Planet's top 10 places to visit in 2013. So why not make it your home?

Job market in Iceland

The global financial crisis of 2008 hit Iceland very hard. In October 2008, Iceland's government took control of all three of the countries major banks in an attempt to stabilise the countries finances. It has appeared to work, as the country has showed signs of growth in last few years.

Iceland is well-known amongst the rest of Europe for industries such as: fish processing, aluminium smelting, hydro-electric power production and tourism.

Job vacancies

• Iceland on the Web  - links to a large quantity of Icelandic companies. 
• Eures Iceland  - provides useful information on the Icelandic labour market and job vacancies.

Work experience and internships

Icelandic employers require graduates with relative skills and experience in their chosen field.

Internships and summer work placements for students can be arranged by:

• AIESEC UK  - for students and recent graduates;
• IAESTE UK  - for science, engineering and applied arts students.

There are fewer opportunities to teach English in Iceland than elsewhere in Europe, mainly because locals are taught the language from a young age.

Volunteering in Iceland

Voluntary work is a great option for those looking to improve their Icelandic language skills and sample what the country has to offer.

SEEDS  is an Icelandic non-profit volunteer organisation designed to help protect and promote the environment. In 2011, the movement ran 100 projects with more than 1,000 international volunteers from 55 countries.

Make sure you extensively research all volunteering opportunities and check the terms and conditions before applying.

Language requirements

Having the ability to speak basic Icelandic will be important when applying for any job. Some roles will require a higher level of Icelandic than others, for example, working in the healthcare sector.

There are many Icelandic language courses on offer in Iceland, with the majority available in the captial city, Reykjavík.

Icelandic visas and immigration

Iceland is not currently part of the EU, but it has lodged its application and membership is expected by 2014.

UK nationals and the majority of EU citizens do not need a visa. A full list of those who do not need a visa to enter Iceland can be found at Directorate of Immigration - Who Does Not Need a Visa to Enter Iceland  .

EU citizens can live in Iceland for three months, but then need relevant paperwork to extend their stay. A residence permit is normally granted automatically to EU citizens.

If you are from a non-EU country, then contact the Iceland embassy in your country for more information.

Once you have resided in Iceland for six months you automatically become a member of the Icelandic social insurance system, regardless of nationality.

For country-specific information on social security entitlements, see European Commission - Your Rights Country by Country .