Thinking about working in another European country? For each of 32 countries – all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom – you will find the key labour market figures, where the jobs are, how to apply, pay and working conditions, student jobs and what to do in your first weeks. General advice on job search, your CV and your rights: How to find a job abroad – 10 practical guides »
EU/EEA citizens can live and work in Iceland under the EEA Agreement – you just register (see above). Nordic citizens follow separate rules.
If you are not an EEA/EFTA citizen, you need a residence permit based on work from the Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun), and you must have a job offer from an Icelandic employer. The main work-based permits are for:
Graduates of Icelandic universities (bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree) can get a special residence permit to look for a job after graduation – a bridge between the student permit and a permit for work requiring expert knowledge. The processing fee for work-based permits is ISK 80,000.
All the conditions and application steps are explained on island.is.
Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.
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