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How to Work in Iceland in 2026: Requirements, Salary, and Jobs
Iceland is among the 10 countries with the highest per capita income in the world and has a unique natural environment that makes more and more tourists want to visit. travel to icelandespecially during the peak season from June to September. With fewer than 400 inhabitants and a very low unemployment rate, foreign labor is in high demand And, in the 2 years we lived there, we found it easy to work in Iceland in the service sector during the summer months.
Personally, I believe that working in this country is an enriching experience in many aspects, not only do you have a good salary compared to almost any other country, but you meet people from many different countries, you practice English and you have the opportunity to use your free days to visit one of the most desired tourist destinations in the world.
If you want to know what our day-to-day life is like living in Iceland, you can check out all the daily content we share on Instagram.
- REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING IN ICELAND (EU and other countries)
- THE MOST IN-DEMAND JOBS TO WORK IN ICELAND
- WHERE TO FIND A JOB IN ICELAND, BEST JOB PORTALS
- WHEN TO START LOOKING FOR A JOB
- WAGES IN ICELAND IN 2026
- WORKING DAYS AND TREATMENT OF THE WORKER
- OUR OPINION ON WORKING DURING THE SUMMER IN ICELAND
- Frequently asked questions about working in Iceland
REQUIREMENTS TO WORK IN ICELAND (EU and other countries)
For inhabitants of the European Union and the European Economic Area you don't need a visa To access the job market and work in Iceland, the only procedure we need to complete is to apply for a personal identification number (I'll explain how I handled this process below). ID Number.
Other places where work, save and enjoy the experience of living abroad They are Australia and New Zealand. You can read a complete guide on how to do it in the land of the Kiwi at ▶How to work in New Zealand.
Languages: Is it necessary to know Icelandic?
Although Iceland's official language is Icelandic, practically the entire population speaks very good EnglishWe only had a couple of situations where we couldn't communicate.car good with a local person.
Hay certain jobs where English is not so necessary , the house keeping (cleaning hotel rooms) or in the fish industry, but you do need a minimum level of English that allows you to communicatecarGet together with your colleagues and do a good interview so they hire you.
It's often said that speaking Icelandic is essential for getting a skilled job, but after seeing how perfectly many people speak English, I doubt that not knowing Icelandic is a sufficient reason to be dismissed.carHave a good resume. We know of cases that corroborate this, such as that of an engineer who had been living in Egilsstadir for years.
Besides English, other highly valued languages for work in Iceland carto the public They are French, German or even Spanish.
Kennitala processing for working in Iceland
To work in Iceland only during the summer the procedures are very simple, the only requirement is obtain the equivalent of the DNI, which in Iceland is called ID NumberTo do this, you need to fill out form RSK 3.30, which your employer must sign. Then, send that form by email, attaching a copy of your passport.
Within a maximum of 5 business days, you will receive an email with your System ID, which is the equivalent of your Kennitala. We received ours in less than 2 days. With this number, you can sign contracts, open bank accounts, etc.
You can find much more detailed step-by-step information in our The Ultimate Guide to Working in Iceland.
NotaYou can live in the country and even work while you process your Kennitala, but you won't be able to open a bank account to receive your salary until you have it, so I don't recommend postponing this simple process.
Open a bank accountcaria
OPEN a ban accountcarAI is essential to work in Iceland since salaries are in Icelandic krona and most companies pay into local bank accounts. There are only 3 banks, Íslandsbanki, Landsbankinn and Arion BankiIn theory, you can open an account online, but the English version of their website leaves much to be desired, so we did it directly in the office. They make it easy, and it didn't even take half an hour.
To choose between one or the other, we asked about the commissions on international transfers and Arion seemed the best. The 3 banks are not always in the same town, if that is the case you will have to stay with the one with the closest office.
Issuing a card can have a cost; at Arion, it's around €10. Using the cards incurs a fee of approximately €0,13 per payment, regardless of the purchase amount. They don't usually notify you of this, and in the first few months, we find ourselves... carWe had various amounts of Icelandic "go" that we didn't know the origin of. That's why we opted to use fee-free cards in our daily lives. We have an article discussing this. the best cards without commissions to travel abroad.
How to get an Icelandic phone number
To carry out many procedures online, telephone verification is required You can only do it if you have an Icelandic number. Getting one is completely free and very simpleWe ordered a SIM card from Siminn at an electronics store; they can also be found at phone shops or gas stations. These cards are prepaid and you don't need to renew them.cargarla for online procedures.
We use roaming in Iceland with our phone companies, but if you prefer to switch to Icelandic, you can sign up for plans at the same electronics store or cargar la prepago con los diferentes packes que ofertas.
Health insurance for working in Iceland
It's very important to know that as a short-stay worker you don't have access to health insurance in Iceland, but if you have the nationality of a European country you can apply for the European Health Insurance Card before traveling to Iceland. With it you can receive treatment under their co-payment system, since Icelandic healthcare is not free.
To go more calmly We recommend that you take out insurance that will cover you 100% of any medical expenses while you are in Iceland. A great health insurance for this type of situation is Nomad Complete de SafetyWingIt covers up to $1.500.000 and includes routine medical checkups, psychologists, specialist visits, dental emergencies, cancer treatments, car accidents, and sports injuries, among many other things. We always travel with insurance, even when we go to work in Iceland.
Nor should we forget that This Safetywing insurance includes travel coverage such as lost luggage or missed flight connections. This type of insurance also covers you worldwide, so if you decide to travel after working in Iceland, you'll be covered too.
Procedures if you stay more than 6 months
If you like life and working conditions in Iceland so much that you decide to stay for more than 6 months, as we did, you will need apply for permanent residence registration.
The application process is a bit longer, although we found it easy to manage if you live in Iceland and have a job. I recommend doing it after you've been in the country for 4 or 5 months and know you'll be staying longer. This process is done online at the website of the Immigration Department in which you will have to complete the form A-271.
At the same time you have to present your passport at a police station.
LOS JOBS MORE IN DEMAND TO WORK IN ICELAND
As I mentioned before Tourism is one of the fundamental pillars of the Icelandic economy receiving more than 2 million tourists annuallyMost of these tourists arrive during the summer holidays, so the most in-demand jobs are all related to tourism. In our experience, these are the most sought-after:
- Housekeeping (hotel room cleaning)
- Laundry service both at the hotel and through specialized companies
- Reception at hotels / tourist activity offices / hot springs
- Reception and cleaning at campsites
- Waiter in hotels / bars / restaurants
- Serve and prepare breakfasts
- Dishwasher
- Kitchen assistant / cook (if qualified)
- Staff in souvenir shops
- Cleaning rental cars and vans
- Staff of all kinds at the airport
These vacancies are filled by local and foreign students like us who go to work in Iceland. If you want to get a good job From home and months in advance, you need to read our complete Guide to Working in Iceland.
Other job opportunities in Iceland unrelated to tourism include the fishing industry and aluminum factories, two very strong industries in Iceland where many employees are foreigners. I spent a few months working in an aluminum foundry, and although the salaries were higher, I found the work much harder than my other jobs in tourism.
WHERE TO FIND A JOB IN ICELAND, BEST PORTALS
These are our favorite websites for finding work in Iceland.
Alfred.is – Our favorite. It's in English and you can filter by Summerjob. They can contact you via chat and even phone directly from the website.carYou're scheduled for an interview.
Eures Network – A European job search portal, there are also offers in Iceland.
Job.is– Icelandic-language job portal.
You can also hand in your resume in person; many small businesses don't advertise their vacancies on the most popular job portals, and since it's a small country where almost everyone knows each other, going door-to-door will quickly get you noticed.carThey know where they're hiring. But without a doubt Our recommendation is that you go to Iceland with a job and everything linked.
WHEN TO START TO LOOK FOR A JOB
We have found that the best months to start searching are the best months to start searching.car employment is from March to the end of April. This is when most companies publish offers to prepare for the summer season.
In some places they are looking for people to start working in May. In most cases they expand staff starting in June And in some places you can even start in July with the intention of reinforcing the staff during the busiest month.
Peak season ends at the end of August, but most places require staff until mid or late September. One of the main reasons is that the last week of August, Icelandic students return to university and all those positions are left unfilled.
The best area in Iceland to work
The most touristy areas are the ones most in need of labor, so it is highly recommended to look here the typical tourist route to see the areas that may interest you most. For us, the best area to work in Iceland is anywhere away from Reykjavik..
The Icelandic capital is a city where housing is extremely expensive. carThere are places where finding short-term rentals isn't easy. Furthermore, companies rarely offer employee accommodation in or around the capital. In those cases, you'll have to look elsewhere.car a budget hostel, or perhaps try a pet sitting to have a free house, while you look for your own residence in the country.
On the contrary, if you are looking for job offers in In more remote areas of the country it is very common for companies to have houses for employees, or else they'll help you find a bus.car accommodation.
The most convenient option is the bus.car Look for jobs that offer employee accommodation to save you paperwork and headaches. This way you don't even have to worry about paying rent because it's usually deducted from your paycheck. In some cases it is free.
Prices vary considerably; you can find companies offering rooms from €200 to €900. We paid around €450. If you're working with your partner or a friend, you can share this expense.
WAGES IN ICELAND IN 2026
minimum salary
There is no common minimum wage for the country, Rather, said salary is determined by the sector, age (those under 20 earn differently) and by the union with which the company works. It may seem like a strange system but in reality the difference between them is very small. So that you can orient yourself, In the service sector the minimum wage is around 2500 crowns per hour which is about €17.
Unless you have extensive work experience or obtain a skilled position, we have seen that most companies They offer the minimum wage in the sector, mostly in summer. As you demonstrate that you are a good worker over the months, you can ask for salary increases. In our case we asked for it directly the first month, and it worked, they raised us to about 120 crowns/hour.
Salary bonuses in Iceland
From 5 in the afternoon the salary increases by one + 33 %If you work weekends, a + 45 % and national holidays + 90 %I recommend you try searching.car jobs that have evening, weekend or rotating shifts.
It is also rewarded with a +80% every extra hour once the monthly hours of your contract have been exceeded. That way it doesn't matter so much to do the odd extra hour, right?
Taxes in Iceland
It is a country with very high taxesFew inhabitants and many kilometers of carThe tax burden to maintain both in summer and with winter snowfalls, free childcare, and a long list of other benefits that translate into high taxes.
There are three different tax brackets that are updated annually. In 2026, the first 72.492 kroner are tax-free; then, up to 498.122 kroner, a tax is levied. 31,49 %The price paid ranges from 498.122 to 1.398.450 crowns. 37,99 % and if the amount is higher you pay the 46,29%. The tax brackets and personal deductions change every year: Check the official table.
Paying taxes in installments means that They don't take a fixed % from youbut the withholding is progressive depending on the total gross amount.
Payslips have always seemed difficult to understand, with bonuses, percentage-based taxes, and other fixed amounts. Don't hesitate to ask your boss or someone from HR to explain the concepts to you.
Taxes in Spain
Many people have written to us concerned about the taxes applicable to money earned in Iceland when they return to their home country. As with most countries, Spain and Iceland have a double taxation agreement with the aim that the taxes payable are not doubled.
What implications does this have exactly? Taxes corresponding to a job must be paid only in the country where it is carried out, in this case Iceland. If you return to Spain you do not owe money to the Spanish treasury or anything similar.
LABOR JOURNEYS AND TREATMENT OF THE WORKER
The worker is taken care of a lot
One of the things we like most is that employee well-being is very important in many companies you will have free food, employee events, company car sharing, discounts and some even offer help to go to the gym or move from your country of origin, among other benefits.
If you have offers from several places, check what benefits they offer as it could be a very important factor to consider.
Common working hours
It is very common to find the 2-2-3 work system with 11 or 12 hour days which means that one week you will work 5 days and the next only 2. This type of system is very good to enjoy free time, work extra shifts or to find a second job like we did. Working a lot of extra shifts or having two jobs is really exhausting if you do it for a long time, but if your goal is to make money in a short time this is a safe bet.
Another common work system we've used is to work 8 hours for 7 days in a row and then have 2 or 3 parties.
in iceland breaks are paid so if you work 8 hours it is 8 reales, not like in Spain where you earn 8 and are in the company for 9 hours or more. The legal minimum is 5 minutes of rest per hour worked, which are usually accumulated in one long break or two if you work 12-hour shifts.
OUR OPINION ABOUT WORKING DURING THE SUMMER IN ICELAND
Positive points
- The job offer in summer is very wide and there is little manpower so the requirements are usually not very demanding and if you meet them there is a good chance that they will call you.
- Breaks during your workday are paid at a minimum of 5 minutes per hour worked.
- The pluses are high and they have a very positive impact on the payroll.
- Companies care a lot about their employees. Paying every extra minute worked, including Free food or snacks during working hours.
- In case of illness you can miss work up to 2 days a month without having to go to the doctor.
- Many companies have agreements with others to benefit their employees, for example, with discounts or free access. We were in some thermal baths and we were able to do many activities such as whale watching or enter other baths totally free. We also had very good discounts at several restaurants in the area.
- In more uninhabited areas it is easy to find companies that will manage your accommodation.
Bad points
- Very little, almost none, leisure offer except for Reykjavík.
- The taxes are very high.
- Working with Icelanders can be frustrating because it is common for some to be less than responsible.
- Life in Iceland is cara, a basic dinner exceeds €25 per person or some products such as la carFood and alcohol can reach prohibitive prices. If you're on a budget, you'll have to change some of your habits.
- The weather is cold, Even in summer the minimum temperatures can be below 5 degrees. In addition, you can catch long streaks of very cloudy skies.
- In summer the sun does not set, something curious and amazing to see but taking into account that there are almost no blinds it can affect you.
- Icelandic is extremely difficult to learn, it is not essential but it is very useful to integrate and get better jobs.
- Public transportation is very scarce, having a vehicle is essential if you want to get around. Although if you go with a saving attitude this will not be a problem.
- In winter, tourism drops significantly, and with it, the need for workers. It's common for contracts to end in September, and you have to look for replacements.car another job if you want to stay longer.
We hope our tips for working in Iceland have been helpful. If you need more detailed information with all sorts of advice for before, during, and after working in Iceland, I recommend you check out [link/reference].cargar our Guide to working in Iceland.
If you would like to know more about our stay in Iceland you can read other articles about our articles or see our featured stories on Instagram where we shared the day to day living there. You can also consult the article about working in Iceland in the travel blog from Vanporelmundo who are currently working there.
FAQ about working in Iceland
From February to April is when most job offers are published to fill summer vacancies. Outside of that period, it's much more difficult to find work in Iceland, as the available positions are fewer or already filled.
No. Iceland is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), so if you have a European passport, you can live and work in the country without a visa.
It depends on the hours you work, as most jobs for foreigners don't offer a fixed monthly salary. The minimum gross hourly wage is around €17. If you work 40 hours a week, you'd earn a minimum gross monthly salary of around €2800. That doesn't include bonuses or overtime.
There may always be cases of labor exploitation, but in most situations, working conditions are exceptional, and you will receive all the bonuses and benefits to which you are entitled.
Yes, but it's much more difficult to get a job, and only for positions that aren't... carto the public. The interviews are in English and you will need a minimum level to communicatecarYou with the interviewer and later with your boss.
Hi, I'm Latino. I'm a geological engineer. Do you know if there are any job openings in geology?
I don't know, it's something very specific.
all the best
What is the best way to buscar Do you work in remote areas? Do you just Google it and call the hotels and restaurants? Or how do you do it?
Thanks in advance
Hello Manuel,
The way to applycar The article explains the open positions in detail. If you're interested in working in Iceland, I recommend carefully reading all the information we share, as it's truly useful. Of course, sending emails directly to the businesses you're interested in working for is a good, albeit time-consuming, method.
good luck
Hello! I'm from Argentina and I wanted to know if there are any additional requirements to work in Iceland, in addition to everything you already mentioned on the blog. Thank you very much!
Hi Sofia, if you have a European passport it will be easier (these are the requirements we discuss in the article). Otherwise, we don't know the exact process, but a work and residence visa is necessary. Your employer should arrange this or confirm it in some way, which is why it is essential to find a job first. Best regards and good luck!
Good morning everyone, I'm Lolana and I read your blog every day. I'm thinking of going to work in Iceland. I've heard a lot about it, that there are plenty of jobs and the pay is very good, and I want to go next year. I have Spanish nationality and I'd like some information on what I need to do to leave Madrid or how to get a job offer there. My cousin has been there for three years, but she doesn't want to give me any information because, unfortunately, there are people like that in this world. I want to go with my partner; he has residency but no nationality. I don't know if this is a problem? I'd appreciate your help and advice on what steps I should take. I have experience in all sectors, although I'm a geriatric nursing assistant. But seeing someone's comment about being a caregiver for the elderly and your response about her, I know my profession won't be useful there. Regarding the language issue...go carnet of carI'm a retail worker and I love working in factories. I also need your advice or help. Thank you.
Hello Lolana,
My main advice if you want to go next year is to practice your English well throughout the year, as speaking it is essential. Regarding carSpecialized nets, you'll most likely have to...car There again, I'm not sure they're compatible.
For buscar The offers and requirements are well explained in the article; if something specific is unclear, you can let me know.
I don't know how it works regarding residencies, but with a European passport there is no problem.
regards!
Hi nice to meet you.
We really liked the blog, we read it with my partner because we plan to take a trip in 2025 to work there for at least 2 to 3 years, but our concern is that we did not find any data or anything related to education, it happens that we have a 2-year-old girl, and the 3 of us would like to travel, I don't know if you can help me by giving me some advice or at least answering whether there are paid or free gardens, because we don't know and we can't find anything concrete. And that being the case, which place would be the most recommended to work and be able to take our daughter. Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience.
Hi Camilo, I don't know how early childhood education works, but I recommend you look into it.car Try joining Facebook groups for Spaniards living in Iceland, as some of them have children and might be able to help you. Good luck!
Hello, I really loved the post and like you, my partner and I have been thinking about doing the same to save money, but we wanted to ask you if you know the names of other companies that offer accommodation, thank you very much!!!
Hello Francisco,
Offering accommodation is not uncommon so it is difficult to give you names, look for work outside the 3 largest cities in the country and there will almost always be options with accommodation included.
good luck!
very good post, what a great job they did :). Knowing very little English, can you find a job? thanks a hug 🙂
It's very complicated because you won't be able to communicate.caryou during the job interview.
Hello, I have been in Almassora (Valencian community) as a caregiver for the elderly *Grandparents*. There in Iceland I could get Grandparents to take care of. I also have experience in cleaning, waitressing.
Hello, Luz,
You can try applyingcar to these types of positions, but I wouldn't be surprised if they ask you to speak Icelandic since older people may have difficulty communicatingcarsAnd in English because of your age. For waitressing there wouldn't be a problem if your English is good, and for cleaning I recommend trying for housekeeping positions in hotels; they don't require a high level of English and there are many openings.
Luck!
Hello and congratulations on the blog. My question is: can I apply for a Kenyatta number while in Spain without having a company contract? Basically, can I go there with everything I need and open a bank account once I'm there?carand start to searchcar Job. Thanks, regards
Hello Angel, to apply for the kennitala you need an employer, so the first step I recommend you do is get a job and immediately after apply, buy flights, etc.
Hey guys! I've been obsessed non-stop with your IG for a week now, and now with your blog too 🙂 Maybe one of my best friends and I will copy you guys!carI'm excited about the plan to go to Iceland for a few months to live the adventure while saving money 😉 Regarding this blog post, I'd like to know what you mean by "almost non-existent social life": does it refer to parties and bars, or is it simply that there aren't any cafes where you can go with your laptop to spend the morning or afternoon surrounded by some "lively atmosphere"? I was fantasizing about being able to dance salsa and bachata or take some Spanish classes at a community center to...carI earn a little extra money (I'm a teacher), but I don't know if I should get my hopes up after reading this. I'm also puzzled by the part about working with Icelanders being frustrating because they're not very responsible. In what sense? Anyway, congratulations on starting to earn money with the blog (I don't know if commenting here instead of on Instagram helps you more, I hope so! 🙂
Hello Sara, thank you very much for this comment ☺️
In reference to social life, in most towns there is no nightlife and few bars/cafes. If the town is medium-sized there may still be a bar or cafe where you can go with your laptop (I can't guarantee it) but it is not even remotely common in their culture. Reykjavík and Akureyri are an exception as they are large cities with more options. But don't worry, if you go with a friend, you will already have much of the leisure covered ????
Offering Spanish classes is a great idea, some children study it at school and may need review classes.
Finally, don't worry too much about the Icelanders, it's something secondary.
I hope this helps you! Thanks again for the comment
excellent information, very complete, I know it is an incredible country, I would like to live and work in it.
Hello, I am Colombian, I currently live in Poland. He spoke perfectly, I write and read English as my second language. and I am interested in emigrating and living in Iceland, could you give me some information on how I could do it. thank you
Hello Mario! I think the article gives quite useful and complete information on everything you need to be able to work in Iceland. If you need something more detailed we would have to talk about it another way. You can contact us by email if you want.
regards
Hello, very good article, very useful. So if, for example, they paid me 730.000 crowns, which is about 5.000 euros of gross salary, after deductions they would take away almost 38% of your salary? Is it really profitable? Roughly speaking, is it possible to save 2000 euros per month without making a living by working an average of 40 hours a week? Thank you
Hi Sergio,
Yes, I don't see it as too complicated to save €2000 a month cleanly as long as you don't indulge in great luxuries and focus a lot on saving. I recommend doing your best to find a position that makes you work on weekends to get +45%, it shouldn't be difficult in the tourism/hospitality sector. Preferably, they provide you with accommodation for employees, this way you don't complicate your life too much and they are usually cheaper.
To give you an idea, a single room outside the capital costs around 60-70 thousand crowns.
Good luck!