Agreement between Iceland and the United Kingdom on Youth Mobility

UK nationals can now apply for Working Holiday residence permits in Iceland and Icelandic nationals are eligible to apply for Youth Mobility Scheme visas in the UK. This is based on an agreement between Iceland and the UK on Youth Mobility.

This agreement is particularly important as EEA rules on free movement of persons no longer apply between Iceland and the UK following the UK´s departure from the EU and EEA.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, notes that „the agreement underscores the continued close and positive relationship between Iceland and the UK and is particularly important for young people“.

Further information on applying for Working Holiday based residence permits in Iceland is available on the website of the Directorate of Immigration.

Further information on applying for a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa in the UK is available on the UK government website.

Legislative amendments are planned in Iceland in early 2022 following which eligibility requirements for UK nationals wishing to apply for working holiday based residence permits in Iceland will be extended to cover applicants aged 18-30 years instead of the current 18-26. Once legislative changes are in place the total duration of stay will also be extended from one year to two years.