All about the working holiday in Iceland!
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…)
Between 18 and 26 or 30 years old
A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday
At least ISK239.895 per month or equivalent in another currency
Number of participations depends on nationality
Coverage must be at least ISK2,000
Must be a citizen of a partner country
01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?
WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.
02. Which nationalities are eligible?
Young adults from Andorra, Canada, Chile, Japan and the United Kingdom are eligible to apply for the Iceland working holiday. (Source)
03. What documents are required for the application?
Standard items include:
- Passport
- Passport-sized photo of yourself
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Proof of criminal record check
- Proof of payment for application fee
Check the specific requirements for your citizenship before applying.
(Source)
04. How long is the visa good for?
The WHV allows holders to stay up to one year in Iceland.
All citizens apart from Japanese can choose to renew their residence permit for up to one more year. (Source)
05. What is the application fee?
The application fee for all citizens apart from Japanese is ISK16.
Exception: Japanese citizens do not need to pay an application fee.
06. Are there any other requirements I should be aware of?
Before being issued your resident permit for the working holiday, you must attend a photo appointment for the residence permit card, and submit a notification of residence. You may also be asked to undergo a medical examination.
If you fail to complete these steps within 90 days of being granted a residence permit, the permit will not be issued. (Source)
07. Do I need to buy health insurance?
Yes. Your insurance must be valid for at least six months from the date of the registration of the applicant’s legal domicile in Iceland. After six months, residence permit holders will be automatically be covered by the national health insurance.
Coverage amount must be at least ISK2,000. It should cover at least medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They’ve accompanied thousands of working holiday makers in their adventures.
08. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday, to Iceland and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
09. Where can I apply?
Applications must be submitted in paper form, either by mail or by delivering to the Directorate of Immigration in Iceland in person. (Source)
As mentioned earlier, all working holiday makers must have health insurance valid for at least the first six months of your stay.
Coverage amount must be at least ISK2,000. It is recommended to get coverage for at least medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They meet the requirements and have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- What to know about travel insurance for your working holiday abroad
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
Iceland’s official currency is the króna (ISK, kr). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.
If you want to have an ISK debit card in hand before even arriving in Iceland, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your ISK account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in Iceland. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Iceland. Learn more about Wise.
There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in Iceland.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Iceland before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6: Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
- Couchsurfing abroad: a way to meet friendly locals and save money
After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things you need to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, from the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot but don’t worry, take it one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in Iceland, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is the perfect chance to learn or brush up on a foreign language. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.
All applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of submitting the application.
Exception: Japanese citizens must be between 18 and 26 years old.
You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday and for at least 90 days beyond the validity of the permit applied for.
At least ISK239.895 per month of your stay (or the equivalent in another currency) to show that you can support yourself. If you don’t have a return ticket, you should show additional funds to prove you can purchase one later on.
See our chapter on budgeting for an idea of how much more savings you should have for a working holiday.
Andorran, Canadian, Chilean and UK citizens can renew the residence permit for up to one year.
Japanese citizens can only participate once.
Coverage amount must be at least ISK2,000 and be valid in Iceland for at least six months from the date of the registration of the applicant’s legal domicile in Iceland.
We recommend picking an insurance that covers medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation. Those are standard requirements for most WHV destinations.
You must be a citizen of a partner country to apply. Iceland currently has bilateral accords with Andorra, Canada, Chile, Japan and the United Kingdom.