Iceland is not the most accessible country for emigration. The migrants' path is hampered by the harsh climate, remoteness of the island and strict immigration rules. The local population also played a role in this.
Despite the fact that Icelanders are considered very friendly people, they do not welcome mixed marriages, and the authorities do not seek to increase the country's population at the expense of emigrants. However, every year the number of people wishing to settle in Iceland is growing. This is primarily due to the economic stability of the country, decent salaries and incredible nature.
Main pros and cons
Iceland is a country in the Atlantic Ocean with a harsh climate, which does not prevent it from being one of the most prosperous countries and being included in the list of the best in terms of living standards of the population.
pros
- A highly developed state;
- The highest standard of living;
- Almost complete absence of crime;
- Very decent salary;
- High level of social protection of the population;
- A good education;
- Incredibly beautiful nature;
- High level of ecology;
- Friendly locals.
Minuses
- Quite strict immigration laws;
- Harsh northern climate;
- Remote location;
- Difficulty finding a job;
- The calm, measured life in Iceland may seem boring;
- High prices;
- Lack of railways;
- Icelandic is a difficult language to learn;
- Impossibility of acquiring land as a property, only for long-term lease (for foreigners);
- Potentially high volcanic activity.
TravelHow I moved to Iceland and decided to stay there forever
Even after moving to Iceland, I was surprised that in the summer almost the entire country goes on vacation for a month, or even six weeks. This usually happens in July-August, so the office is half empty. After the Moscow realities, when going on vacation for two weeks, not letting go of the phone, constantly checking email and receiving calls, was considered an unaffordable luxury, it was amazing. But, as practice shows, the earth does not stop because of this, people return to work rested and satisfied and continue to work.
During my acquaintance with the country, a storm broke out. I was amazed at how strong the wind gusts could be and how quickly the weather could change. I have been to many countries with variable climates, but I have never seen anything like this before. Surprisingly, in the coldest month of the year the temperature hovers around zero, and in the city it rarely drops below minus five - all thanks to the Gulf Stream, which washes the island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I used to think that Iceland was frosty and snowy, but it turned out that this is not so: a lot of snow can fall in a day, but it will immediately be washed away by the rain. In the summer it’s not hot - days when the air warms up to 18-20 are considered a national holiday, and no one works.
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Why do Russians choose the north?
Despite the fact that moving to Iceland is not very accessible, emigration to this island from Russia still occurs. The main reasons for this:
- High quality of life. Iceland is one of the most highly developed countries. The country provides its residents with very decent salaries, government support, and a high level of medicine and education.
- Incredible nature. The mysterious northern country is famous for its fantastic landscapes. Nature is the main attraction of Iceland. Many expats are attracted by the opportunity to live among this incredible beauty.
- Marriage to an Icelandic citizen . Icelanders are incredibly friendly, calm and patient. They are beautiful, well-built, take care of their health and travel a lot. The people of this country hold family values in high esteem. Some expats are attracted by the possibility of starting a family with an Icelandic citizen.
Are you planning to emigrate north? Then you will also be interested in information about life in Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Iceland is looking for grooms and is ready to pay each immigrant $5,000 a month
I hasten to disappoint with a candidate with “solid dignity” for the role of grooms for Icelandic brides! By simply following the links according to the following scheme: mmgp.ru (posted here above) - then to the source and this is the site Dialog.UA - then from there a link is given to “Ukrainian Service 1492” where under the heading: “Let's get married: Iceland pays $ monthly 5,000 migrants marrying Icelandic women” and this note was posted on September 17, 2021 and at the end there was a note: “Translated by the editors of “Ukrainian Service 1492″ based on materials from Sunday Adelaja’s Blog” - and then there are no links to the blog we just searched on Google and ended up on this very “Sunday Adelaja's Blog” - and what do we see in the end? And we see that the three “chicks” standing in the photo (not to mention the rest of the better half of Iceland, it’s just gloomy!), unfortunately, remain without their expensive “bulls” and this despite the fact that they are from the very North! Africans! What more arrogance! (We will complain to the UN! To this very thing - what’s his name? In short, to the main one!)
Translation by Google (I didn’t bother with the processing - if you figure something out - the tea is not children!) “SundayAdelajablog has, however, discovered that there is no truth in this story, as the latest population data for Iceland actually shows slightly more men than women in Iceland, with 1,007 men per 1,000 women overall; in Reykjavik, there are 985 men for every 1,000 women, but in rural areas the ratio is 1,129 men for every 1,000 women.
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How to leave Russia to live in this country?
Residents of Russia and other countries can move to Iceland in several ways. All of them are fraught with difficulties , but with a competent approach and following the rules, they can be overcome:
- Labor Relations. Finding a job in Iceland is not easy, but it is still possible. Before concluding an official employment contract, a foreigner will have to withstand competition. The country's authorities will first check whether there are employees from the local population or EU countries for the selected position. If there are no such people, the job may be given to, for example, an immigrant from Russia.
- Studies. This method of emigration is attractive due to its fairly low tuition fees. After submitting an application to the university and receiving a positive response, a foreign student must confirm his financial solvency and pay for the first year of study. The Icelandic Immigration Bureau issues the student a visa and temporary residence permit. While studying, you can find an official job and stay in the country.
- Business emigration . Having your own business in the country does not give a foreigner the right to obtain a residence permit; moreover, the situation is complicated by high taxes. But a business emigrant can live in the country on a multiple visa. This time will then count towards the period required to obtain permanent residence.
- Marriage to an Icelandic citizen . The easiest way to emigrate. By marrying an Icelandic citizen, you can obtain a residence permit. You can also move to the country with your partner, provided you provide evidence of cohabitation. Another option is family reunification. It can be used by elderly parents and minor children of Icelandic citizens.
- Buying a property. Buying a home in Iceland does not directly give you the right to obtain a residence permit, but it significantly increases your chances of doing so. The procedure for purchasing real estate is simple; realtors do everything for the buyer. But it is impossible to buy land in Iceland; it is not for sale. The land plot can be taken for long-term lease.
Icelandic migration policy
The Icelandic government has a closed migration policy and does not encourage migrants to come to the country. The flow of visitors is controlled by the Law on Foreigners, according to which the conditions for obtaining a residence permit are very strict.
Also on the territory of the state there is a Law on the Preservation of the Nation, which prevents the migration flow. In practice, the local population rarely marries foreigners. Back at the beginning of the twentieth century, the country had a law obliging visiting migrants, if they intended to stay in Iceland, to change their name to their original national one.
The fate of a person who wishes to stay in Iceland is decided by the Migration Directorate, putting forward strict requirements and forcing them to respect cultural and historical values. As a result, only 6% are foreigners – that’s 20 thousand people out of 330 thousand of the total population.
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Methods for obtaining a residence permit
The last option is the most popular. Male emigrants can take advantage of it to a greater extent
Privileges in employment for men
Iceland does not have a major shortage of workers. But in some areas of activity there are not enough qualified specialists. The most relevant professions in 2018 for men:
- Engineers and auto mechanics;
- IT industry specialists;
- Carpenters;
- Workers in the fishing industry.
In addition, some men are attracted to marriage with Icelandic women.
This method of emigrating to another country is quite popular. However, it is worth remembering the difference in mentalities. Icelandic women are very freedom-loving, many of them have feminist views. REFERENCE: Reports that the Icelandic authorities will pay emigrants 5,000 euros per month for marrying an Icelandic woman are just a myth. According to census data, the number of men in the country even slightly exceeds the number of women, and the country is not in danger of a demographic crisis.
Required documents
To obtain a residence permit in Iceland, you need a short and simple list of documents:
- Valid passport;
- A document confirming the legality of stay in the country (employment contract with the employer, marriage certificate);
- An extract from the police confirming that there is no criminal record or problems with the law;
- Medical insurance;
- A document confirming financial security.
Where to contact?
Registration of temporary resident status takes place exclusively at the Icelandic Migration Office. In order to renew a residence permit, you should also contact this institution or its representative office at your place of residence.
Cost and terms
As you can see, the cost of the duty is quite high. We offer you to get acquainted with European countries, where it will cost much less. Links here and here.
What to do in case of refusal?
If Iceland refuses to issue a residence permit, there must be serious reasons:
- Problems with the law, outstanding criminal record in Russia.
- Insufficient financial support (less than 50 euros per day per person).
- Violation of Icelandic laws;
- Incomplete list of documents provided or errors in their completion.
Icelanders will always explain the reason for refusal. Problems with documents or insufficient financial security can be corrected and the application can be resubmitted. A foreigner who has violated the laws of the country or has an outstanding criminal record will not be able to obtain a residence permit.
IMPORTANT! Possession of a residence permit gives a foreigner a huge number of advantages. He practically has equal rights with the indigenous population of the country, receives support from the state and social protection.
Methods for obtaining permanent residence
After three years of official residence in Iceland, a foreigner can apply for permanent residence. For this you will need:
- Proof of permanent residence on the island (official employment, marriage to an Icelandic citizen, family reunification);
- Availability of own or rented housing;
- Knowledge of the Icelandic language (conversational level).
as a permanent resident of the country for a maximum of 4 years. The next step is obtaining citizenship.
Required documents
A foreigner applying for permanent residence in Iceland must submit the following documents:
- Application for permanent residence;
- Two passports (national and international passport);
- Photos (3 pcs);
- Document on marital status;
- A document confirming the absence of a criminal record and tax arrears;
- Confirmation of official income in Iceland.
Where to contact?
To obtain permanent resident status in Iceland, a foreigner must contact the local Ministry of Internal Affairs (police department).
Cost and terms
A foreigner’s application for permanent residence is processed on average within two weeks. The state fee for submitting documents is 1000 euros.
What to do in case of refusal?
Iceland is a country with fairly strict immigration rules. There are always serious reasons for refusing to obtain permanent residence. If there are no problems with the law, then the application for permanent resident status can be resubmitted.
REFERENCE: According to statistics, in 2021, out of the total population of Iceland, migrants make up only 6%. This is due to the fact that migration flows into the country are strictly controlled by the authorities.
Travel to Iceland
You can move to the country by getting a job. Citizens of the Russian Federation can find it on their own (correspondence with companies, viewing vacancies on the Internet) or with the help of an employment agency. It is better to start this procedure from the territory of Russia. Otherwise, you will have to search for a long time. Firstly, Icelanders prefer not to hire foreigners. The exception is IT specialists, engineers and people willing to do seasonal work. Secondly, knowledge of the Icelandic language is a priority here. Not all employers will communicate in English. Thirdly, the presence of competition. A vacant position is more likely to be given to a citizen of the European Union than to a Russian. It is also necessary to find out whether the applicant’s diploma meets the requirements. You may have to take courses or confirm your diploma.
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Even short trips and short-term tours for tourists to Iceland will be exciting. Local residents will hospitably treat guests to volcanic bread, herring, and brennivin, reminiscent of vodka and whiskey. The famous rotten haukarl shark meat will not leave visitors indifferent. The life of the people in Iceland is special, surprisingly calm and a little old-fashioned.
Obtaining a residence permit for citizens from Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan today is one of the most prosperous countries in Central Asia. And yet emigration from this republic is gaining momentum. Mostly the Russian-speaking population is leaving the country. This is primarily due to the ethnic factor, competition for employment and the language barrier.
Most often, people go to Russia, Belarus or Ukraine, less often to Germany, Great Britain and Canada. Scandinavian countries, including Iceland, are not very popular among emigrants from Kazakhstan.
Emigrants from Kazakhstan can move to this northern country in several ways:
- Employment;
- Studies;
- Business;
- Buying a property;
- Marriage;
- Reunion with family.
any special privileges in obtaining resident status in Iceland .