International Staff Services - Welcome Centre

If you are applying for a position that requires a Licence to practice as a healthcare professional in Iceland please familiarize yourself with the requirements and the application process on the website of the Directorate of Health.  The Directorate of Health grants licenses to use the professional title of an authorized healthcare profession and to practice as such in Iceland.

International Staff Services at HR in Landspítali assists all incoming employees who are starting their career at Landspítali with the bureaucratic formalities needed when moving to Iceland.

Applications and supporting documents must be handed in directly to the Directorate of Health at the following address:

Embætti Landlæknis
Katrínartúni 2
105 Reykjavík

It depends on your citizenship whether you need a residence and work permit to be able to work in Iceland. Citizens of EU/EEA member states do not need permits, but non-EU/EEA citizens do.

All applications must go through the online recruitment portal of Landspítali, Laus störf.

All open positions are advertised on this website which is frequently updated.

If you don´t have an Icelandic personal ID number (kennitala) please follow the instructions on How to apply for a position without an Icelandic ID or username.

Interview with foreign nurses in Landspitali (VIDEO)

All non-EU/EEA citizens require a residence- and a work permit in Iceland and need to apply through Iceland Directorate of Immigration (DOI).

All applications managed for residence permits of Landspítali employees get expedited service at the Directorate of Immigration. The most time-consuming part of the application process is the gathering of the required documents before filing the paperwork with the Directorate of Immigrations.

EEA/EFTA citizens are from: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland.

• Short term employment/stay

  EU/EEA citizens do not need a residence and a work permit in Iceland and may stay in Iceland for up to six months without registering and moving domicile to Iceland. The relocation to Iceland is quite simple in terms of bureaucratic related issues for EU/EEA citizens. Further information is available on the Registers Iceland website.

  All professionals working in a regulated healthcare profession must have a licence to practise issued by the Icelandic Directorate of Health.

• Long term employment/stay

  EU/EEA citizen staying longer than six months an Icelandic ID number is needed and change of domicile is required. The required application form A-271 must be filled out and submitted. To finish the process, HR- International Staff Services must confirm the employment with the applicant on behalf of Landspítali.

  EU/EEA citizens who have been recruited to Landspítali can apply for an Icelandic ID number online through Registers Iceland before they arrive in Iceland.

  The employer´s ID number for Landspítali is 500300-2130.

  Please take into consideration the personal ID number (kennitala) does not become active/valid until the applicant shows up in person at Registers Iceland. Make sure to bring a passport.

  All professionals working in a regulated healthcare profession must have a licence to practise issued by the Icelandic Directorate of Health.

• Employment Contract

  The employment contract will be made upon arrival as the ID number and a bank account number is needed.

• Health Insurance

Upon arrival, everyone will have to apply for an Icelandic health insurance registration at the Icelandic Health Insurance. During the registration process, the Icelandic Health Insurance will obtain the E-104 form, which is needed to verify previous insurance coverage, you can also bring it yourself if possible.

1. Digital photo: The applicant must be photographed at the Directorate of Immigrations. The applicant must bring his/her passport. The photo can be taken at the office of the Directorate of Immigration (Dalvegur 18, Kópavogi). If an appointment for a photoshoot is not available within the week it is enough that the applicant has an appointment booked online.
2. Residence: The applicant also must provide his/her address in Iceland and apartment number (for apartment buildings) - form A-269 Notification of residence in Iceland (skra.is). The applicant can send the notification of residence through email to skraning@utl.is
3. Medical exam: If the applicant is obliged to undergo a first medical exam it is instructed in the decision letter from the Directorate of Immigrations. Applicants must undergo the first medical exam within two weeks from entering Iceland at the Health Centre in Domus Medica, Egilsgata 3, 101 Reykjavík. Your contact at Landspítali can book the appointment for you. In most cases, the results will be forwarded to the Directorate of Immigrations, but it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that this is done. The applicant can send the medical exam through email to skraning@utl.is
4. MRSE test: If you have been working or in a hospital outside Iceland in the past 6 months you should have a MRSE test done before you start working. If you don´t have a MRSE test you can book an appointment with the staff nurses of Landspítali in Skaftahlíð 24, 105 Reykjavík by phone 5431330 or via email to starfsmannahjukrun@landspitali.is
5. Bank account and electronic ID: The salary is paid monthly onto your personal bank account.When you have been issued your personal ID number (kennitala) you can open a bank account at any bank of your choice. The electronic ID is issued at your bank and other service points. Please provide your contact at Landspítali with your details as soon as possible.
6. Contract 

When you have been issued your 1) personal ID number (kennitala), 2) opened a bank account, 3) received an electronic ID and 4) got an Icelandic phone number your HR manager and the payroll office will prepare your contract. The contract will be sent to you for electronic signature. Once all parties have signed the contract you will receive an invitation via email to the Employee Orientation Centre on your first day of work. The Orientation Centre is located in Skaftahlíð 24.

1. Orientation Centre on your first day of work in Skaftahlíð 24, 105 Reykjavík. When you have signed a contract with Landspítali with your electronic ID you will receive an invitation for your appointment to the Employee Orientation Centre. At the Orientation Centre you will receive access to necessary systems, have your picture taken for the ID card and a general introduction to the hospital as a workplace. You will also be offered an interview with the staff nurse. After you have been to the Orientation Centre you are ready to start working at Landspítali
2. Employee handbook on Workplace: On your Workplace account you can find an English version of the Employee handbook called Rjóminn. There you´ll find various information that is good to know when working in Landspítali.

Application for renewal of an existing residence permit is digital. You must have an electronic ID to fill out your application online. Renewals must be submitted to the Directorate of Immigration at least 12 - 8 weeks before the current permit expires. All general information about Residence permit renewal can be found on the Directorate of Immigrations website here.

If the applicant is changing the grounds of his/her residence permit, for example if a student permit holder wishes to apply for a residence permit based on employment, a new application is required.

A residence permit based on work can only be renewed after the Directorate of Labour has granted a work permit. An application for a work permit is sent with the electronic renewal application to the Directorate of Immigration which forwards it to the Directorate of Labour.

Application for an appropriate work permit and employment contract, see further information on the website of the Directorate of Labour.

If you need further information, you can contact th Directorate of Labour by email workpermits@vmst.is  or call 515 4800 Mondays to Thursdays from 10 to 11.

Processing time

The processing time for renewal is maximum 90 days after satisfactory documents have been received, except for more complex applications that require further processing. If you submit satisfactory supporting documents with an application, the processing usually takes shorter time.

Before you leave Iceland, you must notify Registers Iceland and finalize matters concerning taxes, pension fund, bank accounts, health insurance and forwarding address. Further information can be found on Register Iceland website. 

• Termination of Employment Contract

Please contact the Human Resources manager at your department in order to finalize various contract issues, last payment, vacation settlement etc.

The Pay Roll Office can also provide information on the various issues related to the termination of contract launadeild@landspitali.is

Non-European Citizens that initially entered Iceland through the Directorate of Immigration (DOI) do not need to notify the DOI, only Registers Iceland as explained above.

International employees are offered Icelandic language classes in cooperation with Mímir language school.  Heads of departments manage registrations of employees in their department.