Icelandic nationality law

Icelandic nationality law is based upon the principles of jus sanguinis. In other words, descent from an Icelandic parent is the primary method of acquiring Icelandic citizenship. Birth in Iceland to foreign parents does not in itself confer Icelandic citizenship.

Icelandic law changed on 1 July 2003 to remove restrictions on dual citizenship. Former Icelandic citizens who lost Icelandic citizenship before this date had until 1 July 2007 to reclaim Icelandic citizenship.

In general, if a person is born in Iceland they will receive Icelandic citizenship after the age of 18.

A person acquires Icelandic citizenship at birth if:

Children born of a non-Icelandic mother and an unmarried Icelandic father may acquire Icelandic citizenship:

Prior to 1 July 1982, acquisition of Icelandic citizenship from an Icelandic mother was restricted. Those born to an Icelandic mother and a foreign father between 1 July 1964 and 30 June 1982 may be permitted to apply for Icelandic citizenship by declaration.

A person may be naturalised as an Icelandic citizen after seven years' residence in Iceland. There are various concessions to the residence requirement:

Applicants are expected to be of good character and capable of supporting themselves in Iceland.

Since 1 July 2003, applicants are not expected to renounce any foreign citizenship they may hold.

In some circumstances, persons are able to become Icelandic citizens by declaration. This is a simpler process than naturalisation:

Persons not eligible for Icelandic citizenship by declaration may still be eligible for naturalisation.

A person adopted by Icelandic citizens normally acquires Icelandic citizenship on that basis, if aged under 12. Where the adoption takes place outside Iceland, an application for citizenship is required.

Each year a number of people petition Alþingi to acquire Icelandic citizenship by law. This is usually done if a person doesn't qualify for acquiring citizenship in any other way. One notable example of this process was the controversial chess champion Bobby Fischer.

Icelandic citizenship used to be able to be lost by acquisition of another citizenship and it can in some circumstances be lost as a result of residence outside Iceland:

An Icelandic citizen who naturalised in another country before 1 July 2003 in general lost Icelandic citizenship automatically. The facility to resume citizenship by declaration was available until 1 July 2007.

An Icelandic citizen born outside Iceland is liable to lose Icelandic citizenship upon turning age 22 unless:

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