You could go and live in Iceland for 6 months without changing jobs - here’s how

You might be able to go and work remotely in Iceland for six months, so long as you’re employed and meet a handful of health insurance requirements.

The country is pushing its Work in Iceland scheme, which previously allowed people to stay and work there for 90 days, but has now been extended to six months.

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The Icelandic government believes that, by inviting remote workers from elsewhere in the world to live and work in Iceland, they will speed up the country’s economic recovery from the Covid pandemic.

Who can go?

The new scheme is an extension of the previous one, meaning any foreign nationals not required to have a visa are able to apply, rather than just anyone in the European Schengen area.

According to the Work in Iceland website, the criteria you will need to meet in order to be approved for a six month long remote working visa are as follows:

The purpose of your stay must be to work remotely from Iceland for a foreign companyYou do not intend to reside in Iceland long-termYou haven’t been issued a long-term visa for Iceland in the last 12 monthsYou can demonstrate that your monthly income is at least 1m ISK (£5,703.52), or 1.3m ISK (£7,427.22) if you are applying to bring a partner and children under 18

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Why Iceland?

The country is famous for its breathtaking scenery and untouched natural landscapes. It is considered one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights.

Iceland is also known for its vibrant culture, centred around the capital city of Reykjavik, whose inhabitants are known to be particularly friendly.

The cost of living in Iceland is considerably higher than in the UK, particularly in Reykjavik, where the price of a three course meal for two people is around 35 per cent more expensive than the equivalent in London, according to cost of living site Numbeo.

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