Before you arrive - US Grantees

Timeline to consider

• It may take considerable time to get a new passport if needed. Please consult your local authorities.
• Fulbright grantees are exempt from the requirement for a criminal record certificate (FBI background check). However, a criminal record certificate is required for accompanying dependents, as applicable. Only doctoral students and scholars are eligible to bring dependents.
• The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration (DoI) usually takes at least 12 weeks to process application documents and it may take longer.
• All documents need to have an official stamp or seal and a signature (not electronic) as evidence of authenticity.
• Applications and supplemental documents must be sent via courier service.

Step by step

• Passport

Check your passport. It must be valid at least 3 months (90 days) beyond your intended stay in Iceland. If needed, you should get a new one.

• Application Form

Download and fill in the application form. Preferably, fill out the form electronically. If you must use a pen, please write clearly. Please refer to the ‘Filling in the Application Form’ section below for detailed instructions. Fill in all the pages, and do not forget to date and sign the application (both under Part 13 and at the end!). The signatures must be handwritten and in ink (the DoI will not accept applications with electronic signatures).

All Fulbright grantees, both student and scholar grantees, apply for a student residence permit by filling out the form D-108 which is available on the DoI website.

Family members who are entitled to a family unification apply for a residence permit through the family reunification forms found below. See the ‘Bringing Family’ page for further information.

• Accompanying Documents

Under ‘Documents Accompanying Application’ section below you will find a checklist of the documentation that must be submitted with your application.

• Scan and Send Completed Documents to the Fulbright Commission

We require you to scan and send a PDF copy of your application to [email protected]s (students) or [email protected] (scholars) so we can review the material before you mail the application.

• Mailing the Application

Mail your completed application, after our review, to the Fulbright Commission in Iceland via courier mail (for example FedEx or DHL) and make sure to keep the tracking number. Our address is Fulbright Commission, Laugavegur 13, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland.
Please do not send the application materials with regular mail services.

We will attach to the application a letter confirming various eligibility requirements, including that you are a Fulbright grant recipient and as such will receive a monthly stipend during your grant period. It is imperative that you send your application to the Fulbright Commission, so that we may include these important items before we submit the application to the DoI.

• Application Fee

The DoI requires a fee for processing your application. The Fulbright Commission will pay the fee for you and your dependents, withdrawing the amount from your first stipend payment.

Filling in the Application Form

Below is detailed information on how you fill in the Residence Permit Application Form (D-108).Please read the application form carefully and enter information accordingly.

Applicant

Write your name and date of birth (day/month/year)

Please choose the residence permit you apply for (choose only one type of permit)

Check the applicable box.

Scholars should leave this section blank.

Part 1 – Residence permit 

Please tick ‘First residence permit’ unless something else applies to you.

Part 2 – Ties with Iceland or other Schengen countries

Answer the question ‘Do you have any ties with Iceland or other countries within the Schengen-area?’ accordingly.

Check the ‘No’ box for ‘Are there any reasons that could lead to that a decision on an expulsion and an entry ban to the Schengen-area would be considered an unfair measure towards you or other members of your family?’

Part 3 – Study in Iceland

Students please fill out accordingly. Under ‘Study period’ put in the dates in your Grant Authorization.

Scholars should only fill out the ‘Study period’ with the dates in your Grant Authorization. Otherwise leave this section blank. The Fulbright Commission will provide confirmation your teaching/research activities at the host institution.

Part 4 – Applicant’s details

Make sure you enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport.

Address in the home country: This should be your permanent address in the US.

Address in Iceland: Please tick ‘Address not yet known’ if you have not secured a permanent address.

If you have confirmed an address you can fill out the Notification of residence in Iceland form and attach it to the application. You may also return this at a later date via email or in person to the Directorate of Immigration.

Part 5 – Residence

Fill out ‘Residence abroad’ accordingly.

Under ‘Residence in Iceland’, please estimate your date of arrival as accurately as you can and answer other questions.

Part 6 – Applicant’s spouse

If you are bringing a spouse, and are eligible to do so, you may need to verify additional funding. If you and your partner are not married, you will need to provide additional documentation.

Please contact the Fulbright Commission for further information.

Part 7 – Applicant’s children

Fill out accordingly.

If you are bringing children as a single parent, you may need to provide additional documentation. Please contact the Fulbright Commission for further information.

Part 8 – Applicant’s parents

Fill out accordingly.

Part 9 – Language skills and education

Fill out accordingly.

Part 10 – Criminal record

Leave blank. Fulbright grantees do not have to submit a criminal record certificate.

Dependents that need to submit the FBI background check do so with their own application.

Part 11 – Additional information

Leave blank unless needed. If you are unsure, please contact the Fulbright Commission.

Part 12 – VISA

Leave blank. U.S. citizens do not need to apply for a visa to travel to Iceland.

Part 13 – Agent

You needto authorize the Commission to act as your representative in Iceland. Use the following information when filling out that part of the application:

1. Name: Fulbright Commission Iceland
2. ID Number: 560169-2569
3. Address: Laugavegur 13, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland
4. Phone number: +354 551 0860
5. Email address: [email protected] (for students) or [email protected] (for scholars)
6. Security number: See the ‘Practical Information and Instruction’ guide or contact your Fulbright Program Officer to obtain the security number.

Part 14 – Did you remember everything?

Double-check the required documentation and passport photo.

Part 15 – Date and signature

Check the box where it says ‘I confirm that I have read the information above and that the information I have provided regarding the application for a residence permit is true and correct.’ Note that applicants from the U.S. do not need to undergo a medical examination in Iceland.

Fill out as appropriate with Place, Date of Signature and Applicant’s signature.

Under ‘Who filled out the application’ check the ‘Applicant’ box.

Scan and email PDF copy of your application to [email protected]s (students) or [email protected] (scholars) for review before mailing the documents.

Once the Fulbright Program Officer has reviewed the documents, mail the application form, and all supplementary documents including passport photos, via courier mail (with tracking) to:

Fulbright Commission Iceland
Laugavegur 13
101 Reykjavik
Iceland

Do not use the regular postal service to send your application!

Remember to make copies for your own files, note down the tracking number of the delivery and notify the Fulbright Commission via email once the application has been sent.

List of accompanying documents

A more detailed list can be found at the Directorate of Immigration website.

• Application form, signed.
• Passport-sized photo.
• Photocopy of your passport – the picture page and the adjacent one as well. Please make sure this is a readable copy.
• ‘Power of Attorney’ form .
  • In order for the Fulbright Commission in Iceland to act as your representative you must fill out this form.
  • Please follow these instructions when completing the Power of Attorney form.
  • In the top right corner of the form is a box labelled ‘Security number*’. This is the same number as in Part 13 of your residence permit application. See the ‘Practical Information and Instruction’ guide or contact your Fulbright Program Officer to obtain the security number.
  • Under ‘Applicant (granting power of attorney)’ please enter your name, date of birth, phone number and email.
  • Under ‘Agent (granted power of attorney)’ please fill the boxes in the following manner:
    • Agent’s name: Fulbright Commission Iceland
    • ID Number: 560169-2569
    • Address: Laugavegur 13, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland
    • Phone number: +354 551 0860
    • Email: [email protected] (Scholars) or [email protected] (Students)
  • Please leave the line following ‘The power of attorney is valid until’ blank.
  • Then date and sign the form. The signature must be handwritten (not electronic)
  • The DoI requires two witnesses to complete the application.
  • Please have two individuals sign their names and date of birth (not ID number, unless they are Icelandic citizens) on the appropriate line.

You will not need to provide the following documents:

• Payment receipt. The Fulbright Commission will pay the processing fee, including for dependents, this will be deducted from your stipend. Do not send any money to the DoI.
• Criminal record certificate (FBI background check) is only required for accompanying dependents, as applicable.
• Health insurance confirmation. Supplemental health and accident insurance is included in your grant (ASPE – Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges). The Commission will provide proof. You do not need to provide documentation.
• Financial support. We will provide the DoI with information on your Fulbright stipend. The stipend is adequate to cover the minimum living costs as presented on the DoI’s website, and a sufficient guarantee of financial support for the grant period.
• School confirmation. Confirmation will be provided by us. You do not need to provide documentation. If, however, you already have an acceptance letter or invitation from your host institution, please include it.

If you are bringing dependents (spouse and/or children), please consult our ‘Bringing family’ guide. All application materials for dependents must be submitted at the same time as the grantee’s residence permit.

Links:

• Application form for grantees
• Application form for children
• Application form for spouses
• DoI website
• Basic requirements for residence permit
• ASPE
• Power of Attorney Form