Practical information about Iceland

Student Visa

Students from countries within the EEA membership need to apply for a Residence Permit after they arrive in Iceland. Citizens from countries outside the EEA membership need to apply for a Student Visa and be granted one before they enter the country. Citizens from the nordic countries do not need a Student Visa. For further information contact the Immigration Service,your country's embassy or consulate in Iceland, or mail: office@res.is.

Income Tax

Everybody earning wages in Iceland is required to pay income tax. There is a certain minimum amount per month that is not taxable. Anything exceeding that is taxed at the 35,72% tax rate.

The employer is responsible for payment of the tax and deducts the appropriate amount from the salary of the trainee. In order for the employer to deduct taxes, the employee has to be issued a tax card from the Internal Revenue Office (Ríkisskattstjóri ), which he presents to his employer. The IRO is at Laugavegur 166, 105 Reykjavík. The student is obliged to file a tax return with the IRO, which must be done no later than one week before the student's departure.

Scholarships are not subject to taxation if they do not exceed the minimum amount, but you might have to bring a tax card to the granting body.

For further information contact:

Immigration Service (Útlendingaeftirlitið)
Borgartún 30, 105 Reykjavík
Tel: 510 5400

Office of Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands)
Skuggasund 3, 101 Reykjavík
Tel: 560 9800

The Ministry of Social Affairs (Félagsmálaráðuneytið)
Hafnarhúsið, Tryggvagata, 101 Reykjavík
Tel: 560 9100

Directorate of Internal Revenue (Ríkisskattstjóri)
Laugavegur 166, 105 Reykjavík
Tel: 563 1100

Embassies and Consulates

It is a good idea to register at your country's embassy or consulate when you arrive. You might, for example, want to vote in your country's general elections if they are held while you are in Iceland.

Embassies in Reykjavík:

China: Víðimelur 29, tel: 552 6751, fax: 562 6110
Denmark: Hverfisgata 29, tel: 562 1230, fax: 562 3316
Finland: Túngata 30, tel: 562 1577, fax: 562 3880
France: Túngata 22, tel: 551 7621, fax: 562 5567
Germany: Laufásvegur 31, tel: 551 9535, fax: 552 5699
Norway: Fjólugata 17, tel: 520 0700, fax: 552 9553
Russian Republic: Garðastræti 33, tel: 551 5156, fax: 562 0633
Sweden: Lágmúli 7, tel: 581 2022, fax: 568 9615
United Kingdom: Laufásvegur 31, tel: 551 5883, fax: 552 7940
U.S.A.: Laufásvegur 21, tel: 562 9100, fax: 552 9529

Consulates:

Poland
Consul: Mr. Friðrik Gunnarsson 1989
Office: Sólbraut 18, Seltjarnarnes
Tel.: 561 1761
E-Mail: fridrikgunn@simnet.is
Home: Sólbraut 18, 170 Seltjarnarnes
Tel.: 561 1761

Slovakia
Consul: Mr. Runólfur Oddsson 2001
Office: Kaldasel, Dalvegur 16 B, Reykjavík
Tel: 544 4333
Telefax: 544 4330
E-Mail: kaldasel@islandia.is
Home: Undraland 4, 108 Reykjavík
Tel: 553 3255

If you want further information about consulates, you should contact:

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Utanríkisráðuneytið)
Rauðarárstígur 25, 105 Reykjavík
Tel: 560 9900, fax: 562 2373

Higher Education Institutions

Higher education institutions in Iceland can be classified as universities and colleges. Universities have research responsibilities and offer more than one programme of study. The University of Iceland is by far the largest of these institutions and offers programmes of study in all traditional university subjects, while the other two universities are more specialised. Colleges offer technical and vocational courses as well as courses in the arts.

Day-to-Day Living

Dial 112 to reach police, ambulance, or the fire department. 112 is an emergency number for the entire country.

Social Security

If you are working in Iceland, your employer is obliged to provide accident insurance for you. The amount of salary does not affect the insurance coverage. The employer is responsible for registering you in the accident insurance plan.

Foreign citizens with a valid work permit and a legal domicile for six months or more are entitled to health insurance benefits in Iceland. If you as an employee are away from work on account of illness or accident at work, you are entitled to wages from your employer for a specific time, which may vary according to the length of time you have been in his employ.

Money

The Icelandic monetary unit is the króna (plural: krónur), which is equivalent to 100 aurar (singular: eyrir). The denominations of the coins in use are: 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 krónur. The denominations of the notes in use are 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 krónur. Because the aurar coins are of such small value, you will usually find prices rounded off to the nearest króna.

Exchange rates can be found on the Central Bank of Iceland website.

Banks

The four leading Icelandic banks all have branches in Akureyri

Landsbanki Íslands, Strandgata 1
Kaupþing, Geislagata 5
Glitnir, Skipagata 14
BYR - Sparisjóður, Skipagötu 9

Banking hours are Monday - Friday from 9:15 - 16:00

Many foreign students choose to keep most of their money, at least to begin with, in a foreign currency account (gjaldeyrisreikningur), which is a service provided by most banks. Apart from that, the recommended account would be a bank account with a debit card (debetkort). To open such an account, you will need to produce your ID number and student identity card or other valid identification. You can pay directly with the debit card in most shops and services, and you can withdraw money in banks or at automatic teller machines (ATMs) by using your PIN number.

Credit Cards

The major credit cards in Iceland are VISA and Eurocard/Mastercard. They are widely used and accepted throughout the country (even at grocery stores), but Diners Club, American Express, and other credit cards are less known. You can also use your credit card to withdraw money in banks and at ATMs if you have a PIN number.

Foreign Exchange

All banks offer foreign exchange service during banking hours.

Shopping

Iceland has two main types of food stores: the supermarket and the "corner shop." Food sold in supermarkets is, on the whole, comparatively cheaper than food sold in corner shops. Corner shops, however, often stay open later than supermarkets and are often open all day Saturdays and Sundays.

General shopping hours in Akureyri are

Monday - Friday from: 9:00/10:00 - 18:00
Saturday from 10:00 - 14:00/15:00/16:00

Vínbúð (ÁTVR)

Wine, liquor, and beer can only be bought at the state liquor shop, called Vínbúð (Winestore). The store is open Monday - Thursday from 11:00 - 18:00, and Friday 11.00-19.00. The store is located at Hólabraut 16 and is also open Saturday from 11:00 - 16:00. It is forbidden to sell alcohol to minors (under 20).

Buses - public transportation is free in Akureyri

The most economical way to travel around Akureyri is by bus. Akureyri's buses, yellow in colour, can be caught at bus stops marked with the logo "SVA" (Strætisvagnar Akureyrar) and generally run at the following times:

Monday - Friday from 6:20 - 23:40 and on weekends from 12:00 - 18:00.

Bicycle

For 10.000 - 15.000 krónur you could buy a good second-hand bicycle. Even so, this healthy form of travel is not as popular among students here in Iceland as it is with students in most other countries. Students have also been known to rent bikes for about 1 - 2.000 per month. That is for a second-hand bike.

Taxi

A taxi (leigubíll) can be obtained by phone (461 1010) or on the move. Taxis are clean and reliable but quite expensive. Tips are not customary in Iceland, since service charges are always included in bills.

Driving

If you buy or rent a car you may drive on your national driver's license for one year from the date of entry into the country. Telephones
There are two types of public telephones in Iceland: coin-operated and card-operated. A telephone card (símakort) can be bought at all post offices and telephone stations. Since most people in Iceland use cell phones, public phones are rare and can be difficult to find. Phone call charges in Iceland vary greatly, depending on the time of day, the day of the week, and the distance of your call.

Post Office

Most post offices (pósthús)are open: Monday - Friday from 9:00 - 16:30. The post office is located in Hafnarstræti 102.

Radio and TV

The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (Ríkisútvarpið) was founded in 1930. It is owned and operated by the state and serves the whole country by broadcasting news, weather, and a wide range of programmes. Ríkisútvarpið operates two radio
channels:

Rás 1 (Channel 1): FM 91.60
Rás 2 (Channel 2): FM 96.50

Following a change in government legislation in 1983, there is now a variety of Icelandic radio stations such as:

Bylgjan: FM 92.70

The National Broadcasting Service also operates one TV channel, Sjónvarpið, a name meaning The TV. Another television station is Stöð 2 (Station 2). Both produce their own news and entertainment programmes but also broadcast soaps, movies,etc.

News in English
www.foreigniceland.ru.gg - russian community and news web site.
Rás 1 (FM 91.6) broadcasts The News in English throughout the summer (June - September), Monday - Friday at 7:30 in the morning.

Akureyri

North Iceland

Iceland Guest

Reykjavík City

Foreign Iceland

Explore Iceland

Iceland Worldwide

Akureyri Region Business Agency

Iceland Visitor

Visit Reykjavik

Other useful information

International House, Hverfisgötu 18, tel.: 530 9300. A Knowledge and Service Enterprise in the Field of Multiculturalism and Human Rights. www.ahus.is

The Society for the Elderly in Reykjavik and Vicinity, Stangarhyl 4,
tel: 588 2111. Its role is to protect the interests of the elderly but the society also promotes various social activities such as choir singing, acting, dancing and contract bridge. www.feb.is

The Health service, Álfabakka16, tel.: 513 1500. www.heilsugaeslan.is

The Charity Organisation of the Church, Vatnsstíg 3, tel.: 562 4400.
The Charity Organisation of the Church grants assistance throughout the year. Applications can be made to vicars anywhere in the country. www.help.is

The women’s refuge – tel: 561 1205.
A shelter for women and their children when staying at home becomes intolerable due to mental and physical violence from the husband, common-law husband or other members of the household. www.kvennaathvarf.is

Landspítali - University Hospital at Hringbraut, tel: 543 1000. www.landspitali.is

The National Federation of the elderly, Borgartúni 30, tel.: 535 6000. Federation of all Icelandic societies for the elderly. At the present time the Federation has 53 societies with some 18 thousand members. www.leb.is

The Reykjavík Police, Hverfisgötu 113, tel. 444 1000. www.logregla.is

The Icelandic Red Cross, Efstaleiti 9, tel. 570 4000. www.redcross.is

Strætó BS, (bus service), Þönglabakka 8, tel. 540 2700. www.bus.is

The State Social Security Institute, Laugavegi 114, tel. 560 4460.
In addition to old age pension payments and other payments from the national security system, applications can be made there for the alarm buttons and aid equipment.

The home visits service -Emergency phone number 1717

The Adult Study Group of Reykjavik
The Adult Study Group of Reykjavik offers adult education and assists people with finding a fitting avenue for learning. The Group offers a course in Icelandic for foreigners in co-operation with Mími-símenntun (Mími continuous education). The City of Reykjavik subsidises the courses for residents of Reykjavik.

See the website of the Adult Study Group, Icelandic for foreigners.

Community centres under the auspices of the City of Reykjavik are open to all age groups.

The town centre and Hlíðar
Bólstaðarhlíð 43 tel. 535 2760
Langahlíð 3 tel. 552 4161
• Vitatorgi, Lindargötu 59 tel. 411 9450
Vesturgata 7 tel. 535 2740


Laugardalur and Háaleiti
Norðurbrún 1 tel. 568 6960
Dalbraut 27 tel. 411 2500
Dalbraut 18-20 tel. 588 9533
Hæðargarði 31 tel. 568 3132
Sléttuvegi 11 tel. 568 2586
Furugerði 1 tel. 553 6040
Hvassaleiti 56-58 tel. 535 2720

Árbær and Grafarholt
Hraunbæ 105 tel. 587 2888
Þórðarsveigur 1-5.............................sími: 587 2888

Vesturbær
Aflagrandi 40 tel. 411 2700

Breiðholt
Árskógar 4 tel. 535 2700
Social activities at Gerðubergi tel. 575 7720

Grafarvogur and Kjalarnes
Korpúlfar,
Union of the Elderly tel. 411 1400

Tourist information centres:

Svæðismiðstöðin

Heimilisfang: Staðarskáli - Hrútafjörður
Staður: 500 Staður
Sími: 451-1150
Netfang: stadur@if.is
Svæði: Norðurland vestra

Svæðismiðstöðin

Heimilisfang: Brekkugata 2
Staður: 530 Hvammstangi
Sími: 451-2345
Netfang: info@selasetur.is
Svæði: Norðurland vestra


Svæðismiðstöðin

Heimilisfang: Brautarhvammi.
Staður: 540 Blönduós
Sími: 452-4520
Netfang: infoblonduos@northwest.is
Svæði: Norðurland vestra


Landshlutamiðstöðin

Heimilisfang: Varmahlíð
Staður: 560 Varmahlíð
Sími: 455-6161
Netfang: upplysingar@skagafjordur.is
Svæði: Norðurland vestra


Svæðismiðstöðin

Heimilisfang: Aðalgata 23
Staður: 580 Siglufjörður
Sími: 467-1555
Netfang: info@siglo.is
Svæði: Norðurland vestra

Landshlutamiðstöðin
Heimilisfang: Hafnarstræti 82
Staður: 600 Akureyri
Sími: 550-0720
Netfang: tourinfo@est.is
Svæði: Norðurland eystra

Svæðismiðstöðin
Heimilisfang: Húsavíkurstofa Garðarsbraut 5
Staður: 640 Húsavík
Sími: 464-4300
Netfang: info@husavik.is
Svæði: Norðurland eystra

Svæðismiðstöðin
Heimilisfang: Hraunvegur 8
Staður: 660 Mývatn
Sími: 464-4390
Netfang: infomyvatn@est.is
Svæði: Norðurland eystra

Svæðismiðstöðin - Þjóðgarðurinn Jökulsárgljúfrum
Heimilisfang: Ásbyrgi National Park
Staður: 671 Kópasker
Sími: 465-2195
Netfang: jokulsargljufur@ust.is
Svæði: Norðurland eystra