Iceland: collective protection for Ukrainians extended to 2 March 2027 — permits renewed automatically
In short. Collective protection for Ukrainians in Iceland is valid until 2 March 2027. For those legally residing in the country, the permit is renewed automatically for a year with no new photo session; an SMS/email notifies you when the card is ready. Exceptions (individual assessment): dual citizenship, residence in a Dublin-cooperation state before 24.02.2022, the ability to safely stay in or travel to another state. Being abroad for more than 3 consecutive months may lead to revocation of the permit; if your residence is registered abroad for 3 months, the permit is revoked automatically.
- Collective protection for Ukrainians in Iceland has been extended to 2 March 2027. The 'mass displacement' mechanism itself operates on the basis of Article 44 of the Foreign Nationals Act; the residence permit is granted on the basis of Article 74 — for 1 year at a time, up to 5 years in total.
- For those already legally residing in Iceland, the permit is renewed automatically — no separate application needs to be submitted.
- No new photo session is required; Útlendingastofnun notifies you by SMS/email when a new card is ready. The card must be collected within the stated period, otherwise this is treated as departure from the country and the registration of residence is cancelled.
- Eligible are: citizens of Ukraine who resided in Ukraine as of 24.02.2022; persons with international/subsidiary protection or a humanitarian permit in Ukraine on that date; their family members.
- Outside the automatic procedure (individual assessment): persons with dual citizenship; those who resided in a Dublin-cooperation state before 24.02.2022; those who can safely stay in, travel to or be transferred to another state.
- Staying abroad for more than 3 consecutive months may lead to revocation of the permit (a decision at the authority's discretion); if your residence is registered abroad for 3 months — the permit is revoked automatically.
Iceland has extended collective protection for Ukrainians to 2 March 2027. This refers to protection 'in the event of mass displacement', which the country activated on 4 March 2022 on the basis of Article 44 of the Foreign Nationals Act. The residence permit on humanitarian grounds itself is granted on the basis of Article 74 — for one year at a time and may be renewed for up to five years in total.
On 6 February 2025, the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun) announced the extension of permits under collective protection by another year. As of the procedure update of 10 December 2025, permits expiring in 2026 are extended automatically until 2 March 2027. For people who legally reside in Iceland, the extension happens automatically — there is no need to submit a new application.
What has changed in practice
- Automatic extension. If you legally reside in Iceland, your permit will be extended without a separate request.
- No new photo session. You do not need to go for a photograph for a new card.
- Notification by SMS/email. Útlendingastofnun notifies you when and where you can collect the new card.
- Collect the card on time. If you do not collect the card within the stated period, this is treated as departure from Iceland, and the registration of residence is cancelled.
Who is eligible for collective protection
Eligible for protection are:
- citizens of Ukraine who resided in Ukraine as of 24 February 2022;
- persons who, as of 24 February 2022, held international protection, subsidiary protection or a humanitarian residence permit in Ukraine;
- family members of the persons listed — a spouse or cohabiting partner, children and stepchildren under 18, as well as dependent relatives.
Who is assessed separately (exceptions)
The following categories do not fall under the automatic collective protection procedure and are subject to individual assessment:
- persons with dual citizenship;
- those who, before 24 February 2022, resided in a Dublin-cooperation state;
- those who can safely stay in, travel to or be transferred to another state where they can apply for recognition as a refugee under an international convention;
- family members of such persons who apply together with them.
If any of the above applies to you, you must surrender your passport for the duration of the application's assessment.
An important rule on travel abroad
The residence permit may be revoked if you stay abroad for more than three consecutive months (this is a decision at the authority's discretion). Separately, an automatic rule applies: if your residence, registered in Iceland, was registered abroad for three months, the permit is revoked automatically.
What this means for you
If you already have collective protection in Iceland and legally reside here — you do not need to do anything in particular: watch for SMS/email from Útlendingastofnun and collect the new card on time. When planning a long trip abroad, bear the three-month rule in mind. Check the current conditions and deadlines on the official portal island.is.
Official sources
Questions
- Until what date is collective protection for Ukrainians in Iceland valid?
- Collective protection has been extended to 2 March 2027. The residence permit is issued for one year at a time and may be renewed for up to five years in total.
- On the basis of which article is the permit granted?
- The collective protection mechanism 'in the event of mass displacement' operates on the basis of Article 44 of the Foreign Nationals Act (activated on 4 March 2022). The residence permit on humanitarian grounds itself is granted on the basis of Article 74 — for one year at a time, up to five years in total.
- Do I need to submit an application to extend the permit?
- No. For those legally residing in Iceland, the extension happens automatically. There is no need to submit a separate application, and no new photo session is required either. You are notified when the new card is ready by SMS/email.
- Who is eligible for collective protection?
- Citizens of Ukraine who resided in Ukraine as of 24 February 2022; persons who, on that date, held international or subsidiary protection or a humanitarian permit in Ukraine; and their family members (a spouse/cohabiting partner, children under 18, dependent relatives).
- Who is not covered by the automatic procedure?
- Assessed separately (individually) are the cases of persons with dual citizenship, those who resided in a Dublin-cooperation state before 24.02.2022, and those who can safely stay in or travel to another state. For the duration of the assessment, such persons must surrender their passport.
- What happens if I go abroad for a long time?
- If you stay abroad for more than three consecutive months, the residence permit may be revoked (a decision at the authority's discretion). And if your residence was registered abroad for three months, the permit is revoked automatically.
- Where can I check the official information?
- On the state portal island.is (the section for citizens of Ukraine) and on the website of the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun). The information is available in English, Icelandic and Ukrainian.