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Icelandic Krona is the official currency of Iceland. Its currency symbol is kr, ISK.
Estimated at 29% of employee’s salary.
Emerald Technology can onboard employees within one week.
Icelandic (Íslenska) is the country’s national language and is used for communication in government, education, and daily life, English is also widely spoken.
The population of Iceland is 356,991 people (based on World bank numbers in 2021).
The payroll cycle in Iceland is generally monthly.
To start growing your team in Iceland, you must establish a local entity – including an account with a local bank, a local office and an address registered as a subsidiary. This allows you to manage payroll, tax, benefits and compliance for your employees, but can take several months. Emerald can hire and payroll your workers, quickly and compliantly, with their ready to go entity. Make growing your team simple with Emerald as a global partner.
Emerald can hire and payroll your workers, quickly and compliantly with their ready to go entity. Make growing your team simple with Emerald as a global partner.
Iceland, with its unique business environment, presents several advantages for those considering international hiring. The country boasts a highly educated and skilled workforce, often proficient in English. It is renowned for its political stability, low crime rates, and excellent healthcare and education systems, making it an attractive option for employers. Additionally, Iceland’s location provides a strategic gateway between North America and Europe. However, employers should be aware of the relatively high labor costs and a relatively small domestic market, which can affect budgeting and market reach. Navigating Icelandic employment regulations and tax systems may also require careful consideration.
Iceland is an increasingly appealing destination for remote workers seeking a unique work-life balance. Its stunning natural landscapes, including glaciers, volcanoes, and geothermal springs, offer opportunities for rejuvenation and adventure. Iceland operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), making it convenient for remote workers collaborating with Europe or the Americas. The country boasts a reliable and high-speed internet infrastructure, critical for remote work. Furthermore, Iceland’s emphasis on work-life balance, low levels of pollution, and a strong social safety net contribute to a high quality of life. While living costs can be high, the overall experience of remote work in Iceland can be highly rewarding, offering a mix of work productivity and natural beauty that few other places can match.
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| Mandatory Pension Fund | 11.05% |
| Supplementary Pension Fund | 2% |
| Social Security Contribution | 6.10% |
| Union Fee | 1.55% |
| Rehabilitation Fund | 0.10% |
| Vacation Allowance once annually (can go up to 13.04% of annual gross salary, depending on the employee's tenure with the employer) | 10.17% |
Pension Fund Contributions
Social Security Contribution
Holiday Pay
Maternity and Paternity Pay
Sickness Pay
Vacation Allowance
Medical Insurance Plan
Dental Insurance Plan
Vision Insurance Plan
Additional Paid Holidays
Flexible Work Schedule
Life Insurance
Contracts in Iceland must include:
Contracts of employment can be in English or Icelandic. All contracts must be according to the employee’s trade union. The contract will need to include details such as:
A probation period in Iceland is usually 3 months.
Emerald Technology can onboard employees in Iceland within 48 hours.
Iceland has a state centred, public funded universal healthcare system and health insurance that covers the population. The number of private providers in Iceland has increased. The healthcare system is largely paid for by taxes and to some extent by service fees. This is administrated by the Ministry of Health. A substantial portion of government spending is assigned to healthcare.
Social security in Iceland is a public pension system of which all Icelanders are members. The primary objective is providing mutual insurance, income equalisation and a social safety net for pension recipients. Social security includes pensions, health insurance and disability insurance.
Expectant mothers in Iceland are entitled to 6 months of maternity leave, starting up to one month before the expected due date. Maternity leave is paid at 80% of the employee’s normal salary.
Fathers are also entitled to 6 months of paternity leave, paid at 80% of the employee’s normal salary. One month of parental leave can be transferred between partners and both partners’ leave entitlements can be used until the new-born turns 18 months of age. Parents can also take up to 13 consecutive weeks of leave to care for children up to the age of eight.
Employees are entitled to 2 days of sick leave per month, accruing 24 days per year. The first 2 days each month are paid at 100% of the employees’ salary by the employer. After the 2 days per month, the pay will depend on which Trade Union is selected by the employee.
Parents are entitled to 12 days of leave if any of their children are hospitalised.
As the legal employer, Emerald Technology requires the following employee documents to ensure complete compliance:
Passport / ID
Personal Tax Card
Pension Fund
Additional Pension Fund
Trade Union Details
When an employer dismisses an employee it must be with just cause and they must give them notice. The notice period starts from the day after the employer notifies the employee of the termination. Notice must be given in accordance with the following schedule at a minimum:
| Length of employment | Notice Period |
| First 3 months of the probation period | 1 week |
| After probation period | 1 month |
| After 6 months employment | 3 months |
If an employee is made redundant, they are entitled to a payment based on years of continuous service.
Whilst there is no legally mandated severance pay in Iceland, this can depend on the union the employee is a member of. All employees in Iceland are part of a union depending on the industry they work in. The employee has the right to be able to choose which union they are part of. |
The minimum holiday entitlement per year in Iceland is 24 working days. This is compensated at a rate of 10.17% of an employee’s normal wage. After 5 years of employment with the same employer, an employee is entitled to 27 working days, paid at an 11.59% rate. This will increase to 30 working days, compensated at a 13.04% rate after 10 years of employment with the same employer.
Iceland has 16 public holidays per year. If an employee is expected to work, they are entitled to 1.375% of their salary per hour. Iceland has 12 national holidays:
There is not a minimum wage mandated under Icelandic law. Both employees and employers may enter into a collective bargaining to determine salary rates as they see fit
The standard working week in Iceland is 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, 40 hours per week. Employees may work overtime if it is agreed by both the employer and employee. However, an employee cannot work more than 10 hours per day. Any hours outside of the standard working hours are considered overtime, payment is mandatory for any overtime worked.
Employees are also entitled to mandatory rest breaks in Iceland. A minimum rest period of 11 consecutive hours must be provided between working days. Employees must have at least one day off per week. During the working day employees are entitled to at least a 15-minute break after 6 consecutive hours of work. However, most companies offer from 30 minutes to 1 hour lunch break, plus up to 35 minutes of additional coffee breaks.
Employees are paid either on a weekly, or monthly basis.
Employees who have worked for the same employer for more than 12 weeks in the current year will be entitled to an annual bonus. This bonus is usually paid in December.
The individual income tax ranges from 31.45% to 46.25% for employees. Income tax is calculated according to progressive rates. Multiple factors can impact the rates such as the household status and the number of children an employee may have. Below are the typical tax rates an employee may pay.
Salary Tax Percentage
Up to ISK 4,188,216 31.45%
The Next ISK 7,569,948 37.95%
Over ISK 11,758,159 46.25%
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