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Iceland permanent residency: In October 2025, it was claimed on many Indian media platforms and social media pages that Iceland is offering permanent residence opportunity to Indians and its fee is only Rs 12,000. This news quickly went viral on Instagram, Facebook and X. Actually, there is truth at the core of the news but many important things were left out. This amount is only the application fee, not the cost of the entire process. Similarly, many other important things were also left out.
What does the Icelandic government say?
According to the Immigration Authority of Iceland, the option of permanent residence is definitely available for foreign citizens. But this is not like calling someone and settling down. For this, certain conditions have to be fulfilled, such as legal residence in Iceland for at least 4 years and 3 years if married to an Icelandic citizen. Proof of permanent and sufficient income will have to be provided. Passing an Icelandic language course or test is required, as well as a clean criminal record and proof of housing and health insurance. That is, this route is from temporary residence to permanent residence, and not for those going directly from India.
Where did the fee of Rs 12,000 come from?
Now the question arises that from where did the issue of Rs 12,000 come out? The Rs 12,000 mentioned in this viral claim is actually the application fee. According to the official fee list of Iceland, for online application one has to pay around 16,000 ISK, which comes to around Rs 11,500 to 12,000 in Indian Rupees. If applying through paper or through an agent, the fees may be slightly higher, around 22,000 ISK i.e. around Rs 16,000. But this is just the processing fee, the actual cost of settling there is much more.
Who can apply?
This is where this viral news misleads. The reality is that only those people who already have an Iceland work permit, student visa or family residence can apply. Who have lived there legally for 4 continuous years. Those who have a permanent job and adequate income. Those who have fulfilled the conditions of integration into language and society. What this means in simple and clear words is that the door of PR is not directly open to any person sitting in India.
it’s not so easy to live
We often think that life in Europe would be better, people would be having fun. but it’s not like that. Those who actually get a chance to live there have to face many challenges, such as inflation being very high, food, housing and electricity being many times more expensive than in India. There is a language problem, it is necessary to learn Icelandic to fit into the job and society. The job market is small and most jobs are skilled or seasonal. The weather is cold and with long winters, which can be difficult to adjust to. However, its beauty, security and social welfare system make it one of the best countries in the world. Now let’s talk about whether Iceland is really giving PR to Indians? The short and simple answer is no. The Iceland government has not started any special scheme for Indians. The amount of Rs 12,000 is only the processing fee, which is applicable to every eligible applicant. Yes, only those Indians who are already studying or working in Iceland and have been living there legally for many years can apply for PR with this fee.
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