How to Get a Kennitala in Iceland: Step-by-Step Guide
The kennitala is Iceland's national ID number and the key to almost every administrative task after arrival. This guide covers who needs one, how to register, and what to do once you have it.
What is a kennitala in Iceland?
Kennitala (Iceland's national identification number) is a 10-digit code assigned to every person registered as a resident in Iceland. The number encodes your date of birth and a check digit unique to you.
Getting your kennitala in Iceland is the single most important administrative step after arrival. It is required to open a bank account, sign a lease, get a postpaid phone plan, register with a GP, file taxes, and access most government services.
Who needs a kennitala and when
Every person who registers a legal domicile in Iceland receives a kennitala. This includes EEA/EFTA citizens moving for work or personal reasons, non-EEA citizens with an approved residence permit, and children born in Iceland.
The process for obtaining a kennitala differs significantly depending on your nationality. EEA/EFTA citizens handle registration themselves through Registers Iceland. Non-EEA citizens receive their kennitala through the Directorate of Immigration as part of the residence permit process, without needing to visit Registers Iceland directly.
What you need before you apply
EEA/EFTA citizens
The core documents required are:
Valid passport or national ID card
Proof of address in Iceland (a signed rental contract, or a letter from your landlord confirming you live there)
Additional documents are required depending on your basis for residency. Workers typically need proof of employment. Students need documentation of enrolment, a declaration of sufficient funds, and proof of health insurance.
Self-sufficient individuals face similar financial proof requirements. Check skra.is for the full list relevant to your situation before attending in person.
Registration of domicile carries no application fee (as of March 2026).
When to register. EEA/EFTA citizens are entitled to register as soon as they arrive, provided they intend to stay 3 months or longer. According to island.is, registration is required for EEA/EFTA nationals who stay longer than 3 months. Nordic nationals (citizens of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) operate under a separate agreement and must register within 7 days of arriving in Iceland.
Non-EEA citizens
Non-EEA citizens do not apply for a kennitala separately. Once the Útlendingastofnun (Directorate of Immigration) issues your residence permit, it sends a request directly to Þjóðskrá Íslands (Registers Iceland) to register your domicile and issue your kennitala. The kennitala is issued as part of your residence permit card and mailed to your registered address.
To initiate this, you must appear in person at the Directorate of Immigration at Dalvegur 18, 201 Kópavogur, where you will be photographed and submit your documents. You cannot complete this step remotely. Read our work permit guide for details on what documents are required and current processing timelines.
How to register and get your kennitala in Iceland (EEA/EFTA citizens)
Option 1: Online pre-application via island.is
EEA/EFTA citizens initiating domicile registration should submit the relevant application form online through island.is before or upon arriving in Iceland. The form depends on your intended length of stay: use form A-263 for stays of 3 to 6 months, and form A-271 for stays of 6 months or longer. You will still need to complete the process in person, so have your documents ready.
Option 2: In person at Registers Iceland or a local police station
Þjóðskrá Íslands operates a single office, located at Borgartún 21, 105 Reykjavík. You can find opening hours at skra.is. Bring all your documents and a staff member will review them, confirm your address, and register your domicile.
If you are outside Reykjavík, registration can also be completed at certain local police stations. Not all stations handle this, so contact your nearest one in advance to confirm before making the journey.
Processing time for your kennitala in Iceland
For EEA/EFTA citizens, the kennitala typically arrives within up to 10 working days of Registers Iceland receiving all necessary documentation (as of March 2026). Timelines vary depending on application volume and time of year.
Non-EEA citizens receive their kennitala as part of the residence permit card, which is mailed to their address after the Directorate of Immigration processes the application. You will receive a physical letter containing your kennitala and a PIN code for accessing government digital services. Keep both.
What to do once you have your kennitala in Iceland
Your kennitala unlocks the rest of the setup process. Work through these steps in order.
Open a bank account. The three main retail banks are Landsbankinn, Íslandsbanki, and Arion Bank. All three offer English-language service and the process typically takes around 30 minutes. Bring your kennitala and passport. Our bank account guide compares the main options and covers what to expect.
Get a postpaid phone plan. Providers including Nova, Síminn, and Sýn all require a kennitala for contract plans. Prepaid SIMs are available at convenience stores and petrol stations without one, but a postpaid plan is generally better value for residents. See our phone and internet guide for provider comparisons.
Register at a health clinic. Visit your local heilsugæslustöð (primary health clinic) with your kennitala to be assigned a GP. Find your nearest clinic through island.is.
That said, public health insurance in Iceland does not begin immediately. Everyone who moves legal domicile to Iceland undergoes a 6-month waiting period before Sjúkratryggingar Íslands (Iceland Health) coverage applies.
EEA citizens arriving from another EEA country have several options to reduce or eliminate this wait. An E-104 form from your home country's insurer documents prior insurance periods, which Iceland Health can credit toward the 6-month qualification, potentially waiving the wait entirely.
An S1 certificate, if you are entitled to one, can provide coverage from day one. If neither applies, an EHIC card from your home country lets you access state healthcare at subsidised rates during the waiting period.
Non-EEA citizens should arrange private health insurance to cover the full first 6 months. Read our healthcare overview for the full picture.
Sign a lease. Landlords in Iceland require a kennitala for rental agreements. If you moved in under informal arrangements while waiting for your number, formalise the lease as soon as it arrives.
File for tax registration. Skatturinn (the Directorate of Internal Revenue) uses your kennitala for all tax matters. If you are employed, your employer will handle initial registration. You can access your tax records and returns at skatturinn.is.
Kennitala format explained
The 10-digit number follows this structure: DDMMYY-XXXX. The first six digits are your date of birth in day-month-year format. The seventh and eighth digits are randomly assigned, and the ninth is a check digit.
The tenth and final digit indicates the century of birth: 9 for anyone born between 1900 and 1999, and 0 for anyone born in 2000 or later.
For example, a person born on 15 March 1985 would have a kennitala in the format 150385-XXXN, where N is 9. The last four digits after the hyphen are unique to the individual, with the final digit always being the century indicator.
This format means anyone can read your approximate birth year from your kennitala. That is standard practice in Iceland and not considered private information in the way it might be in other countries.
Updating your kennitala record after moving
Your kennitala number stays the same for life. When you move within Iceland, you are legally required to update your registered address with Registers Iceland within 7 days of the move. Failing to do so can cause problems with mail, tax correspondence, and public service access.
Updates can be made online at skra.is or in person. For a full overview of what to do after you have your kennitala sorted, see our first 30 days checklist and the broader moving to Iceland guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a kennitala in Iceland?
For EEA/EFTA citizens registering through Registers Iceland, up to 10 working days after all documentation has been received (as of March 2026). Non-EEA citizens receive their kennitala as part of the residence permit card process through the Directorate of Immigration.
When do EEA citizens need to register domicile in Iceland?
EEA/EFTA citizens are entitled to register as soon as they arrive, provided they intend to stay 3 months or longer. Registration is required for stays longer than 3 months. Nordic nationals (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden) have a separate obligation to register within 7 days of arriving.
Can I get a kennitala before my residence permit is approved?
No. Non-EEA citizens receive their kennitala automatically once the Directorate of Immigration approves their residence permit. There is no separate application to make; the two are issued together.
What is the difference between a kennitala and a residence permit?
A residence permit is the legal authorisation allowing non-EEA citizens to live in Iceland. A kennitala is the identification number issued to all residents. For non-EEA citizens, both are issued together through the Directorate of Immigration.
Can children get a kennitala?
Yes. Children born in Iceland are registered at birth. Children moving to Iceland with their parents are registered at the same time as the family. You will need the child's birth certificate and the registered parent's kennitala.
Does the kennitala give me access to public healthcare immediately?
No. Everyone who moves legal domicile to Iceland undergoes a 6-month waiting period before Iceland Health (Sjúkratryggingar Íslands) coverage applies. EEA citizens may be able to eliminate or shorten this wait using an S1 certificate or E-104 form from their home country's insurer. An EHIC card provides access to subsidised state healthcare during the waiting period if those options are not available. Non-EEA citizens should arrange private insurance for the full first 6 months.
What happens if I leave Iceland permanently?
You must deregister your domicile with Registers Iceland when you leave. Your kennitala is not deleted but becomes inactive. If you return and re-register, the same number is reinstated.
Last updated: March 2026
