Do I have to report my move when I change home?
Yes — you must tell the National Registry (Þjóðskrá) when you move, and you should do so within seven days of moving. Under the Domicile Act no. 80/2018 a change of domicile must be reported within seven days of it happening, and a new domicile can only be registered up to fourteen days back in time. Your domicile is meant to be where you have your permanent residence — where you normally live, sleep and keep home — not where it suits you to be registered. The myth is twofold: that a move "registers itself", or that it is harmless to leave your domicile unchanged at your parents' or the old place. That is wrong and can be costly. Your domicile decides which municipality gets your local tax, where you are entitled to school, preschool and social services, where you are on the electoral roll and which district handles your affairs. False information about domicile — say to obtain benefits or dodge charges — can carry fines. You report a move electronically through the National Registry or at its office.
📋 The rules
- The Domicile Act no. 80/2018: a change of domicile must be reported within seven days of the move, and a new domicile can only be registered up to fourteen days back in time.
- Domicile must be where you have your permanent residence — where you normally live, sleep and keep home — and you may only have it in one place at a time.
- A move must be reported electronically or at a National Registry office; married and cohabiting couples should as a rule share a domicile unless residence is genuinely separate.
- If you intend to stay abroad for six months or more you must report your emigration to the National Registry; someone moving to Iceland registers their domicile there.
- Giving false information about domicile or neglecting to report a move can carry fines under the Act's penalty provision, unless a heavier penalty applies under other law.
🔓 Exceptions
- Children in two homes: since 2021 a child's shared residence can be registered with both custodial parents, but the child still has one registered domicile that governs certain services and payments.
- Students and temporary stays can keep a domicile where permanent residence really is, but register a temporary address where they stay for a time — a temporary address and a domicile are not the same.
- Someone with no fixed home has a domicile registered under special rules (e.g. with a municipality); no one is "outside the system", but the registration follows real status, not wishes.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
In most cases a move report is simple and free of charge, so the "penalty" bites only when the registration is wrong or neglected. Giving false information about domicile or failing to report a move can carry fines under the penalty provision of Act no. 80/2018, unless a heavier penalty applies elsewhere. More serious than the fine, though, is the knock-on effect in the system. Domicile decides which municipality gets your local tax and where you are entitled to school, preschool and social services; a wrong registration can therefore deprive you of a service or route it to the wrong municipality. A false domicile used to obtain benefits or payments you are not entitled to can lead to a claim for repayment with a surcharge and, where deception is involved, a charge of fraud. Domicile also affects the electoral roll — which constituency you vote in — and which district handles your affairs. Finally, a wrong registration can complicate everything from post and insurance to your tax return, because public bodies rely on the National Registry reflecting your real residence.
📎 Official sources
- Althingi · Domicile Act (lög um lögheimili og aðsetur) no. 80/2018 →
- National Registry (Þjóðskrá) · moving and registering domicile →
- Ísland.is · Regulation on domicile and residence no. 1277/2018 →
❓ Frequently asked
How long do I have to report a move?
You must report a change of domicile within seven days of the move under Act no. 80/2018, and a new domicile can only be registered up to fourteen days back in time. A move does not register itself just because you get new housing, so you are responsible for sending the National Registry the report electronically or at its office within the deadline.
Can I leave my domicile at my parents' or the old place?
No, your domicile must be where you really have your permanent residence, where you normally live and keep home, not where it suits you to be registered. Leaving your domicile unchanged after you have moved can count as a false registration that may carry fines and can disrupt your right to services in the correct municipality.
Why does the correct domicile matter?
Your domicile decides which municipality gets your local tax and where you are entitled to school, preschool and social services, as well as which constituency you vote in on the electoral roll. A wrong registration can therefore route services and payments to the wrong place and affect everything from your tax return to which district handles your affairs.
What happens if I give a false domicile?
Giving false information about domicile or neglecting to report a move can carry fines under the penalty provision of Act no. 80/2018, unless a heavier penalty applies elsewhere. If a false domicile is used to obtain benefits or payments you are not entitled to, it can lead to a claim for repayment with a surcharge and, where deception is involved, a charge of fraud.
Do I have to report a move if I go abroad?
Yes, if you intend to stay abroad for six months or more you must report your emigration to the National Registry, and someone moving back to Iceland registers their domicile again. This matters for tax liability, social security and entitlements, so it is not a formality but can have a real effect on your standing towards the authorities.
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