Can I apply for a criminal record certificate online, and what does it cost?
Yes — you can apply for a criminal record certificate online at Island.is, and it costs 3,800 kr. A criminal record certificate shows the judgments and settlements in criminal cases a person has received. You need electronic ID (e-ID) and to be 15 or older; the certificate appears at once in the final step of the application and is sent to your inbox. Here is the factual error that persists: the cost is 3,800 kr (2025), not 2,700 kr or 2,500 kr as older pages — and even a description on Island.is itself — still say. The digital certificate carries an electronic seal, is issued in Icelandic with an English translation in the same document, and is not printed with a valid seal. The myth that catches many out: that every old offence stays on it forever. That is wrong — prison sentences drop off after 5 years and other judgments after 3. If you need an apostille for use abroad, the digital document is not enough; then you obtain a certificate at a district commissioner's office.
📋 The rules
- A criminal record certificate shows judgments and settlements in criminal cases — offences under the general penal code and the narcotics act.
- A digital certificate costs 3,800 kr (2025) and is paid by card during the application on Island.is; it is not refundable.
- The applicant needs electronic ID and to be 15 or older; otherwise they must attend a district commissioner's office with ID.
- The certificate carries an electronic seal, is in Icelandic with an English translation in the same document and appears at once in the final step.
- Offences drop off over time: prison sentences after 5 years from the judgment or release, other judgments after 3 years.
🔓 Exceptions
- Those without electronic ID or an Icelandic ID number cannot apply online and must attend a district commissioner's office with photo ID.
- If you need an apostille for use abroad, the digital certificate is not enough because it only carries an electronic seal; a printed certificate from the district commissioner is required.
- A special certificate for work with children follows its own rules — an employer can, with consent, obtain information from the criminal register, a different process from the ordinary certificate.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The certificate itself is not a punishment, but an entry on it can have real effects: some jobs, work and residence permits abroad, adoption and certain licences can stall on offences that still stand. That is why it matters to know that prison sentences drop off after 5 years and other judgments after 3 — many wrongly believe an offence follows them for life and pay for a certificate out of needless fear. The fee, 3,800 kr (2025), is not refundable, so ordering the wrong certificate is costly. The hidden cost most often surfaces when the certificate is to be used abroad: the digital document carries only an electronic seal and cannot be apostilled, so those who need certification for another country must obtain a printed certificate from the district commissioner and have the Ministry for Foreign Affairs authenticate it. Not planning for this can cost both an extra trip and delays in an application process abroad.
📎 Official sources
- Island.is · applying for a criminal record certificate (District Commissioners) →
- Syslumenn · certificates, passports and documents →
- Director of Public Prosecutions · criminal register →
❓ Frequently asked
How much does a criminal record certificate cost?
A digital criminal record certificate costs 3,800 kr in 2025 and is paid by card during the application on Island.is. Older figures such as 2,700 or 2,500 kr still appear widely, including in a description text, but the correct fee in the process itself is 3,800 kr and it is not refundable.
How long do offences stay on the certificate?
Prison sentences disappear from the certificate five years after the judgment or after release from serving it, and other judgments after three years. The common fear of a lifelong entry is therefore unfounded, because most offences drop off over time and no longer appear on the certificate.
Can I apply for the certificate online?
Yes, if you have electronic ID in Iceland and are 15 or older you can apply online and receive it at once. Those without electronic ID or an Icelandic ID number must instead attend a district commissioner's office and present photo identification.
Can I use the digital certificate abroad?
Often yes, because it is issued in Icelandic with an English translation in the same document and carries an electronic seal that confirms it. But if you need an apostille the digital document is not enough, and you must then obtain a printed certificate from the district commissioner and have it authenticated for use abroad.
Does everything I have ever done show up?
The certificate shows judgments and settlements for offences under the general penal code and the narcotics act. Minor matters that end without a judgment or settlement, and older offences that have dropped off, do not appear, so the certificate does not show your entire history of contact with the police.
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