Can I hold dual citizenship in Iceland?
Yes — since 1 July 2003 Icelandic law has allowed dual (and multiple) citizenship, and you do not have to renounce your other citizenships. The Act on Icelandic Citizenship no. 100/1952 was amended in 2003 so that an Icelander keeps Icelandic citizenship even if they acquire citizenship in another country, and a foreigner who gains Icelandic citizenship need not renounce their former one. Here lies a widespread out-of-date rule: before 2003 an Icelander automatically lost their citizenship on taking up a foreign one, and many still wrongly believe that is so. It is no longer true. The only real condition is the other country: if you apply for citizenship in a state that bans dual citizenship, it may require you to renounce your Icelandic one. Icelandic citizenship is granted either by application to the Directorate of Immigration on meeting conditions of residence, Icelandic-language skills, a clean criminal record and self-support, or by an Act of Althingi, and Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá) records the citizenship.
📋 The rules
- Act no. 100/1952 (amended 2003): an Icelander keeps citizenship even if they acquire a foreign one.
- A foreigner who gains Icelandic citizenship need not renounce their former citizenship.
- If you apply for citizenship in a state that bans dual citizenship, you may have to renounce your Icelandic one.
- Icelandic citizenship is granted by application to the Directorate of Immigration (residence, language test, criminal record, self-support) or by an Act of Althingi.
- Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá) records citizenship; a child under 18 adopted by an Icelandic citizen automatically gains Icelandic citizenship.
🔓 Exceptions
- Before 1 July 2003 the old rule applied; someone who lost Icelandic citizenship by taking up a foreign one may in some cases regain it.
- Some other states do not allow dual citizenship; it is their law, not Iceland's, that then creates the obstacle.
- An application for Icelandic citizenship to the Directorate of Immigration is subject to conditions of residence, a language test and self-support; Althingi can, however, grant citizenship by law.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Dual citizenship is a right, not an offence, but it comes with duties and traps people do not foresee. The biggest trap is the out-of-date rule: someone who believes they will lose their Icelandic citizenship by taking up another can make wrong decisions, for example renouncing a citizenship needlessly. If, on the other hand, you apply for citizenship in a country that bans dual citizenship and forget to check, you may be forced to renounce your Icelandic one — losing the right to vote for Althingi and other rights with it. Dual citizenship also means double obligations: the other state can demand taxes, military service or more regardless of residence, and Icelandic authorities may have limited scope to provide consular protection in the very state where you are also a citizen. The hidden cost often shows up at borders and in administration: mismatches between passports, names or registrations can delay travel and complicate matters, so it pays to keep your registration with Registers Iceland correct and consistent.
📎 Official sources
- Althingi · Act on Icelandic Citizenship no. 100/1952 →
- Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá) · citizenship →
- Government of Iceland · citizenship →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I lose Icelandic citizenship if I gain another?
No, since 1 July 2003 an Icelander keeps Icelandic citizenship even if they acquire citizenship in another country. Before that date people automatically lost their Icelandic citizenship on taking up a foreign one, and the misunderstanding lives on, but it no longer applies under Icelandic law.
Must a foreigner renounce their old citizenship to become Icelandic?
No, a person who gains Icelandic citizenship does not have to renounce their former citizenship under Act no. 100/1952. The other state may, however, have its own rules, so if the person's home country bans dual citizenship it may itself require them to give up that citizenship.
How do I obtain Icelandic citizenship?
Icelandic citizenship is granted either by application to the Directorate of Immigration on meeting conditions of residence, Icelandic-language skills, a clean criminal record and self-support, or by an Act of Althingi. Registers Iceland records the citizenship, and a child under 18 adopted by an Icelandic citizen gains it automatically on adoption.
Can another country still bar me from dual citizenship?
Yes, Iceland allows dual citizenship but many other countries do not, and then it is the other country's law that creates the obstacle. If you apply for citizenship in a country that bans dual citizenship it may require you to renounce your Icelandic one, so it pays to check the rules of both countries first.
Does dual citizenship carry any obligations?
Yes, dual citizenship can mean double obligations, because the other state can demand taxes, military service or more regardless of where you live. Icelandic authorities may also have limited scope to provide you with consular protection in a country where you are also a citizen, so it helps to know the duties of both states.
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