Your Iceland
starter kit.
A bank account waiting when you land. A kennitala you actually understand. A home you can move into. We've teamed up with Arion banki so you can hit the ground running — in English, from day one.
- Set up before you arrive
- English support
- 100% online
The Arion banki starter pack.
Built with us, for people moving to Iceland.
Open an Icelandic bank account before — or right after — you land. Get a debit card, mobile banking, and help activating your mobile electronic ID, all from a single English-speaking advisor.
Icelandic ISK account
Receive your salary, pay rent, and settle bills like a local.
Debit card on day one
Tap-and-go contactless card, accepted everywhere in Iceland.
Online & mobile banking
Move money, pay claims (kröfur), and check balances in English.
Auðkenni setup help
Get walked through activating Iceland's universal electronic ID — the key to banking, doctor visits, taxes and contracts.
Currency transfers
Send and receive in EUR, USD, GBP and DKK at clear, upfront rates.
English-speaking advisor
A real person who's helped hundreds of newcomers settle in. No language barrier, no jargon.
Settling in Iceland, step by step.
The order matters more than anyone tells you. Do these steps in sequence and you'll save weeks of waiting and paperwork.
- 1
Apply for your kennitala
Your Icelandic national ID. Required for almost everything — bank, phone, doctor, taxes. Apply through Þjóðskrá (Registers Iceland) as soon as you arrive.
Þjóðskrá Íslands · 2–4 weeks
- 2
Open a bank account
Powered by Arion bankiOnce your kennitala is issued, open your Arion banki account. Receive salary in ISK, pay rent, and unlock most local services that won't accept foreign cards.
Arion starter pack · same-day with kennitala
- 3
Activate Auðkenni
Iceland's universal electronic ID — used to sign every important document. It lives in the Auðkenni app on your phone and is verified in person, most easily at your bank.
Activated through your bank · ~15 minutes
- 4
Find a place to live
Browse verified rental listings on Igloo. Apply with your tenant profile, talk directly to landlords, and sign your contract online — auto-registered with HMS so you qualify for housing benefits.
On myigloo.is · Free
- 5
Skip the deposit with Igloo
Found a place? Don't tie up three months' rent in a cash deposit — use an Igloo rental guarantee instead, pay a small monthly fee, and move in this week.
Pair with any Igloo contract · From a few thousand kr/month
- 6
Register your address
Once you have a long-term home, register the address with Þjóðskrá so your bills, post and government letters reach you — and so you count as resident.
Through skra.is · Free
- 7
Set up health insurance
After six months of legal residence, you're enrolled in Sjúkratryggingar (Icelandic public health insurance). Until then, keep private travel or expat health cover.
Through sjukra.is · After 6 months residency
What is a kennitala?
Your kennitala (ken-nee-tah-la) is your 10-digit Icelandic national identity number. You'll need it to open a bank account, sign a phone contract, see a doctor, get a job, register a car — even join a gym.
Tip from newcomers who've been there
Apply for your kennitala on your first business day in Iceland — every other step is gated by it. Keep a digital copy in your phone; you'll be asked for it constantly.
Where to apply
Þjóðskrá Íslands
EU/EEA citizens apply through residence registration. Non-EU citizens apply with their residence permit.
How long
2–4 weeks
From application to physical confirmation, depending on volume and your citizenship.
Format
DDMMYY-XXXX
First 6 digits are your date of birth. Last 4 are a unique identifier with a check digit.
What is Auðkenni?
Auðkenni is Iceland's electronic ID (rafræn skilríki). It lives in the Auðkenni app on your phone and replaces signatures, passwords and stamps for almost every digital service in the country — from banking to taxes to signing rental contracts.
What it unlocks
Government services
Tax authority (Skatturinn), residence office, healthcare, your municipality — all logged in via Auðkenni.
Signing documents
Rental contracts, employment paperwork, deeds — all legally binding from your phone.
Bank logins
Most Icelandic banks require Auðkenni to log in, including Arion banki.
Health records
Heilsuvera, prescription renewals, appointment booking.
How to activate
Auðkenni is set up at an authorised registration authority. Arion banki is one of them — and the easiest starting point if you're new to Iceland.
- 1
Get an Icelandic SIM card from any operator
- 2
Book a free appointment with Arion banki
- 3
Bring your physical passport (or EEA ID card) and kennitala
- 4
Your advisor sets up the Auðkenni app on your phone and you choose your PIN
Already on the Arion banki starter pack? Your advisor handles steps 2–4 for you in a single visit.
Bring a valid physical ID.
When you apply for digital ID at a registration authority, you must present a valid personal ID of an accepted type. Digital identification and laminated paper IDs are not accepted.
Accepted
- Valid passport (recommended for non-EU citizens)
- EU / EEA national identity card
- Original kennitala confirmation from Þjóðskrá
Not accepted
- Photos or PDFs of your ID stored on your phone
- Laminated paper IDs
- Photocopies, screenshots or expired documents
SIM card and home internet from Nova.
Land with a working Icelandic phone number, mobile data and a router. Our connectivity partner Nova has tailored plans for newcomers — discounted move-in pricing, English support, and free moving credit.
Unlimited mobile + SIM
Icelandic SIM, unlimited calls and SMS, plus monthly data across the EEA — perfect for your first months in Iceland.
Available through Igloo
Fibre home internet
High-speed fibre to your apartment with the router included. A technician sets it up at your new address.
Available through Igloo
5G home internet
Plug in a 5G router — no wires, no install. Perfect for shorter leases or buildings without fibre.
Available through Igloo
WiFi booster
Extend the signal into every corner of a larger apartment. Add to any home internet plan.
Available through Igloo
Newcomer perks worth your time.
Pick any Nova plan as part of your move and you'll get:
6 mo
Reduced move-in pricing
On fibre or 5G home internet.
8.000 kr.
Hopp van credit
Move your sofa and bed for free in Reykjavík.
Free
Pro fibre install
Technician visit at your new address.
5 weeks
Loaner 5G router
Stay online while fibre is being set up.
Where you'll live (and what it costs).
Iceland's rental market is tight, deposits are steep, and most listings are in Icelandic. Igloo fixes all three.
Average rent in Reykjavík
~280.000 kr.
For a 1-bedroom apartment, per month. Suburbs are 20–30% cheaper.
Typical deposit
1–3 months' rent
Usually held in cash for the duration of your lease — unless you use an Igloo rental guarantee.
Average move-in cost
~840.000 kr.
Deposit + first month + admin fees, paid before you get the keys.
Listings on Igloo
1.000+
Verified rental listings — searchable in English, filterable by everything that matters.
Listings in English
Every Igloo listing is browsable in English, with translated descriptions and amenities.
Apply with a profile
Build a tenant profile once, send it to ten landlords with one click. No PDFs.
Skip the cash deposit
Use an Igloo rental guarantee — a few thousand kr a month replaces hundreds of thousands upfront.
Contracts registered with HMS
Sign online with Auðkenni; we auto-register with HMS so you qualify for housing benefits.
What things actually cost in Iceland.
Rounded figures based on Reykjavík averages. Useful for planning your first month's budget.
- Strætó monthly bus card~9.000 kr.
- Coffee at a café~700 kr.
- Lunch out~2.500 kr.
- Weekly groceries (1 person)~14.000 kr.
- Gym membership~9.000 kr./mo
- Phone plan (unlimited)~5.000 kr./mo
- Electricity + hot water~12.000 kr./mo
- Internet (1 Gbps fibre)~7.500 kr./mo
All amounts in Icelandic króna. Real costs vary by lifestyle and provider.
Things nobody tells you before you move.
Small things that make a big difference in your first weeks.
Tap is everywhere
Iceland is famously cashless. Have a card on day one — a foreign card works at first, but local cards skip the FX fees.
Hot water smells like sulphur
That eggy smell is geothermal — completely safe to drink and shower in. Cold water is among the purest in the world.
Daylight is weird
Summer has near-24-hour sun; winter has ~4 hours of daylight. Blackout curtains and a sunrise lamp will save your sleep.
Address book by first name
Look up anyone on já.is — Icelanders use first names everywhere, including official records.
Strætó has its own app
Buy bus passes with the Klappið app. The yellow card system is being phased out — go straight to digital.
Tipping isn't a thing
Service is included in restaurant bills. Tipping is appreciated but never expected.
Pharmacies = Apótek
Many medications that are over-the-counter elsewhere need a prescription here. Bring a few weeks of essentials when you arrive.
Register your address
Without a registered address you can't get mail, bills or government letters. Register the moment you sign a long-term lease.
Newcomer FAQ.
The questions every newcomer asks in their first month.
