Iceland is offering visas to remote workers, but there is a catch. To qualify for this visa, workers have to earn at least $88,000. This long-term visa will allow foreign nationals to live in the country with their families for up to six months.
The Work In Iceland project is a result of a collaboration that the Iceland Ministry of Industries and Innovation is doing with the Federation of Icelandic Industries. This major change allows foreign nationals to get a long-term visa in Iceland. In particular, this change affects people from eligible nations that are not a part of the European Schengen Area. This includes countries like the United States, Canada, France and Israel.
According to the new amendment, workers will be able to apply for a long-term visa that allows them to live in the country for six months. In order to get this visa, the individual must show that they have an employment relationship with a company in a foreign country. Self-employed workers must verify their self-employment history in their home country.
Before they can enjoy this new visa, remote workers will have to meet certain qualifications. An individual must earn $7,360 a month or $88,000 a year to get the visa. In addition, Iceland requires applicants to satisfy certain health insurance requirements as well.
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If an applicant is eligible for this visa, they will get to enjoy being one of the only people able to travel and work in Iceland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, other Americans are excluded from the country because of the risk they pose. By bringing in remote workers with a high income, Iceland is hoping to increase its tourism revenue without bringing in COVID-19 cases.
During 2020, Iceland watched the number of its visitors drop by 79 percent. By focusing on high-income workers, Iceland is hoping to bring in extra money to stimulate its economy. In addition, these workers will not be competing for local jobs. Because of its focus on wealthy workers, the program is expected to primarily draw visitors from Canada, the United States and Australia.
Normally, people fly to Iceland because of its beautiful vistas, cheap beer and inexpensive flights. Now, visitors can also enjoy living in a country that has low cases of COVID-19. Because of the nation’s contact tracing, isolation and quarantine, Iceland has a low transmission rate. While places like Bermuda charge just $263 for a visa, Iceland offers a safe experience and gorgeous parks for wealthy workers.