Icelandic citizenship: the A2 Icelandic test and who is exempt

Most people who apply for Icelandic citizenship must first pass the Icelandic citizenship test, a pass-or-fail exam at A2 level. This guide sets out what the official pages say about the test, who is exempt, how long you must live in Iceland first, and one thing to know right now: Iceland is changing the test's provider, so the next dates have not been announced. Start with a free Icelandic level test to see where you stand.

Updated November 14, 2026 · 7 min read

Who needs the Icelandic citizenship test?

Under Regulation No. 1129/2008, anyone who applies for citizenship under Article 7 of the Icelandic Nationality Act must have passed the test. The Directorate of Immigration lists a passed Icelandic test among the conditions every applicant must meet, next to permanent residence, proof of identity, not being in arrears, the ability to support yourself and a clean record (Ísland.is — Conditions). If you are comparing countries, our overview of language exams for citizenship across Europe puts Iceland next to its neighbours.

What level is the test? A2, built on a 240-hour course

The official information page says the qualification is A2 of the European language framework (Ísland.is — Information about the test). The regulation ties the content to the final objective of the curriculum for basic Icelandic for foreigners, a 240-hour course, leaving out that course's objective on Icelandic customs and habits. The curriculum and a self-assessment framework are published as PDFs, in Icelandic only.

In practice, the official pages say you need to show that you can:

• manage everyday situations at school, at work and in private life;
• cope with unforeseen or unexpected situations;
• take part in discussions on familiar topics;
• understand simple conversations;
• read short texts in simple language;
• write a short text in plain language;
• pick out the main points of television, radio and newspapers on familiar topics.

The four parts

The official pages read for this guide do not give the length of each part or a minimum mark per part, so we do not quote any. When the new provider publishes its practical rules, those are the ones that count.

Pass or fail — and no limit on retakes

• No grade. The result is only pass or fail (Ísland.is — Results), and under the regulation the provider's decision is final; you may ask for an explanation within 15 days.
• When: results come about six weeks after the last test of the cycle.
• The certificate: if you pass, a confirmation document is sent by e-mail. You send it with your citizenship application, and it does not expire.
• Retakes: the regulation says there is no limit on how often you may sit the test. If you fail or miss it, you wait until the next time it is held.

The regulation also says tests are held at least twice a year, in or near Reykjavík and possibly elsewhere, and are announced at least eight weeks in advance. Only registered candidates who have paid the fee may sit, and you must show photo ID. Help for dyslexia or disability follows the same rules as Iceland's national school tests. The fee amount is not in the regulation or on the pages we read; check it when registration opens.

Who is exempt from the Icelandic test?

The Directorate of Immigration may grant an exemption where requiring the test would be unfair. The regulation and the conditions page give these examples:

• applicants aged 65 or over who have had legal domicile in Iceland for the 7 years before applying;
• applicants who attend an Icelandic primary school, or are below primary-school age;
• applicants who can show with a medical certificate that serious physical or mental reasons prevent them from taking a test;
• applicants with a certificate from an Icelandic school showing that their Icelandic meets the level the regulation sets.

These are examples, and the wording is may: the exemption is a decision, not an automatic right.

How long must you live in Iceland first?

Source: Ísland.is — When can I apply?. Continuous means no more than 90 days abroad in total in each 12-month period, with some exemptions for study, illness or temporary work. You also need to support yourself: the conditions page sets a minimum of ISK 259,951 a month for one person and ISK 415,922 for a married couple, and no municipal financial assistance in the past three years.

A realistic plan while you wait for the dates

Our advice, not an official requirement: the dates are not out, so use the time to reach a comfortable A2 rather than a borderline one.

1. Take the free Icelandic level test to see whether you are near A1 or A2.
2. Go through the official can-do list above and mark each line yes, almost or not yet; the self-assessment framework on the information page does the same in more detail.
3. Work on listening every day: short radio or TV news items on familiar topics are exactly what the test describes.
4. Write a short text each week on a familiar topic (your job, your town, your weekend) and have it corrected.
5. Practise speaking aloud, ideally with a person; unexpected situations are part of the test.
6. Check Ísland.is for the announcement; with at least eight weeks' notice you will have time to register.

How Iceland compares with its neighbours

Iceland asks for A2, a lower level than some Nordic neighbours: see Finnish citizenship and the YKI test (with our YKI test guide) and the Swedish citizenship language requirement. Elsewhere in Europe, compare the Polish B1 certificate, the Czech A2 exam, Dutch citizenship, the Luxembourgish level for citizenship, Italian B1, Spanish DELE A2 + CCSE, Portuguese A2 CIPLE, the Ukrainian citizenship exam and the Greek Certificate of Attainment.

Keep learning

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