Now you can work remotely from Iceland for six months

Iceland is one of the countries cautiously opening to travelers - and now, certain remote workers will be able to relocate to there for up to six months.

The Work in Iceland program previously allowed teleworkers to stay for 90 days, but the country believes that by making it easier for foreign nationals to work from Iceland, they add value, knowledge and connections in Iceland that support its innovative environment. The introduction of this visa means that the country has expanded its long-term visa program beyond the European Schengen area, and applies to any foreign national not required to have a visa to enter Iceland. Successful applicants must be permanently employed by foreign companies and meet supplemental health insurance requirements.

A green and red aurora over the Jokulsarlon lagoon in Iceland — Iceland is famous for its northern lights © Krissanapong Wongsawarng/Shutterstock

Those who are granted it can bring their families with them without having to move their legal domicile to the country or obtain Icelandic ID numbers. According to the country's justice minister, Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Icelandic leaders believe that the new teleworkers will bring with them valuable experience and connections that will benefit Iceland on its path to economic recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In exchange, those staying on the underpopulated island will benefit from the country's considerable assets.

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Iceland is a land of awe-inspiring natural landscapes, with its geysers, ice-covered volcanoes and glaciers. It has warm locals, a strong cultural life and literary legacy and it is also a great place to see the northern lights. It's a good time to go and have a socially-distanced stay, because under normal circumstances, it can host more than six times its population each year. Further information on the Work in Iceland program is available here.