Available Positions
International Staff Services - Welcome Centre
Available Positionshere
Citizen from countries within the EEA area
A citizen is allowed to stay and work for 3-6 months without moving their domicile to Iceland. EU/EEA citizen are insured in the country where you work. Further information about this you find at www.tr.is, www.skra.is and if you are from the Nordic countries www.hallonorden.orgor you can call the HalloNorden office in your home country.
If you are a citizen from a country within the EEA area, and you don‘t have the Icelandic ,,kennitala“ you´ll need to register at þjóðskrá, www.skra.is. At their website you will find detailed information on the process of moving to Iceland.
If you are a specialist such as a nurse or a doctor you will also have to get an Icelandic License to work in your profession. More detailed information on that process is at the website of the Directorate of Health; www.landlaeknir.isor contact them directly at starfsleyfi@landlaeknir.is.
If you have further questions about this process, please contact our HR staff at job@landspitali.is
Citizens from countries outside the EEA area
If you are a citizen from a country outside the EEA area you need to apply for a residence permit. You can read about the difference residence permits and the process at www.utl.is. In order to get a residence permit based on work, you will first have to get a job as you will need to submit an employment contract. You can find information on our vacancies here.
Once you have gotten a job offer / employment contract you can start your process in applying for a residence and work permit.
You will have to get an Icelandic license to work in your profession (nurse, doctor, med tech and so on). The Directorate of Health handles that application and you can find more about that process at their website www.landlaeknir.is or contact them at starfsleyfi@landlaeknir.is
If you have further question, please contact our HR staff at job@landspitali.is.
International students at Landspítali
Attention
Until further notice, Landspítali is unable to accept any applications from international students for clinical training in the field of medicine, surgery, and nursing. Landspítali is a university hospital and has very limited student positions. Students from universities that have made formal agreements with Landspitali are prioritized for clinical placements.
However, international medical students who want to come as exchange students during the summer (July and August) for 4 weeks or less, are encouraged to apply via IMSIC (Icelandic Medical Student International Committee). Please visit the homepage for The International Federation of Medical Students Association; IMFSA. No formal teaching takes place during the summer months.
Icelandic students do not get paid salaries or receive any benefits from universities or Landspitali during their studies. The same applies to international students. Landspítali does not provide housing for students.
Accepted students will be working in an Icelandic speaking environment, but most people speak English and/or a Nordic language. Fluency in English is required of all international students. Conformation letter of the study period is provided on request.
- Application form
- Your CV with information about your working and educational career
- A certificate from your school confirming you are a student; in which semester you are currently, how many semesters your programme is, and the expected graduation date
- A certified list of courses that you have already completed
- A certified list of courses that you will have completed by the time you arrive
- A letter of recommendation from one supervisor/boss who can verify your performance in clinical work or as a student in health sciences
Please send these documents to the appropriate e-mail address:
- Medical students: medicalstudents@landspitali.is
- Nursing students: eygloing@landspitali.is
- Pharmacy students: pharmacystudents@landspitali.is
- Other students: otherstudents@landspitali.is
Health certificates - IMPORTANT
Students need to provide the following health certificates before arrival and show them to the ward manager on the first day of their clinical practice. Note that without these certificates’ students are not allowed to participate in the clinical practice at Landspitali.
- MRSA test certificate: A recent (not more than approx. 7 days old) negative MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) screening test, from samples taken from nostrils, throat or rashes (if present).
- Tuberculosis status certificate: Proof of the tuberculosis status; either a less than one year old negative Mantoux (PPD) test or a negative IGRA (such as Quantiferon) blood test.
If the Mantoux/IGRA test is positive, bring a report of negative chest X-ray and a confirmation of non-infectious status. - Immunization certificates: Certification of immunization against Diphteria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio; immunizations may not be older than 10 years upon arrival. Measels (Morbilli), Rubella and Mumps (Parotitis epidemica); students must have received two vaccinations as a child or one vaccination after the age of 12. If students need to update vaccinations, they must do so at least one month before arrival.
- Hepatitis B immunization certificate: Students doing clinical rotations (or working with human blood/tissue) need to be immunized against Hepatitis B (with completion of minimum two of the three basic immunizations, meaning that the vaccination must have started at least one month before departure).
It is recommended that students be vaccinated against influenza annually.
Working in Iceland
The following is information about common terms of employment.
- The normal work week in Iceland is 36 hours.
- Monthly salaries are based on collective bargaining contracts, and they depend on your expertise, education and age. There are extra payments for shifts (varying based on your profession). All overtime is generally paid extra, but with upper limits. Vacation for one year of employment is at least 24 weekdays (4 weeks and 4 days) and depending on your collective bargaining contract, you may be entitled to winter holiday if you work shifts.
- Income tax in Iceland is vary from 37,13% to 46,25%, pension fund payments are 4% and additionally most employees belong to a labor union and pay fees there.
- Vacation is 2 days for each month of employment. According to the labor law, both the hospital and the employee are ensured the right to terminate the contract with 1-3 months notice but this is specified in the contract of employment.
This applies unless intergovernmental treaties say otherwise.
Health insurance
Everyone who has been legally resident in Iceland for six months automatically becomes a member of the Icelandic social insurance system, regardless of nationality.
Those who have not been resident in Iceland for six months and are not covered by the EEA regulations can obtain medical assistance but must, of course, pay in full.
They can then seek reimbursem*nt from their own insurance in their country of origin or from their private insurance, according to rules and regulations applicable in their insurance country. But occupational injury insurance covers employed persons working in Iceland.
The Icelandic Language
Icelandic resembles Norwegian, Danish and Swedish but the grammar is somewhat more complicated.
Internal documents regarding the profession, staff guidelines and instructions for navigating the hospital are written in Icelandic and verbal communication is normally conducted in Icelandic, so knowledge of the language is very important.
The main alternative language for the initial period would be English, and most Icelanders are quite proficient in English (both staff and patients).
Nevertheless, we recommend that you start learning Icelandic before you come to Iceland. You can study Icelandic from other countries in various ways.
Firstly, there are two websites with free online courses: The “Icelandic Online” course given by the University of Iceland at www.icelandic.hi.isand Bragi course at www2.hu-berlin.de/bragi.
Further information
The website of the Directorate of Labor, www.vinnumalastofnun.is, contains the law and regulations regarding employment and residency of foreign citizens.
Nordic citizens are advised to visit the website of the Mobility Information Service of the Nordic Region on http://www.hallonorden.org.
The website of The Directorate of Immigration is www.utl.is.
