The Hub – The Hub remains the dominant Nordic startup recruitment platform. It offers a free applicant‑tracking system (ATS) and distributes jobs to hundreds of partner job boards. However, it is not fully free: standard listings cost 699 DKK (≈14 000 ISK) per job. Pre‑revenue startups can access the platform at no cost via a community programme. Jobs posted on The Hub are emailed to 50 000 + candidates and reach 550 000 + startup‑ready candidates.

Alfreð – Launched in 2013, Alfreð is Iceland’s largest home‑grown job board. Workello’s 2023 guide reported roughly 1 300 job ads (about 150 in English) and a pay‑per‑click model where employers pay 40 ISK per click with a cap of 50 000 ISK. The platform includes a Kanban‑style ATS to manage applicants. In June 2025, Alfreð expanded to Greenland, offering job postings in Greenlandic, Danish and English—a sign of its regional ambitions.

Job.is – One of Iceland’s oldest job boards (founded 1999). In 2023 it attracted about 33 000 monthly visitors and hosted ≈537 ads. Employers can post basic ads free for 30 days and pay for promotion to reach more candidates. A built‑in candidate‑management tool assists with applications and filtering.

Störf.is – A jobs aggregator that compiles listings from multiple sources. Workello reported approximately 12 000 monthly visits and about 40 active ads (17 in English) in 2023. Posting costs 7 900 ISK, and ads remain online until filled. There is no built‑in ATS.

Tvinna – A niche board focused on tech, design and creative roles. It charges around 19 220 ISK per ad and caters to companies seeking developers, designers or data specialists. Listings are in Icelandic and English.

HH Ráðgjöf Jobs – The recruitment agency HH Ráðgjöf runs its own board. According to Workello (2023), ads cost about 24 500 ISK and the site attracts around 9 000 visitors per month. Most ads are in Icelandic and target entry‑ and mid‑level roles.

Morgunblaðið – Iceland’s largest newspaper, Mbl.is, hosts a job‑classifieds section. Basic postings are free; paid options provide wider reach. Most ads are in Icelandic.

Northstack – Primarily a startup news site, Northstack occasionally posts startup job openings in English and recommends trusted recruitment partners. It is followed closely by the local tech community.

Vinnumálastofnun (Directorate of Labour)/EURES – Employers hiring non‑EEA/EFTA citizens must demonstrate they attempted to recruit locally within the EEA. Posting on Vinnumálastofnun’s portal and the EURES network meets this requirement. There is no fixed “10‑day” advertising period—what matters is evidence of reasonable recruitment efforts.

LinkedIn & global channels – LinkedIn is omnipresent; digital 2025 data shows around 290 000 members in Iceland (≈73 % of the population). Startups also tap Slack groups, Facebook groups (e.g., “Jobs in Iceland”), Reddit, Stack Overflow and Hacker News “Who’s Hiring” threads for niche outreach.

Tip: because most local boards target Icelandic speakers, startups seeking international talent should combine them with platforms like The Hub or global startup job sites (e.g., Wellfound) and highlight remote‑friendly policies.

Geko – Specialises in STEM/STEAM fields and innovation. Northstack calls Geko “the go‑to partner” for tech recruitment, noting its deep industry knowledge and relationships with over 100 companies; it supports both local candidates and those relocating to Iceland.

Hagvangur – Established in 1971, Hagvangur combines recruitment with leadership‑consulting services. A 2025 ranking praised its 50‑plus years of experience and its team of eight experts offering personalised service.

Intellecta – Provides strategic recruitment and HR consulting. Its website emphasises research‑driven processes and a focus on value creation.

Ráðum – Focuses on long‑term partnerships and a confidential candidate database. It highlights personal service and discretion.

Swapp Agency – Acts as an employer of record (EOR) and recruitment agency. It enables foreign companies to hire in Iceland without establishing a local entity; Swapp handles contracts, payroll and compliance. The company also offers recruitment and legal support.

Diversity‑oriented agencies – Services exist that specialise in connecting immigrants and minority candidates with employers, although detailed public information is limited. When diversity is a priority, founders may consult agencies or NGOs that assist newcomers.

Global headhunters – For C‑suite hires, founders sometimes engage international retained search firms such as Keller Executive Search, which combines local market knowledge with global candidate networks.

Best practice: Use contingency recruiters (pay‑on‑success) or the free services of public employment channels for early‑stage or isolated hires. For rapid scaling post‑seed, consider embedded recruiters who work within your team. For executive searches, engage a retained search firm to tap global networks.

Student Innovation Fund – This national programme funds research‑and‑innovation projects by undergraduate and master’s students. Each student can receive up to 340 000 ISK per month; 80 % is paid up front and the remainder after the final report. Startups typically provide supervision and may top up salaries. Grant‑funded internships run mainly over the summer and are ideal for R&D projects.

University of Iceland (Tengslatorg) – The university’s “Tengslatorg” portal allows employers to post jobs requiring higher education free of charge and reach about 15 000 students. Internships are created through partnerships between departments and companies; startups can propose thesis projects or short‑term roles.

Reykjavík University (RU) – RU integrates internships and industry collaboration into degree programmes. It hosts annual Career Days and facilitates thesis projects with companies. Many of Iceland’s software engineers and data scientists graduate from RU.

University of Akureyri (UNAK) – UNAK has programmes in business, IT and biotechnology and welcomes collaboration on student projects. Founders outside Reykjavik or those open to remote interns can tap this talent.

Piktalent & international platforms – Piktalent connects companies with interns across Europe. Since many university programmes in Iceland (notably RU) are taught in English, international students often look for local opportunities.

Note: Unlike Sweden, Icelandic internships generally require employers to pay wages unless a grant covers it. Subsidised apprenticeships (námssamningur) exist mainly in trades and technical fields, which can benefit hardware or manufacturing startups.

Work & Residence Permits

Non‑EEA/EFTA nationals require both a residence permit based on work and a work permit tied to a specific employer and role. Nationals from the EEA/EFTA and the Faroe Islands can work in Iceland without a permit but must register their stay after three months.

Permit categories – There are four tracks: expert knowledge, shortage of labour, athletes and collaboration/service contract. Employers must show they attempted to recruit locally (but there is no fixed advertisement period) and that the employment contract meets Icelandic collective agreements.

Expert permit requirements – Applicants need relevant qualifications or at least seven years’ experience; the employer must prove that no local candidate with comparable skills is available. Foreign experts enjoy a tax discount: only 75 % of their income is taxed for the first three years.

Income/maintenance requirements – From 1 February 2025, residence‑permit and citizenship applicants must demonstrate a monthly income of at least 247 572 ISK (≈US$1 755) for individuals and 396 115 ISK for married couples. These amounts cover living costs and are distinct from salary thresholds.

Permit validity – General work permits are usually issued for one year at a time, renewable. Expert permits may last up to two years. After four years of continuous residence, a person may apply for an unrestricted permit.

Processing times – The Directorate of Immigration publishes waiting times; first‑time residence permits commonly take several months. An expedited procedure for work permits (not available for all categories) can take about 7 weeks, but residence‑permit processing still requires 8–10 weeks. Renewals are typically processed within around three months. Applicants should apply well in advance.


Digital Nomad Visa (Long‑Term Remote‑Work Visa)

Available to non‑EEA/EFTA nationals who do not need a Schengen visa to enter Iceland. Applicants must earn at least 1 000 000 ISK per month, or 1 300 000 ISK if a spouse joins them.

The visa allows stays of up to 180 days (not six or twelve months). Applicants cannot work for Icelandic employers and are not considered tax residents.

Processing time: 3–4 weeks. Applications are submitted by mail or in person to the Directorate of Immigration.


Other Visas & Permits

No dedicated startup/entrepreneur visa – Founders who are non‑EEA/EFTA citizens usually apply under the expert or shortage‑of‑labour category through their own company. They must meet the same salary and recruitment requirements.

Job‑seeker visa – Iceland does not offer a specific job‑seeker visa for third‑country nationals. EEA nationals can remain in Iceland for up to six months while looking for work.


Relocation & Integration Support

Xpat Relocation Services and LOCAL Relocation – These Icelandic firms assist with residence‑permit applications, housing searches, orientation, school enrolment and spousal support. They ensure newcomers obtain a kennitala (national ID number) and navigate the housing market.

Employer‑of‑record (EOR) providers – Companies like Swapp Agency and global services such as Remote.com can act as the legal employer in Iceland, handling payroll and compliance so that new hires can start remotely while waiting for visas.

Integration programmes – Although not as formalised as Sweden’s programmes, Iceland offers free Icelandic‑language classes and community initiatives to help foreign workers integrate.