Procurement of document in Iceland

Schmidt & Schmidt offers document retrieval services in Iceland.

It often happens that civil status documents are lost or damaged, or you need to obtain current copies of documents. In this case, it is necessary to request duplicates of documents. Often, those who have left Iceland face difficulties in this procedure. Our service allows you to request documents in Iceland remotely and we can carry out courier delivery of the document to anywhere in the world.

Validity of civil status documents in Iceland

Civil status documents issued in Iceland generally have a validity period of no more than 6 months, after which they must be replaced with new ones containing up-to-date data.

When to obtain duplicate documents in Iceland

A duplicate birth certificate, marriage certificate, name change certificate, divorce certificate, criminal record certificate or death certificate may be required to register a marriage abroad, a newborn child, citizenship, inheritance, data verification for pension applications, opening bank accounts, employment and other bureaucratic issues.

What documents can be requested in Iceland:

• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Certificate of change of surname
• Divorce certificate
• Death certificate
• Certificates of good conduct
• Educational documents
• Other civil status documents

Birth, marriage and death registrations have been held on a National Register since 1953. Records before 1953 are held by local churches.

Certificates for birth, marriage and death are available in Icelandic and bilingual (Icelandic and English) formats.

Birth certificate (Fæðingarvottorð)

A birth certificate is an official document provided by the Registrar or acting Registrar of the relevant Civil or Consular Register. It verifies details of an individual's birth, including the date, sex, and, if applicable, the time of birth and family relationships.

Additionally, digital birth certificates are available, authenticated with a digital stamp from the Department of Registers and Notaries, using information stored in Iceland Registers.

To obtain a copy of a birth certificate, Registers Iceland provides an electronic form that can be submitted with a fee of 2,550 ISK (approximately $25 USD). The certificate can be delivered via email through the Ísland.is domain, sent by mail to the registered legal address, or collected in person from Registry offices in Reykjavík or Akureyri.

Iceland has one of the most detailed genealogical records in the world. The Íslendingabók (Book of Icelanders) is a database that traces the ancestry of nearly every Icelander back over 1,000 years.

Required documents

• Full name of whose birth certificate is being requested
• Date and place of birth
• Valid ID

Marriage certificate (Hjónavígsluvottorð)

The marriage certificate is the legal record of marriage, used to verify marital status. It is usually required for procedures such as changing the last name, applying for spousal benefits, immigration applications and for inheritance matters. It can be obtained at the Civil Registry Office in the city or town where the marriage took place.

Marriage certificates are issued exclusively to married couples. They are not available if the marriage has been terminated due to circumstances such as divorce or the death of a spouse. In such cases, a certificate of marital history must be requested instead.

If the marriage occurred overseas, the marriage certificate must be obtained from the country where the marriage was registered. However, if a copy of the foreign marriage certificate is already on file with Registers Iceland, a duplicate can be provided by contacting their office.

Registers Iceland now issues electronic certificates, accessible through an individual's postbox on Ísland.is. These electronic certificates are fully equivalent to traditional paper certificates and can be easily forwarded as needed. Each electronic certificate is securely signed and trackable, providing a high level of security.

Once processed, the electronic certificate will appear in the postbox of the individual named on the certificate.

In Iceland, you can get married in breathtaking locations like volcanic landscapes, glaciers, or even under the northern lights.

Required documents

• Birth certificate
• Valid passport​
• Certificate of marital status

The certificate of marital status must be issued within 8 weeks prior to the wedding ceremony. Some countries do not issue a certificate of marital status. In such cases, if this has been confirmed, and the bride or groom is a foreign citizen or residing abroad, a certificate issued by the relevant authorities in their country is required. This certificate must confirm that there are no legal impediments to the planned marriage.

If either party has been previously married, they must present the original divorce decree. Additionally, proof is required that the division of assets and liabilities between the former spouses has been finalized.

For widows or widowers, official documents related to the estate or the collected assets and liabilities of the deceased spouse must be presented.

Divorce certificate (Skilnaðarvottorð)

A divorce certificate serves the purpose to verify the legal dissolution of a marriage. It is required for procedures such as remarrying, updating marital status on legal records, immigration applications, and legal matters involving custody, support, or property division.
Divorce certificates are handled by the court that issued the divorce.
Copies can be requested from the relevant court or, in some cases, through the Civil Registry.

In Iceland, couples seeking divorce often undergo a mandatory separation period of six months to reconsider the decision before it is finalized.

Required documents

• Government-issued ID of the applicant
• National ID numbers (Kennitala) of both spouses
• Divorce case number (if applicable)
• Proof of authorization if requested by a third party

Death certificate (Dánarvottorð)

The death certificate serves as an official confirmation of an individual's death. It is required for settling the deceased's estate, claiming life insurance and closing financial accounts. These documents can be obtained through the provincial vital statistics office.

It can be requested by immediate family members (spouse, children, parents), legal representatives or executors of the estate. Government agencies involved in estate administration can also request it.

Required documents

• Name of the deceased
• Date and place of death
• Identification of the requester and proof of eligibility
• Authorization documents if requested by a representative

Police Clearance Certificate (Sakavottorð)

A criminal record certificate, also known as a police certificate, is a document used to verify an individual's criminal record or confirm the absence of one. It is required for employment in sensitive fields, visa or immigration applications, volunteering, firearm permits and adoption proceedings.

Either spouses, legal representatives (with a power of attorney) or government agencies or courts (for legal purposes) can request this certificate.

Iceland has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, making it one of the safest countries to live and work in.

Required documents

• Government-issued ID of the applicant
• National ID numbers (Kennitala) of both spouses
• Marriage date and place information
• Power of attorney if applicable

Educational documents

Foreign educational documents only carry the same legal value as Irish documents if they are exempt from legalization or have undergone the necessary legalization process. Documents from countries with bilateral agreements with Ireland are fully exempt from legalization. Documents from countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961 undergo a simplified procedure called apostille. If neither countries are part of the convention or have bilateral agreements they undergo consular legalization

Why and in what case is an apostille needed?

An apostille is a special stamp that confirms the authenticity of an official document. It can be used to certify documentation issued by government agencies, local government bodies, and structures that the state has granted special powers.

An apostille stamp can only be placed in the country where the document was issued. It is impossible to do this through diplomatic or consular offices. The first stage is to make a notarized copy at the nearest notary. The second stage is to place an apostille at the regional court of the federal state where the notary is registered.