On Mission in Iceland. Why?
There is a general need for people to move to Iceland and be a part of the work that God is doing here — and to be a part of a small but deeply connected church family that's focused on discipleship. That can take shape in a number of different ways.
- As a single adult or as a married couple, you can come to Iceland and pour into the community in which you live and/or work.
- As a college student or as a life-long learner, you can attend the University of Iceland and participate in activities on and around campus.
- As a family with kids of different ages, God can and will use you to foster the growth of faith for Icelanders in your neighborhood, schools, and offices. Through any of those scenarios, you'll be able to share and demonstrate your faith — through deep conversations and through the actions of your walk as a follower of Christ Jesus.
Plan and Explore
If the premise of being part of a small church family — in a place as beautiful as this — is exciting for you, we get it! It really is a cool opportunity (figuratively and literally). But, before you start making long-term plans, you might consider working with your local church to plan out a short-term, exploratory mission trip. (If you're a student or if you're operating on a tight budget, this is a great opportunity for #fundraising. You'd be surprised at how eager your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are to support the furthering of the Kingdom in areas that need Light.) Your church leadership can reach out to us using the form below to discuss what a short-term exploratory trip could look like.
There are several options for those wanting to pursue a work visa in Iceland.
Finding a Job
If you're coming from the United States, this option might be more challenging. Why? Because Icelandic businesses are first required to hire Icelanders to fill the vast majority of positions. Next, those businesses are allowed to hire from those residing within the EU (European Union). Then, if they still can't find the right candidate, they're allowed to hire from those coming from other countries — including the United States.
The notable exception would be in the nursing 🏥 or tech industries 🖥. If you work in one of those industries, good news: you're all set! Qualified candidates in these environments are in high demand right now in Iceland.
If you'd like more information, the following websites will guide you in the right direction.
Resources
Working Remotely
Soon after COVID became a thing (which we now have to think about every single day; insert sad face emoji), the Icelandic government developed a Long-Term Remote Work Visa. This Visa basically doubles the amount of time you can stay in the country (3 months to 6 months) without requiring you to acquire a residence permit — which can be more difficult to come by. The following page offers some information about conditions, requirements, benefits, etc.:
- Long-Term Remote Work Visa This 6-month Visa would be a great way for you (and your whole family, if applicable) to come to Iceland, experience the beauty of her landscape, be a part of our church family, and live out the great commission.
Attending the University of Iceland
The University of Iceland would be an incredible opportunity for any student — whether you've just recently graduated high school or you're a life-long learner. Why is it such a great opportunity? Three reasons:
- Tuition Costs. Attending a 4-year university where you're at, at least in the U.S., is an aggressively-expensive endeavor. If attending a university of your choice (and if you haven't planned for it), you can easily find yourself with thousands (and thousands upon thousands) of dollars in student debt.
- Location. I mean, have you seen Iceland? It's an extremely beautiful place in the world.
- Culture. The University of Iceland is a proverbial melting pot — welcoming students from all around the globe. If you'd like to learn more, the official website for the University of Iceland (available in English) offers a wealth of resources, FAQs, and more.
There's a general and significant need for people to move to this country and be a part of something bigger than yourself, to be a part of the work that God is doing here, and to be a part of a small but deeply connected church family that's focused on discipleship.
Questions? Get in touch.
You can quickly and easily get in touch with us by filling out a few fields on this Google Form:
https://forms.gle/1c3w9BDXuGjDxt7P7