immigration
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Infirm Child To Be Deported From Iceland
The Directorate of Immigration (ÚTL) has denied an appeal to postpone the deportation of a Venezuelan family, despite a scheduled surgery for a three-year old girl, RÚV reports. The child suffers from developmental dysplasia of the hip, and underwent a complex surgery…
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Immigrants Now Make Up 18.2% Of Iceland’s Population
As of January 1, 2024, immigrants made up 18.2% of Iceland’s population, totaling 69,691 individuals, reports Statistics Iceland. This marks a steady rise from the previous year, when immigrants constituted 16.7% of the population (62,821). Over the past decade, the proportion of…
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Seriously Ill Palestinian 11-Year-Old’s Deportation Halted At Keflavík Airport
A seriously ill Palestinian 11-year-old had his deportation halted today after public protests. Yazan Tamimi, who needs a wheelchair and constant medical attention due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, was due to be deported with his family. He was awoken and removed from…
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Increased Access To Icelandic Classes In Everyone’s Best Interest
Linguist and Háskóli professor Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson told Rás 2’s morning radio program that Icelanders need to shift their mindset about immigrants speaking English in shops and other customer-facing businesses. He said that, while it’s normal for people to be annoyed that Icelandic…
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40% Of Workers Unable To Make Ends Meet
A recent study reports that 40% of workers in the Icelandic job market are unable to make ends meet. A similar proportion of people would be unable to deal with an out-of-pocket expense of 80.000 ISK. The annual study was conducted by…
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72 Individuals On Their Way To Iceland From Gaza
Following an Icelandic delegation‘s efforts in Egypt, 72 individuals from Gaza were granted residence permits in Iceland on the basis of family reunification. They are currently in Cairo, awaiting their onward journey to Iceland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a…
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Emergency Care Provided For Deprived Refugees
Minister of Social Affairs Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson has negotiated with the Icelandic Red Cross on an emergency care plan for homeless refugees. The people who will now receive Red Cross aid were deprived of their housing, medical, and social rights earlier this…
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Alþingi Passes Controversial Immigration Law
Alþingi passed a bill on international refugees Wednesday evening, with all members of the coalition government parties – the Independence Party, the Progressive Party and the Left Greens – voting in favour. All members of the Centrist Party and the People’s party…
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Theatre Postpones Shows As Actors Are Deported
The Reykjavík City Theatre has postponed performances of the play ‘Snake’ because the actors from the show were deported, reports RÚV. [su_pullquote]It’s only one week until Iceland Airwaves returns to Reykjavík! Get prepared by pre-ordering our Airwaves Goodie Bag! It contains everything…
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Justice Minister Accused Of Misinformation And Fearmongering
Minister of Justice Jón Gunnarsson’s attempts to roll through legislation which would greatly restrict the rights and freedoms of people applying for international protection in Iceland, due to what he characterises as an “out of control” system, have been under intense scrutiny…
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Business Leaders Want Government To Make It Easier For Non-EEA Citizens To Immigrate
Unemployment was at 3.2% in July, according to the Directorate of Labour, and there is a distinct labour shortage in Iceland. [su_pullquote]Best of Reykjavík 2022 Autumn edition is out! To celebrate we are adding a copy to all discount boxes ordered until…
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Justice Ministry Attempts To Pass Sweeping Immigration Bill For Fifth Time
Minister of Justice Jón Gunnarsson will try once again to pass a controversial bill that aims to make broad changes to the Law on Foreigners, RÚV reports, albeit with some revisions from the previous attempt. [su_pullquote]The Bargain Chest just opened in Grapevine…
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Immigrants Paid Less, Have Fewer Options Than Locally-Born Icelanders, Study Finds
Immigrants have lower wages than locally-born Icelanders, but they are no more dissatisfied with them, reports Fréttablaðið. [su_pullquote]To celebrate reaching 200 RVK Newscast episodes on Youtube, as well as the new eruption at Meradalir, we’re having a volcano themed giveaway! Follow our…
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Net Migration To Iceland At All-Time High
In the second quarter of 2022, 3,600 people migrated to Iceland, marking the highest level of net migration recorded since Statistics Iceland began publishing migration data by quarters in 2009. [su_pullquote]We are having a summer sale on all our Icelandic soaps, scrubs,…
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Number Of Students With Foreign Background In Icelandic Schools Is Increasing
The number of foreign students enrolled in Icelandic compulsory school has increased over the last year, reflecting the increasing migrant population in the country. [su_pullquote]The new Reykjavík Grapevine print issue is out! Subscribe to it in our shop or join our High…
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Asylum Seeker Bill Withdrawn (Again), No Mass Deportations Yet, Refugee Work Permit Bill Fails To Pass
Legislation and other government action regarding asylum seekers and refugees has, in recent days, been significant because of what has not happened. [su_pullquote]Summer Sale on T-Shirts in the Grapevine shop! We only have a chance to wear a T-shirt outdoors for about…
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American Influencer Denied Residence Permit Again
Kyana Sue Powers, who was denied Icelandic residence permit and submitted an appeal, was denied it again, RÚV reports. [su_pullquote]If you appreciate our journalism, join our High Five Club. As well as helping us to keep the lights on, we’ve got…
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Social Media Creator Denied Residence Permit In Iceland
An American social media creator, Kyana Sue Powers, who runs a consulting company in Iceland, has been denied a residence permit because she does not have special education in her profession, Frettabladid reports. Kyana first came to Iceland in 2018. She immediately…
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Changes To Law On Foreigners In The Works, Stricter Measures For Asylum Seekers Proposed
A draft of a bill from the Ministry of Justice proposing a number of changes to the Law On Foreigners expands police powers, evokes compulsory medical procedures, and gives veto rights to the chair and vice chair of the Immigration Appeals Board,…
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From Afghanistan To Iceland: An Activist Seeks To Help His Homeland
Sign Sayed’s petition at change.org and learn more about his organisation, Samstaðan on Instagram. On the morning of August 19th, Sayed Khanoghli, an Afghan refugee and Chairman of the Youth at Amnesty International, watched a video from Afghanistan. It showed a young…
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Immigration Counselling Centre Opens Today
The Immigration Advice Centre officially opened today at Laugavegur 116. At the centre, immigrants can get advice on their rights and their obligations as new residents in Iceland. Immigrants are invited to talk to counsellors at the centre itself, on the phone or…
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A Quarter Of Workers In Iceland Struggle To Makes Ends Meet
Around a quarter of foreign nationals working in Iceland are struggling to make ends meet and just over a fifth of them cannot meet unexpected expenses, Kjarninn reports. These were the results of a survey submitted to the Icelandic Confederation of Labor…
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The High Cost Of Living: Renting And Being Foreign In Reykjavik
Upon first moving to Iceland, the primary factor that must be arranged is a place to live; if one is from outside the European Economic Area, in most cases this has to be established before even setting foot in the country. For…