Practical Information for foreigners

The Intercultural Centre
The Intercultural Center is an expert knowledge and information base, translation and interpretation services, education, and supports and conducts research, with the aim being to ease the transition into Icelandic society and to help all to enjoy the benefits of our multicultural society.  The Intercultural Center is an advocate for Human rights – insuring that all enjoy equality and that human resources are appreciated and developed.  The Intercultural Center is a setting for exchange between different cultures, where all may enjoy the options that a multicultural society has to offer.

On the website, www.ahus.is, you can find practical information in various languages about customs, education, family, health care, housing, laws and regulations, residence and work permits, rights and obligations, social security and work in Iceland.

The Multicultural and Information Centre
The Multicultural Centre´s web site, www.fjolmenningarsetur.is,  is mainly in Icelandic but a growing portion of it is also available in English, Polish, Serbian, Croatian and Thai. The web is meant to give extensive information on Iceland and the Icelandic community, with special emphasise on peoples rights and obligations.

The Directorate of Immigration
The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration examines applications from foreigners who wish to enter or reside in Icelandic, e.g. applications for asylum or family reunification, for residence permit in order to study or work and for visas for short visits to Iceland. The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration is also responsible for the issuance of all Icelandic passports.

The website of the Directorate of Immigration holds information on residence permits, visas, legislation and crew changes.  Furthermore there are a collection of statistics and application forms.

Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is divided into three Departments, Department of Education, Department of Science and Department for Cultural Affairs and four Offices, Office of Information and Service, Office of Financial Affairs, Office of Evaluation and Analysis and Office of Legal Affairs.  The website of the Ministry holds information on acts, the educational system in Iceland, culture, science and technology and publications of the Ministry.

Ministry of the Interior
The ministry's main areas of responsibility are: Transport, Justice, Police Affairs, Security, Communications, Human Rights, Local Government, Elections, Immigration, Family Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications and Consumer Affairs. Also the Ministry supervises the affairs of the National Church of Iceland (Lutheran-Evangelical) and other religious denominations.

Ministry of Welafare
The Ministry of Welfare in Iceland was established on January 1st 2011 in accordance with Act no. 121/2010. The Ministry has the responsibility for administration and policy making of social affairs, health and social security in Iceland as prescribed by law, regulations and other directives. Among the issues that the Ministry deals with are: Affairs of the disabled, Agencies, Employment, Family affairs, Gender equality, Health and social Insurance, Housing, Immigrants, Patient Rights, Pharmaceutical Affairs, Promotion of Information Technology in the Health Services in Iceland, Public Health, Operation of Hospitals, Health Centers and other Providers of Health Services and Refugees.

The Red Cross
The Icelandic Red Cross works toward improving the integration of immigrants into Icelandic society. The national society is the representative of the UNHCR in Iceland, advocates for the rights of asylum seekers and assists refugees and others to integrate into Icelandic society.  People who need assistance because of grief, anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts can call the Red Cross help line, 1717, free of charge 24 hours a day.

Directorate of Health
The Directorate of Health is a government agency headed by the Medical Director of Health. Its five divisions are responsible for public health and clinical quality, infectious disease control and prevention, health statistics, patient complaints and clinical guidelines, and finance and administration. 

Pre-schools 
This website holds information about pre-schools in Reykjavík, brochures in many foreign languages and information for parents of foreign origin.