What can be the decision in my case?

The decision on your asylum case will be communicated by the Directorate of Immigration to you or your legal representative in Icelandic.

There are four possible outcomes of the asylum procedure:

  • You are recognized as a refugee and issued a temporary residence permit with an initial duration of 4 years, which can be extended periodically for 4-years periods.
  • You are granted subsidiary protection and issued a temporary residence permit with an initial duration of 4 years, which can be extended for 4-year periods.
  • You are granted a residence permit on humanitarian grounds and issued a temporary residence permit with an initial duration of 1 year, which can be extended for 1-year periods.
  • Your application for international protection is denied.

➡️If your asylum application is recognised (refugee status or subsidiary protection), the Directorate of Immigration will give you a document describing your rights and obligations. The rights and services are generally the same, whether you are recognized as a refugee, granted subsidiary protection or a residence permit on humanitarian grounds. The main difference is in the length of the residence permit you are issued (4 or 1 year).

➡️If your application is denied, the full decision will be communicated to you or your legal representative in the Icelandic language.


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