Iceland

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Iceland, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2.

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Iceland, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120.

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The tax implications for operating in Iceland may be found at the Internal Revenue Service’s United States-Iceland Income Tax Convention. For further clarification, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance.

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Iceland at 76 out of 100 (14th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  clean).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations

Articles

The US State Department's page on ICELAND may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AUTHORITIES IN ICELAND HAVE FURTHER TIGHTENED RESTRICTIONS INTRODUCED TO COMBAT THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) AS OF OCTOBER 31 DUE TO INCREASING INFECTION RATES IN THE COUNTRY. AUTHORITIES IN ICELAND PERMIT ENTRY TO CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF EU AND SCHENGEN AREA STATES IN ADDITION TO CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF ANDORRA, MONACO, SAN MARINO, THE UK, VATICAN CITY, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, GEORGIA, JAPAN NEW ZEALAND, RWANDA, SOUTH KOREA, THAILAND, TUNISIA AND URUGUAY.  MOST TRAVELERS FROM OTHER LOCATIONS REMAIN PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING, WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS SUCH AS FREIGHT AND TRANSPORT WORKERS, IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OF ICELANDIC RESIDENTS, DIPLOMATS, STUDENTS, INDIVIDUALS CONDUCTING NECESSARY WORK, AND PERSONS TRAVELING FOR URGENT FAMILY REASONS. ALL PERMITTED ARRIVALS ARE REQUIRED TO FILL OUT A PREREGISTRATION FORM BEFORE DEPARTING FOR ICELAND AND CAN CHOOSE TO EITHER SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS OR SUBMIT TO TWO COVID-19, ONE TAKEN ON ARRIVAL AND A SECOND TAKEN FIVE DAYS THEREAFTER, WHILE REMAINING IN SELF-ISOLATION FOR THE INTERVENING PERIOD.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu.

If you are traveling to Iceland on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic

Iceland’s health infrastructure is good. In a medical emergency, dial 112 for an ambulance. For non-emergencies outside business hours, dial 1770. Pharmacies, called apoteks, are generally well-stocked and are open from 9 am until 8 pm Monday through Friday.

Air pollution can be a problem in urban areas, especially Akureyri and Reykjavik. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

The drinking water in Iceland is considered safe. Travelers should avoid raw meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which frequently harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

Iceland has a low crime rate. Petty street crimes are on the rise in Reykjavik's city center, but they are almost always non-violent. Crowds in Reykjavik can sometimes become disorderly, especially on weekends and at night. 

Iceland has numerous active volcanoes. Eruptions such as the one at Grimsvotn in 2011 can disrupt daily life on the ground and air traffic overhead.

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. 

Importation of whale products to the United States: All persons are barred from importing whale products to the United States.

Though whale meat and other products that utilize whale parts are sold throughout Iceland, the Marine Mammal Protection Act makes it illegal to bring back whale products to the United States. Any importation of products containing whale to the United States will result in the seizure of the goods and possible criminal prosecution. Penalties include jail time and fines of up to $10,000.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. 

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Iceland.