Announcement No. 848/2013 respecting General Exemption from the Conditions of Residence of the Limited Liability Companies' Legislation
This is an English translation.
The original Icelandic text, as published in the Law Gazette (Stjórnartíðindi), is the authoritative text. Should there be discrepancy between this translation and the authoritative text, the latter prevails.
ANNOUNCEMENT
No. 848 of 6 September 2013
respecting General Exemption from the Conditions of Residence
of the Limited Liability Companies' Legislation
The Minister of Industry and Commerce' decision under this Announcement is particularly intended to contribute to the convenience of citizens and legal persons from other OECD States than those which are parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, but may also be useful for those citizens and legal persons of EEA States, States Parties to the Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association or the Faroe Islanders or Faroese legal persons who are resident outside the European Economic Area, the territory of the Convention and the Faroe Islands. The citizens and legal persons of EEA States, States Parties to the Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association or the Faroe Islanders or Faroese legal persons resident within the European Economic Area, the territory of the Convention or in the Faroe Islands already enjoy the exemptions on the basis of law.
The decision containing an exemption from Arts. 3, 66, 137 and 140 of Act No. 2/1995 respecting Public Limited Companies and Arts. 3, 42, 111 and 114 of Act No. 138/1994 respecting Private Limited Companies, more specifically means that citizens of OECD States, EEA States, States Parties to the Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association or Faroe Islanders need not be resident in this Country in order to be able to be founders, Directors and Managers of Icelandic Public or Private Limited Companies or Branch Managers of foreign Public or Private Limited Companies in Iceland, but it is sufficient that the citizens be resident in some OECD State, EEA State, State Party to the Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association or the Faroe Islands.
Public Limited Companies or other Companies and institutes being parties to the establishment of Public or Private Limited Companies in this Country and to which reference is made in Art. 3 of the Acts respecting Public and Private Limited Companies need not be resident in this Country, but it is sufficient that these be resident in an OECD State, EEA State, State Party to the Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association or the Faroe Islands. Finally, foreign Public and Private Limited Companies and companies in a corresponding legal form, having domicile and venue in some OECD State, EEA State, State Party to the Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association or the Faroe Islands may engage in activities by means of the operation of a Branch in this Country.
In case of doubt the Register of Limited Liability Companies to which applications for the registration of Public or Private Limited Companies are sent may, however, consult the Minister of Industry and Commerce about individual matters.
The following OECD States, EEA States, States Parties to the Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association and the Faroe Islands fall under the exemption under laws and the Announcement as of 1 September 2013:
| Australia | Greece | New Zealand |
| Austria | Hungary | Norway |
| Belgium | Iceland | Poland |
| Bulgaria | Israel | Portugal |
| Canada | Ireland | Romania |
| Chile | Italy | Slovakia |
| Croatia | Japan | Slovenia |
| Czech Republic | Korea (South-Korea) | Spain |
| Cyprus | Latvia | Sweden |
| Denmark | Liechtenstein | Switzerland |
| Estonia | Lithuania | Turkey |
| Faroe Islands | Luxembourg | United Kingdom |
| Finland | Malta | United States |
| France | Mexico | |
| Germany | The Netherlands |
The present Announcement, issued according to Art. 158, cf. Arts. 3, 66, 137 and 140, of Act No. 2/1995 respecting Public Limited Companies and Art. 135, cf. Arts. 3, 42, 111 and 114, of Act No. 138/1994 respecting Private Limited Companies, enters into effect forthwith. Simultaneously Announcement No. 364/2009 respecting General Exemption from the Conditions of Residence of the Limited Liability Companies' Legislation is abolished.
Ministry of Industries and Innovation, 6 September 2013
on behalf of the Minister of Industry and Commerce
Valgerður Rún Benediktsdóttir.
Sigurbjörg S. Guðmundsdóttir.