Amounts 2026
The amounts of grants from the Labour Force increased from 1 January 2026 to 180,000 ISK. including full entitlements. The increase also applies to accumulated entitlements.
The maximum grant for members who pay into Starfsafl is ISK 180,000 per year*.
- The grant can be used for leisure activities, studies or travel.
- The grant is in the form of a refund and the member must have paid for the costs before applying.
- The maximum grant is based on full-time employment and decreases in accordance with the employment rate.
- Funding is available for up to 90% of the costs.
- Payment of eligible costs for education or travel must have been made during the period in which the member paid to Efling.
- Members must have paid for education/travel while they were paying to Efling and invoices must not be older than 12 months.
Accumulated rights for those who have not exercised their rights in:
- 2 years is 360,000 kr.
- 3 years is 450,000 kr.
Accumulated rights can be used for one continuous course of study.
Grants under ISK 30,000 do not reduce accumulated rights
but are deducted from the total amount.
If you are registered with the Directorate of Labour, you must submit confirmation from the agency whether you have received a grant from them. This applies even if you have not applied for a grant. The confirmation will state whether a grant was awarded and, if so, how much it was.
The maximum grant is 180,000 ISK per year*
Below you can see how it can be distributed
Scroll to the side to see all the scholarships
Travel grant
Leisure time allowance
General and vocational studies
Travel grant
40.000,-*
- Paid for flights for studies/courses/conferences abroad.
- Up to 50% of the invoice is paid.
Only flights are paid for, not accommodation, buses, rental cars, etc. If a member bears the costs of the program themselves, they can apply for a grant for it, otherwise they cannot (in which case they must apply as work-related study).
The application must be accompanied by confirmation of the study, course or conference being attended, along with a receipt for flight payment.
The application must be accompanied by an original invoice showing the member's name and ID number and confirmation of payment from an Icelandic home bank.
*based on full rights
Leisure time allowance
30.000,-*
Up to 90% of the costs are paid.
The application must be accompanied by an original invoice showing the member's name and ID number and confirmation of payment from an Icelandic home bank.
Study abroad
If a course or program does not meet the requirements for General and Work-Related Studies, it may be classified as a leisure grant. If it was taken on a foreign website, it must be paid for from an Icelandic online bank account.
When applying for a grant for studies or courses taken abroad, an original invoice in the original language and in English must be submitted, as must confirmation of payment from an Icelandic home bank, and an itemized breakdown of costs must also be provided.
*based on full rights
General and vocational studies
180.000,-*
The following fall under general or vocational education:
- General studies, for example studies at a college or university.
- Work-related learning, for example, increased driving privileges.
- Interest area analyses conducted under the guidance of a study and career counselor.
- Material costs that are considered part of upper secondary school tuition fees, but exclude all fees that are considered optional, such as school and student association fees.
- Examination and certificate fees as an integral part of studies/graduation, for example in driving license studies.
- Job-related coaching of a maximum of 12 hours within a calendar year. The invoice must state that the training is job-related, the number of hours, and confirmation of the coach's ACC certification.
Up to 90% of the costs are paid.
The application must be accompanied by an original invoice showing the member's name and ID number and confirmation of payment from the person's Icelandic bank account.
Members who are registered with the Directorate of Labour must also submit confirmation of the grant amount from the agency with their application, regardless of whether they received a grant or not.
Education must always be paid for by a member.
Study abroad
Starfsafl does not sponsor studies or courses that take place on foreign websites, with the exception of higher education at recognized universities. Starfsafl requires that if an applicant is applying for higher education abroad from a recognized university, the applicant must submit a bank receipt from an Icelandic bank confirming payment in Icelandic krónur or a payment receipt from the school where applicable.
When applying for a grant for studies or courses taken abroad, an original invoice in the original language and in English must be submitted, as must confirmation of payment from an Icelandic home bank, and an itemized breakdown of costs must also be provided.
Please note that foreign online studies are not accepted unless they are online studies from an accredited university; otherwise, they are classified as a leisure grant.
Definition of internship and training
The workforce relies on the classification of educational providers when defining which education falls under general vocational training, cf. the following: A defined part of a course that follows a predetermined plan or definition and usually ends with a certification of performance or other form of confirmation.
Definition and structure of education
The term education is used for simplicity on this page to cover all learning, courses and lectures, whether they take place inside or outside the workplace or through teleconferencing equipment or recordings.
Educational structure:
1. Have a clearly defined beginning and end
2. Have defined goals and objectives
3. Be taught by an instructor who possesses the appropriate skills and knowledge
Education that meets these requirements is necessary, but not sufficient by itself to ensure eligibility for the grant.
This means that information can be accessed on the educational provider's website or on another specified website, as well as information about the instructor's education, qualifications, and experience.
Standards for instructors
It is generally assumed that those who provide education for individuals and workplaces have appropriate education, skills and experience appropriate to the content offered.
Instructors must have professional knowledge and skills in the relevant field and be able to demonstrate their competence with appropriate documentation, such as educational background, work experience or other qualifications, if requested. Please note in particular the increased requirements for those who teach Icelandic.
Information about the supervisor must be clear and accessible to participants and the fund, and be part of the companies' application process to the fund at www.attin.is: general information about studies/courses.
More about Icelandic language teaching
Applies to all studies, courses and private lessons. Access to apps in Icelandic is also eligible if they meet the fund's criteria for work-related learning.
An instructor of Icelandic courses, Icelandic studies or private tuition who works elsewhere than at an accredited educational provider approved by the Ministry of Education and Children's Affairs or the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour Market must possess the following qualification requirements and experience in order for the person's services to be considered eligible for funding from vocational education funds.
Other qualification requirements:
• Significant knowledge of language teaching
• Teaching experience from a recognized educational provider
• Completed university studies
• Professional work methods and ambition to deliver good work
The specified competency requirements for instructors also apply to second language learning.
An application will be rejected if the above requirements for criteria, qualifications and skills are not met.
More about studying cosmetology
Studies taken in Iceland
Studies in any type of cosmetology taken in Iceland that are not considered legal trades must meet the fund's criteria for work-related studies and be taken at schools or beauty salons with a license in order for students to be able to apply for a vocational education grant for the studies.
Product packages and other learning materials included in the course fee are not subsidized. Therefore, only invoices that show a breakdown of costs are accepted.
If the program is taken at a school or beauty salon that does not have a license, students can only apply for a life skills grant (leisure grant).
Studies taught abroad
All cosmetology studies taught abroad are not funded as vocational training, but students can apply for a life skills grant for the study (leisure grant).
Definitions of cosmetology
The term cosmetology is used here, as the term cosmetology encompasses a legally recognized trade. This rule covers all other studies that are considered cosmetology but have not been legally recognized in this country, as listed below:
1. Makeup
2. Nail art, including the application of artificial nails
3. Eyelash extensions, eyelash extensions
4. Permanent eyebrow makeup
Please note that the list may not be exhaustive.
Schools that teach cosmetology must meet the following requirements for the program they offer to be funded as an internship:
• Have an operating license and text indicating this visible on the website and be able to present a certificate upon request.
• Have all invoices itemized, clearly showing costs for education and supplies.
• Meet the fund's requirements for internships,
• Provide the student with a diploma/certificate of recognition at the end of the course.
You can apply for a vocational education grant for studies at the following educational providers:
• Reykjavik Makeup School.
• Glam
• Harpa Kári Make-up Studio
• Deja Vu Nails Salon & Academy
• Lilly nails Iceland
• Magnetic
• Shimmer
• Crystal nails
• Amber Lashes
Schools that meet the criteria but are not on the list above can contact the Human Resources office.
More about issued invoices
Invoices must be itemized if they include costs beyond direct education. This is necessary so that it can be assessed whether those costs are eligible for funding.
What is supported:
• Job-related training provided to a group of employees or individuals
• Job-related education conducted on Icelandic websites
• Language learning
• Examination and certificate fees as an integral part of studies/graduation
• Job-related coaching of a maximum of 12 hours within a calendar year. The application must include information about the coach, but it is a condition that the coach has completed a course in coaching from an accredited school. The number of hours must then be stated on the invoice.
• Interpreting services at a job-related course for a group of employees at a workplace where both parties are paid
What is not supported:
• Consulting or guidance
• Interpreting services for individuals (eg during exams or at job-related courses outside the workplace – one-on-one).
• Travel expenses, such as driving or flying
• Accommodation and subsistence
• Catering during courses
• Fees or costs incurred for the implementation or maintenance of education
• Sampling, surveys and needs analyses
• Product packages, cf. studies in cosmetology
• Workshops that focus on policy development, visioning, or internal analysis of the workplace do not fall under the definition of formal education or training. In such cases, the work is generally aimed at evaluating, defining, and shaping internal operations, procedures, or policies, rather than imparting knowledge, training skills, or promoting the development of employees' competencies in a formal manner.
*Please note that the lists may not be exhaustive.
The combined strength of members and the company
Studies must cost a minimum of ISK 200,000.
An account can be in the name of a member or a company.
A member applies for the grant from Eflinga and the company applies on the funds' website, www.attin.is
Both applications must include the following documents:
• Description of studies
• Invoice.
• Payment confirmation
• Declaration by a company and an individual regarding a joint application, see form here.
Upon approval of the application, the grant amount is deducted from both parties' entitlements.
When the account is in the name of a member, the member's right is exercised first, and then the company's, until the maximum is reached. When the account is in the name of a company, the company's right is exercised first, and then the member's, until the maximum is reached
A grant to a member is paid into the member's account and a grant paid to a company is paid into the company's account.
When processing an application to a company, the amount of funding paid to the member is taken into account.
For clarification:
Please note that a grant to a company can never exceed 300,000,-
A grant to an individual can never exceed 130,000,- or 390,000,- if it is cumulative. Also note that a grant can never exceed 90% of the account.
The combined grant is 90% of the tuition fee – a maximum of ISK 430,000 (if a member is only entitled to ISK 130,000 and the company to ISK 300,000) or ISK 690,000 when a member is entitled to accumulation (then ISK 390,000 to the member and ISK 300,000 to the company).
Please note that this is a pilot project, subject to errors. Starfafl reserves all rights to make corrections and changes.
*based on full rights
Health promotion - fitness training
Health promotion grants include physical education, sports, swimming, dance, etc. The grant can be used to purchase a bicycle.
The station, school or club must be a legal entity (ID number and permanent address) with permanent facilities and organized work and must employ approved physical education teachers or instructors.
Up to 23,000 ISK is paid every 12 months, up to a maximum of 50% of the cost.
The application must be accompanied by an original invoice showing the member's name and social security number. If there is no confirmation of payment on the invoice, additional confirmation of payment must be submitted, for example from a bank statement or a payment receipt from the invoice issuer.
Educational grants
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