Living in Iceland · Faith

Religion and places of worship

For many people who move here, finding their church, mosque or temple is the first thing that makes a new country feel less strange. You can practise your faith freely in Iceland, and many communities worship in English and other languages. Pick your faith below and go straight to it.

Guided by a resident. I did not find these places alone: people pointed the way, and this page passes that on. We only name faith communities that have a working website or an official listing, and we say where to check the times yourself, because times change.

Last verified 26 September 2026 · skra.is, island.is, syslumenn.is, catholica.is, kirkjan.is, breidholtskirkja.is, filadelfia.is, felagmuslima.is, 112.is

Still planning your move?

You can find your community before you arrive. Almost every place on this page has an email address or a page you can write to. Send a short message: say when you are coming, which language you speak, and ask when they meet. Many people have a familiar face waiting for them on their first Sunday or Friday because they wrote first.

Find your faith

Tap your faith to jump to it. You do not need to read the rest.

National Church (Lutheran)Catholic Pentecostal and free churches African and international churches Orthodox Muslim Latter-day Saints Other faiths and no faith

Times change with the seasons and holidays. Check the community's own page before you go.

The National Church (Þjóðkirkjan, say: THYOTH-kirk-yan)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland is the national church. Its international congregation meets in English at Breiðholtskirkja, Þangbakki 5 in Reykjavík, at 14:00 every Sunday except the last of the month, with coffee afterwards. A service in Farsi is held on the last Sunday.

The National Church also has pastors for immigrants and refugees. They offer free, confidential conversations on family and practical matters, whatever your faith, and will arrange an interpreter at no cost.

breidholtskirkja.is (English)

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The Catholic Church (Kaþólska kirkjan)

The cathedral, Kristskirkja in Landakot, Túngata 13 in Reykjavík, holds Mass in Icelandic, Polish and English. Mass in Lithuanian is held at St Joseph's church in Hafnarfjörður. There are also parishes in Hafnarfjörður, Keflavík, Akureyri, Ísafjörður and Stykkishólmur.

We do not print Mass times here, because the parish page is the only reliable place for them. catholica.is

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Pentecostal and free churches

Fíladelfía, Hátún 2, Reykjavík. An English service every Sunday at 14:00, called Reykjavik International Church, with a programme for children. The 11:00 Icelandic service has live English translation through headphones, and there is a Spanish service in the afternoon. filadelfia.is (English)

Other free churches are on the official list of registered organisations (link in the next block).

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African and international churches

Several churches have been started by people who moved here, including African-led congregations. Some on the official register are Alþjóðleg kirkja Guðs og embætti Jesú Krists and Endurfædd kristin kirkja af guði. Many meet in rented halls and share times on their own social pages rather than a website.

We are still learning about these communities, and we only add one after writing to it first. The official list names every registered organisation, its leader and its registered address. List of registered organisations

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Orthodox churches

The Russian Orthodox Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church are all registered in Iceland. Their contact details are on the official list. List of registered organisations

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Muslim community

Félag múslima á Íslandi, the Muslim Association, Ármúli 38, Reykjavík. Daily prayers and Friday prayer, with prayer times for Reykjavík published each day. The association has also run Icelandic lessons open to anyone. felagmuslima.is

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Meetinghouse at Ásabraut 2 in Garðabær, with congregations also listed in Akureyri and Selfoss. Locations in Iceland

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Other faiths, and no faith

Búddistafélag Íslands and other Buddhist groups, the Bahá'í community, Ásatrúarfélagið, and Siðmennt are all registered. Siðmennt is the humanist association. It holds non-religious naming, coming-of-age, wedding and funeral ceremonies.

Not religious but looking for community? Churches here also run coffee mornings, playgroups, choirs and youth work. You do not have to be a member, or believe anything, to come. See also Where to meet people.

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Is your community missing, and does it meet regularly? Write to hello@yourcompanion.is. We write to each place once before adding it, we list facts only, and we take an entry down if it closes or goes quiet.

What your first visit is usually like

Walking into a new place of worship in a new country can feel big. In most congregations here, it is simpler than people expect:

Nobody asks for papers, a residence permit or an ID at the door.
You can sit at the back and just watch the first time.
Children are usually welcome, and many churches have a children's programme.
There is often coffee afterwards. That is where people talk to newcomers.
You do not have to give money, sign up, or become a member.

If you are nervous, send a message first and ask if someone can meet you at the door. Most places answer within a day or two.

If something feels wrong

Most faith communities are safe and kind places. But no community is perfect, and some people are hurt in a place where they should feel safe. This is not a reason to stay away. It is a reason to know your rights, so you can go with peace of mind.

You are always free to leave a congregation, or change your registration, at any time. Nobody can stop you. It is your right under the Constitution.
No church can take your passport or documents, ask for your bank login, or tell you that your residence permit depends on them. Your permit depends only on the Directorate of Immigration.
Nobody may pressure you into giving money you cannot afford, or into a relationship, marriage or sexual contact.
If you feel unsafe, or someone has hurt you, you can call 112. It is free and answers in English. You can also talk to someone at the Red Cross helpline 1717, free and open day and night.
If you are worried about a child, you can report it by calling 112. Our Child protection page explains what happens next.

For mental health, addiction or disability support, see Help when life gets hard.

You are free to practise your faith here

Freedom of religion (trúfrelsi, say: TROO-frel-si) is written into the Icelandic Constitution. You may belong to any faith, or to none, and nobody may be made to belong to a religious group.

About two thirds of people in Iceland belong to the National Church. Around fifty other religious and life-stance organisations are officially registered. A group registers through the District Commissioner (sýslumaður), and it must be active, with at least twenty-five adult members living in Iceland.

Church tax: what sóknargjald is, and why it matters to you

When you register your legal domicile (lögheimili) in Iceland, you are also recorded as belonging to one registered religious or life-stance organisation, or outside them all, or as unspecified. Most people who move here are never told this happened.

The state pays each registered organisation a fixed amount per registered member each year. This is called sóknargjald (say: SOHK-nar-gyald), set out in law no. 91/1987. If you are registered outside all organisations, the money stays with the state.

You do not pay more or less tax because of this. The registry is only a count for that payment. Joining or leaving a congregation is something you tell the congregation itself.

I want to check or change what I am registered as

What actually happens: Many people are registered in something they never chose. Children are registered at birth, and a child only follows the parents' organisation when both parents are in the same one.
What to do: Sign in with your electronic ID and send the notification at Þjóðskrá. It is free and takes effect the same day. For a child aged 15 or younger, the custodians fill in a form.
The common trap: Assuming that being baptised, married or welcomed in a congregation changed your registration. It does not. You can only be in one organisation at a time.

Marriage, baptism, naming and funerals

Registered religious and life-stance organisations can perform legally valid marriages, naming ceremonies and funerals. A civil ceremony with the District Commissioner is always an option. Sort the legal papers first, then book the ceremony. Papers from abroad often need stamps and translation, which takes time. See the Family page and the After death page.

Sources

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