Workforce

Grants to individuals

Maximum grant for members who pay into the Employment Fund is 180,000 kr.* 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 incurred the expense before applying.
  • The maximum grant is based on full-time work and decreases proportionally to the work ratio.
  • The grant is for up to 90% of the cost.
  • Payment of grant-funded costs for education or travel must have been made during the period in which the member contributed to Efling.
  • Members must have paid for training / travel while they paid to Efling and invoices not older than 12 months.

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

General and work-related education

180.000,-*

The following falls under general or work-related education:

  • General education, e.g., education at a college or university.
  • Work-related education, e.g., increased driving rights.
  • Interest area analyses that are conducted under the supervision of a training and career counselor.
  • Material costs that are considered part of school fees in secondary schools, but exempt are all expenses that are considered voluntary, e.g., school and student association fees.
  • Examination and licensing fees that are an inseparable part of studies/completion, e.g., in driver’s license training.
  • Job-related market training amounting to a maximum of 12 hours within the calendar year. The invoice must state that the training is job-related, the number of hours, and confirmation of ACC certification for market training.


Paid up to 90% of the cost.


The application must be accompanied by the original invoice where the name and kennitala member appear and confirmation of payment to the relevant party from an Icelandic home bank. 

Members who are registered with the Labour Market Agency must also submit confirmation of the grant amount from the agency with the application, regardless of whether they received the grant or not.


Note that the language education provider must be approved, see more details below.


Training must always be paid for by the member.

Study abroad

Starfsafl does not fund education or courses that take place on foreign websites, except university studies at recognized universities. Starfsafl requires that if an applicant applies for university studies abroad from a recognized university, the applicant must provide a bank receipt from an Icelandic bank confirming payment in Icelandic krona or a payment receipt from the school concerned.


Due to an application for a grant for studies or a course taken abroad, an original invoice in the original language and in English must be submitted, confirmation of payment from an Icelandic home bank, and the cost allocation must also be itemised.


Note that distance learning is not approved unless it is an online study from an accredited university. Otherwise it is classified as leisure activity.

  • Definition of vocational training and education

    The Labour Authority relies on the classification of education providers in defining which education falls under general vocational training, see the following: A defined part of the training that follows a specific plan or definition and usually ends with certification of performance or some other form of verification.


    Definition and structure of education


    The term education is used to simplify this page covering all education, courses and topics, whether it takes place inside or outside workplaces or through remote meeting equipment or recordings.


    Construction of education:


    1. Have a clearly defined start and end

    2. Have defined goals and content

    3. Be taught by a mentor who possesses the appropriate competence and knowledge


    That education meets these conditions is necessary, but not sufficient on its own to ensure eligibility for funding.


    This means that it should be possible to access information on the training provider's website or on other specified media, as well as information about the education, competence and experience of the mentor.


    Guidelines for mentors

    In general it is assumed that those who provide education for individuals and workplaces have the appropriate education, competence and experience suitable for the material offered.  


    Mentors must have professional knowledge and competence in the relevant field and be able to demonstrate their competence with appropriate documentation, such as educational background, work experience or other competence certificates, as required. Note especially the increased requirements for those who teach Icelandic.


    Information about the mentor should be clear and accessible to participants and the fund, and be part of the application process of companies to the fund at www.attin.is: general information about education/courses.

  • More about language teaching

    This applies to all education, courses and private tutoring. Access to apps in Icelandic is also eligible for funding if they meet the criteria according to the fund's criteria for work-related training.


    Guiding Icelandic language courses, Icelandic language study or private teaching that operates elsewhere than with recognized educational providers (see the board's website) or agreements from the Labor Board (see here), must meet the following competency requirements and experience so that the service is considered qualified by the vocational training funds.


    Other qualification requirements:

    • Extensive knowledge of language teaching

    • Experience in teaching from recognized educational providers

    • Completed studies at university level

    • Professional work methods and dedication to deliver good work


    The specified competency requirements for the guide also apply to other language learning.


    Application is rejected if the aforementioned requirements for standards, suitability and competence are not met.  

  • More about studying cosmetology

    Training that takes place in Iceland


    Education in any kind of beauty studies taken locally and not considered among approved trades must comply with according to the fund's criteria for work-related training and be accepted at schools or beauty salons with a work permit so that students can apply for a vocational training grant due to the studies.


    Product packages and other study material included in the course fee are not funded. Therefore only invoices that show a breakdown of costs are accepted. 


    If the training is taken at a school or beauty salon that does not have a work permit students can only apply for a life skill grant (leisure grant).


    Training taught abroad

    All study in cosmetology taught abroad is not funded as vocational training but students can apply for a life skill grant for the study (leisure grant).


    Definitions of cosmetology

    Here the word "fegrunarfræði" is used, where the word "snyrtifræði" encompasses a legally recognized trade. This rule covers all other education that is considered part of "fegrunarfræði" but has not received legal recognition in this country, compare the following list:


    1. Prevention

    2. Naglalist, including intention of artificial nails

    3. Eyelash extensions, eyelash extensions

    4. Variable selection of eye openings


    Note that the list may not be exhaustive.


    Schools that teach cosmetology must meet the following conditions so that the education they offer is recognized as vocational training:


    • Have a work permit and text that makes it visible on the website and can provide a certificate if requested.

    • Have all accounts itemized where the cost of training and warning is clearly presented.

    • Meet the fund's requirements for apprenticeship.

    • Provide the student with a diploma / certification document at the end of the program.


    It is possible to apply for a vocational training grant for studies with the following education providers:

    • Reykjavík Makeup School.

    • Glam

    • Makeup studio Hörpu Kára

    • 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 Office of Labor Inspection.

  • 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 that cost is grant‑eligible.


    What is funded:

    • Job-related training provided for a group of staff or individuals.

    • Job-related training that takes place on Icelandic websites.

    • Language learning.

    • Examination and certification fees as an integral part of the study/completion.

    • Job-related marketing training that does not exceed 12 hours within a calendar year. With the application, information about the marketer must be included, and it is required that the marketer has completed training in marketing from an approved school. Then the number of hours will appear on the invoice. 

    • Interpretation service at a work-related course for a group of staff at the workplace where payment is made for both parties.


    What is not funded:

    • Counseling or guidance. 

    • Interpretation service for individuals (e.g., in exams or at work-related courses outside the workplace – person to person).

    • Travel expenses according to driving or flight.

    • Accommodation and board.

    • Catering at courses.

    • Fee or cost incurred due to implementation or maintenance of training.

    • Sample collections, examinations and needs analyses.

    • Product packages see study in cosmetology.

    • Workshops that focus on policy-making, future vision or internal analysis of the activities of the respective workplace do not fall under the definition of formal education or course management. In such cases, it is generally work aimed at assessing, defining and shaping internal operations, procedures or strategy, rather than disseminating knowledge, training skills or promoting employee competence development in a formal manner.


    *Note that the lists may possibly be incomplete.

  • The combined strength of members and the company

    The training must cost at least 200,000 ISK.


    The invoice can be in the name of the union member or the company.  

    Member applies for the grant at Efling and the company applies at the fund portal,  www.attin.is 


    Both applications must be accompanied by the following documents:

    • Description of the study

    • Invoice.  

    • Confirmation of payment

    • Declaration of the company and individual due to joint application, see the form here.


    Upon approval of the application, the grant amount is deducted from the entitlement of both.


    When an invoice is in the name of a union member, the union member's entitlement is used first and then the company's, until the maximum is reached. When an invoice is in the name of a company, the company's entitlement is used first and then the union member's, until the maximum is reached.


    The grant to the union member is paid into the member's account and the grant paid by the company is paid into the company's account.


    In processing an application to a company, the paid grant amount to the union member is taken into account. 


    For clarification:

    Note that the grant to a company can never exceed 300,000,- 

    The grant for an individual can never be higher than 130,000,- or 390,000,- if it concerns a collection. Also note that the grant can never be higher than 90% of the invoice.


    The total grant is 90% of the tuition fee – maximum 430,000 kr. (if the member is only entitled to 130,000,- and the company 300,000,-) or 690,000 kr. when the member is entitled to collection (then 390,000,- to the member and 300,000,- to the company).


    Please note that this is a pilot project, with a disclaimer about errors. The staff reserve all rights to corrections and changes.

*based on full rights