Spouses may request a divorce permit from the district commissioner without having been legally separated if:

• they are in agreement to request a divorce,

• one spouse has committed adultery,

• a spouse has subjected the other spouse or a child residing with them to violence and has admitted or has been convicted for the offence,

• the spouses have not lived together for a period of one year due to their discord,

• or if a spouse was already in a marriage when marrying their spouse.

The spouses must agree on the basis of the divorce. If one spouse request a divorce on the grounds of adultery or violence and the other spouse does not recognize the conduct, or does not want a divorce to be permitted on that basis, a divorce cannot be obtained from the district commissioner. The claim may be brought to court, or the spouses may reach an agreement to obtain a divorce on another basis.

The issuance of a divorce permit costs ISK 6,500.

Further information on legal separation / divorce can be found here.