Holders of residence permits for humanitarian reasons and residence permits based on special ties to Iceland became exempted from the requirement for a temporary work permit following a recent amendment to the Foreign Nationals' Right to Work Act . This means that individuals with such residence permits may now work in Iceland without applying for a work permit.

Current holders of such permits will not be issued new residence permit cards for this reason. They are permitted to work without a work permit, even though their residence permit cards state that they may not. Employers can be shown this announcement or the announcement on the amendment on the website of the Directorate of Labour if they are in doubt. A new residence permit card will not be issued until the residence permit is renewed.