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Migrants and refugees with disabilities

Practical information and links

As someone with disabilities, you have the right to participate fully in all aspects of life. ÖBÍ, The Icelandic Disability Alliance, is here to help.

Our mission is to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. This includes rights to work, live independently, have good living conditions, accessible homes, and affordable healthcare.

ÖBÍ offers free consultation for individuals with disabilities and their families. We can also assist in communicating with government agencies about basic human rights.

This assistance is free, but please schedule an appointment by emailing radgjof@obi.is » more about ÖBÍ

Shorten your way

MCC

„The Multicultural and Information Centre provides most of the practical information you need →

Register

It is extremely important for citizens of a country outside EEA/EFTA to register and get ID numbers at the Register Iceland →

VMST

„The Directorate of Labour is a participant in the coordinated reception of refugees. →

Legal advice

„The Icelandic Human Rights Centre offers free legal counselling for immigrants in its office on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00-16:00. The services of a translator are provided, upon request, also free of charge.“ →

Red cross

The Icelandic Red Cross provides various services to refugees, for example guiding friend, language training, recreational fund and more. →

Red cross, link to the red cross in iceland

TR

The Social Insurance Administration in Iceland (TR) →

P-merkið

Assistive devices

Icelandic Health insurance provide advice on assistive devices, evaluate applications and assign the devices. Examples of assistive devices include beds, wheelchairs, communication computers and many other things →

Getting sick

All about the healthcare system in Iceland and more public services at island.is  In case of an emergency you should always call 112 →

Important to know

Register and apply ...

The first thing you need to do when you come to Iceland is register your legal domicile and get an Icelandic ID number.

» I am a citizen of a country outside EEA/EFTA | Þjóðskrá (skra.is)

The day after you should  » apply for health insurance | (island.is)

Social support and services

„Social services are provided by municipalities to their residents. Those services include financial assistance, support for disabled and senior citizens, housing support and social counseling, to name a few.“

„Foreign nationals have the same rights to access social services as Icelandic nationals. However, receiving financial support may affect your application for a residence permit or citizenship.“

See more information » mcc.is

Empowering ...

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

is an international treaty that outlines the rights of persons with disabilities. The purpose of CRPD is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities. • Iceland ratified the UN Convention in 2016.

The following principles reflect the core values of the CRPD, which aims to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities worldwide.

1

Equal Treatment

People with disabilities should be treated equally and should not face discrimination. They have the same rights as everyone else.
2

Accessibility

Everyone has the right to access buildings, information, and services. This includes accessible public spaces, transportation, and communication.
3

Inclusion

People with disabilities have the right to participate in all areas of life. They should not be excluded from activities or opportunities based on their disabilities.
4

Respect for Differences

People with disabilities should be respected for who they are. Differences in abilities should not lead to negative attitudes or prejudice.
5

Autonomy and Independence

Individuals with disabilities have the right to make their own choices and decisions. They should be supported to live independently and be included in their communities.
6

Dignity and Respect

People with disabilities should be treated with dignity and respect in all aspects of life. This includes in healthcare, education, and employment.
7

Non-Discrimination

Laws and policies should ensure that people with disabilities are not discriminated against. They should have equal opportunities and access to resources.
8

Full and Effective Participation

People with disabilities should be able to participate fully in society. This includes political, social, cultural, and recreational activities.
9

Access to Information

Everyone has the right to information. People with disabilities should have access to information in a format that is accessible to them, such as in braille or audio formats.
10

Inclusive Education

Education should be inclusive, meaning that students with disabilities should be able to learn in schools with appropriate support.
11

Work and employment

People with disabilities have the right to work and employment on an equal basis with others. They should not face discrimination in the workplace.
12

Social protection

People with disabilities have the right to social protection and to live independently. Governments should ensure they have access to the necessary support.

The newest of OBI's reviews and news regarding refugees and migrants

While Google Translate has improved over the years, it may not always provide accurate translations, especially for complex or specialized content. The accuracy can vary based on the language pair and the context of the content.  »  obi.is. translate.google