The Complete Guide to Iceland’s Kennitala: What You Need to Know

If you plan to live, work, or do business in Iceland, you will quickly learn about the kennitala — the national identification number that plays a central role in daily life. It is more than just a sequence of digits; it is a crucial part of Iceland’s administrative, legal, and financial systems. From renting an apartment to paying taxes, the kennitala ensures that your personal or business details are correctly registered and verified.

1. What is a Kennitala?

A kennitala is a unique 10-digit number assigned to individuals and legal entities in Iceland. Its format is DDMMYY-XXXX:

• DD = Day of birth (or registration for companies)
• MM = Month of birth/registration
• YY = Last two digits of the year of birth/registration
• XX = Two random digits
• X (9th digit) = Check digit calculated using the modulus-11 method
• X (10th digit) = Century indicator (9 for 1900–1999, 0 for 2000–2099)

For example, a number like 120585-4329 tells you that the entity was registered or born on 12 May 1985, with the last digit 9 meaning the 1900s.

2. Types of Kennitala

While the structure remains the same, the type of kennitala can be identified by the value of the “day” portion and the first digit:

• Einstaklingur (Person) – Day value between 01 and 31.
• Fyrirtæki (Company) – Day value between 41 and 71 (40 is added to the real registration day).
• Bráðabirgða (Temporary) – Usually starts with 8 or 9, used for temporary residents or special cases.
• Prófmanneskja (Test Person) – Reserved for testing in IT systems, not valid for real transactions.

3. Why the Kennitala is Essential in Iceland

The kennitala is required for a wide range of activities:

• Opening a bank account
• Signing rental agreements
• Accessing healthcare services
• Receiving wages or paying salaries
• Filing taxes and interacting with government offices
• Registering a vehicle or property
• Setting up utilities like electricity or internet

Without it, many everyday processes in Iceland are either impossible or extremely inconvenient.

4. How to Obtain a Kennitala

For Icelandic Citizens
It is assigned automatically at birth and recorded by Þjóðskrá Íslands (Registers Iceland).

For Foreign Residents
If you stay for more than six months, you can apply for a kennitala through Registers Iceland. If your stay is shorter than six months, you may be issued a temporary kennitala.

For Companies
A kennitala is assigned upon official registration in the Icelandic business registry (Fyrirtækjaskrá). The date part is based on the registration date, with the day value increased by 40.

5. Validating a Kennitala

The modulus-11 calculation is used to ensure the number is valid:

C0 = (3×D1 + 2×D2 + 7×M1 + 6×M2 + 5×Y1 + 4×Y2 + 3×R1 + 2×R2) mod 11
Check digit = (C0 == 0) ? 0 : 11 – C0

If the calculated check digit doesn’t match the 9th digit of the kennitala, the number is invalid. This prevents typing errors and fraud.

6. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Confusing Temporary and Permanent Numbers – Remember that temporary kennitalas often start with 8 or 9.
• Misreading Company Dates – Subtract 40 from the day to find the actual registration date.
• Ignoring the Check Digit – Always validate before accepting a kennitala in official processes.

7. Tips for Businesses

• Always store the kennitala as text, not a pure number, to preserve leading zeros.
• Validate numbers during user registration to avoid later administrative problems.
• For B2B interactions, confirm company kennitalas via the Fyrirtækjaskrá online search.

8. Conclusion

The kennitala is a cornerstone of Iceland’s identification system. It helps link every person or business to their official records, making administration smooth and secure. Whether you’re a resident, a business owner, or just staying temporarily, understanding how the kennitala works — and how to recognize its different types — will save you time, reduce errors, and help you navigate Iceland’s systems more effectively.