Moving to Iceland from Timor-Leste

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Timor-Leste to Iceland — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Timor-Leste to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Timor-Leste to Iceland, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2015
1

people born in Timor-Leste live in Iceland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Iceland?

Top countries of origin for Iceland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Timor-Leste and Iceland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

TL
4.1
IS
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TL
12.0
IS
2.4

Iceland performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

TL
$461
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

TL
7.7
IS
45.2

Timor-Leste generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

TL
61.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TL
0.5t
IS
8.5t

Timor-Leste generally does better on environment, though Iceland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TL
0.0
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TL
28.3%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

TL
1.5%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TL
$4,600
IS
$66,500

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Timor-Leste leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TL
69.9 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TL
33.7
IS
1.6

Iceland performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Timor-Leste and Iceland. To live, work, or study long-term in Iceland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iceland's immigration authority.

Timor-Leste passport

Timor-Leste passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Free
Timor-Leste passport holders can enter Iceland without a visa.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Timor-Leste

Visa Free
Iceland passport holders can enter Timor-Leste without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

With 38.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Iceland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Timor-Leste and Iceland.

Is Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.1 in Timor-Leste.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Timor-Leste?

Timor-Leste generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 7.7 in Timor-Leste. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Timor-Leste: 52).

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Timor-Leste, the official languages are Portuguese and Tetum.

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At a Glance

TL IS
Population 1,445,006 357,603
Currency United States Dollar ($) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages Portuguese, Tetum Icelandic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +670 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112