SVS members belong to one of the ten trade unions that make up the Federation of Icelandic Trade and Commerce (LÍV). See the affiliated unions here.

Yes, if you are affiliated with one of the following training funds: SVS, SV, Starfsafl, Landsmennt, Sveitamennt, Ríkismennt, or Sjómennt, which have entered into a mutual agreement.

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Please note that a contribution must have been paid to your new trade union before your membership history can be transferred.

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The transfer process is predefined. Read more here.

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See here which trade unions are covered by the agreement.

For example, university studies, upper secondary school, driving school, or a certified bookkeeper qualification. Read more here.

Up to ISK 180,000 per calendar year, with or without accumulated grant entitlements.

Specific criteria apply to Language studies, courses, and private tutoring - Read more here.

Courses related to your current job for which contributions are paid to the Fund. The course must meet the Fund’s eligibility criteria. Read more here.

Online courses related to your current job, provided you are employed in a position for which contributions are paid to the Fund. This may include a subscription to a website or online learning platform. Read more here.

Personal development courses in Iceland, provided they are not part of a treatment programme. Read more here.

Conference registration fees related to the applicant’s current job, provided contributions are paid to the Fund. Read more here.

Management training and work-related coaching are eligible for funding for up to 12 hours per calendar year. Read more here.

Travel grants are available to help cover travel and accommodation expenses related to work-related studies, conferences, or courses. Read more here. 

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Applications for travel grants must be submitted separately from applications for work-related grants.

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The travel grant covers 50% of eligible travel and accommodation expenses, up to a maximum of ISK 50,000 per calendar year. The amount awarded is deducted from the annual maximum grant entitlement.

Leisure courses in Iceland that meet the Fund’s eligibility criteria are eligible for funding from SVS.

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Leisure grants cover 50% of eligible course costs, up to a maximum of ISK 40,000 per calendar year. The amount awarded is deducted from the annual maximum grant entitlement but does not affect the accumulation of grant entitlements.

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Beginner-level leisure courses in Iceland are eligible for funding. Please note, however, that continued participation in the same activity is not eligible.

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All fitness-related courses and activities, such as yoga, dance, golf, skiing, tennis, running, and similar activities, are considered ongoing participation rather than beginner courses, unless they are specifically designated as beginner-level courses.

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Please note that funding is available only once for a beginner course in the same activity.

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Read more here.

• Living expenses

• Trade fairs and product exhibitions

• On-the-job training

• Medical or therapeutic treatment

• Supervision

• Psychological support

• Consultancy services

• Private tuition (except for language studies)

• Personal development courses abroad

• Leisure courses abroad

• Annual membership fees (e.g. in any type of organization)

• Membership fees for associations and choirs

• Books and study materials

• Courses intended to prepare participants for specific events or competitions

• Optional fees, such as student association fees, locker fees, and parent association fees

• The cost of materials and supplies for studies other than upper secondary education

A member is entitled to 100% benefits from the Fund if their salary is equal to or higher than the starting salary for retail sales staff, as stipulated in the collective agreement between VR and LÍV.

A member with 100% entitlement to the Fund is eligible to receive grants of up to ISK 180,000 per calendar year. Please refer to the Fund's rules for further details.

Grant entitlements are calculated based on the member’s earnings as a proportion of the starting salary for a full-time retail employee over a 12-month period.

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If the member’s total earnings are lower (for example, due to part-time employment), their Education Fund entitlement is calculated proportionately based on their earnings during the same 12-month period.

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When calculating entitlements, the 12-month assessment period ends two months before the application is submitted.

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Eligibility is based on employer contributions having been paid to the Fund during the previous 12 months, together with the corresponding contribution from the trade union.

To be eligible to apply for a grant from the Fund, contributions must have been paid to the Fund for at least three months, including at least one month within the last six months.

Members who have not reached the minimum salary threshold during the previous 12 months are entitled to proportional grant entitlements.

Your grant entitlement is renewed at the beginning of each calendar year. Members who use their full entitlement during 2026 will become eligible again at the start of the following year, provided contributions to the Fund continue to be paid on their behalf.

Members who do not use their grant entitlement during 2026 will continue to have an entitlement of ISK 180,000 in 2027, provided employer contributions and trade union membership contributions continue to be paid.

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Accumulated grant entitlements are established after a total of 36 months of continuous contributions. Read more here.

Members who do not use their grant entitlement for 36 consecutive months become eligible for an accumulated grant of up to ISK 540,000 for one continuous course of study. The accumulated grant can only be applied for once and must be claimed in a single application.

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Please note that contributions to the Fund must have been paid for at least 30 of the 36 months immediately preceding the application date.

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Read more here.

If no contributions are paid to the Fund for six consecutive months, the member’s entitlement to Fund grants will lapse.

If you have proportional grant entitlements, months with no contributions may affect the percentage of your entitlement. In such cases, your entitlement may change from month to month.

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Your entitlement is always calculated based on contributions paid during the previous 12 months.

Members who begin receiving an old-age pension, rehabilitation pension, or disability pension retain their full grant entitlement for 12 months from the date employer contributions to the Fund cease. They remain eligible for the Leisure Grant for 36 months.

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Entitlements are based on the date of the last employer contribution paid to the Fund.

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Please note that continued payment of trade union membership fees from an old-age pension, rehabilitation pension, or disability pension does not extend entitlement to grants from the Fund.

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For further information, see Article 1.2 of the Fund’s Rules.

There is no limit to the number of grant applications you can submit to the Fund.

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You may submit applications until you have used your full grant entitlement.

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Please note that you may only apply once for the same invoice, and the invoice must have been issued no more than 12 months before the date of your application.

A legally compliant invoice issued in the organization's name must be submitted with the application. The invoice must include the name or description of the course or program, as well as the name and registration number (ID) of the education or training provider.

A legally compliant invoice is an invoice issued through an electronic accounting system or from a pre-numbered invoice book.

Read more here. 

Proof of payment for the issued invoice is required, such as a screenshot from your online banking service or a payment receipt.

If payment is made through an instalment agreement, the following documents must be submitted with the application: A copy of the instalment agreement and proof of the first payment from the bank.

Instalment agreements must be made with a financial institution, not directly with the educational institution.

If an invoice has only been partially paid by card or bank transfer (with the remaining balance paid in cash), reimbursement from the fund will only cover the portion paid by card or bank transfer. The amount paid in cash is not eligible for reimbursement.

• An invoice issued in the member's name (for travel and accommodation)

• Proof of payment for the invoice

• Information about the purpose of the trip

• The number of kilometres travelled, if the member is using their own vehicle

The trip must be related to a course of study, a work-related course or conference, or a work-related educational trip organised by the employer. For more information, see here.

No, it does not matter, as long as the studies or course are eligible for funding from the Fund.

For studies, courses, or conferences attended abroad, the application must include a description of the programme and a link to the education provider's or conference organiser's website.

When applying for funding for work-related courses taken abroad, the application must demonstrate how the course is relevant to the applicant's work. This is not required for credit-bearing programmes of study.

If invoices are issued in a language other than Icelandic or English, the application must include the relevant information in either Icelandic or English for the application to be processed by the Fund.