Administrative law lawyers in Iceland

Administrative and constitutional law governs how public authorities must treat the people affected by their decisions: state agencies, ministries and municipalities. It covers permits and licences, benefits, public sector employment, access to government documents and the constitutional rights that limit state power.

The legal framework

• Constitution of the Republic of Iceland No. 33/1944, including its human rights chapter.
• Administrative Procedures Act No. 37/1993 (stjórnsýslulög): the right to be heard, to reasons, to access your case file and to appeal.
• Information Act No. 140/2012 (upplýsingalög): the public's right of access to government documents.
• Local Government Act No. 138/2011 (sveitarstjórnarlög): the powers and duties of municipalities.

Your rights in administrative cases

An authority must investigate a case properly before deciding it, let you comment on information that may count against you, treat similar cases equally and act proportionately. On request, it must explain the reasons for its decision. Breaches of these rules can make a decision invalid.

Ways to challenge a decision

• Administrative appeal to a higher authority or a specialised appeals board. The general deadline is three months, but many laws set shorter ones.
• A complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman (Umboðsmaður Alþingis), free of charge, normally within one year once appeals are exhausted.
• A case before the courts, which can annul an unlawful decision and award damages.

Refusals of access to documents can be appealed to the Information Committee (úrskurðarnefnd um upplýsingamál). More in appealing a government decision in Iceland.

When to contact an administrative lawyer

Contact a lawyer when you receive a decision that seriously affects you, such as the refusal of a permit, licence or benefit, a public sector dismissal or a sanction, especially if the appeal deadline is short. For immigration decisions, see immigration and human rights law.