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Many people dream about it, but only a few realise it and take the risk. Building a new life in a dream destination! Mrs and Mr Felix are among the brave ones and have emigrated to Iceland. The couple has already become well known from the SRF programme ‘Auf und davon’ and we are pleased that expatpartners ag, Doris Niedermann, is able to support them with insurance issues (IPMI)!
Report from Isabelle and Steff Felix
Welcome to Iceland was the motto for us when we arrived by ferry in the harbour in Seydisfjördur in May 2022 with the plan to make a new home in Iceland.
How did it come about
We had visited Iceland for the first time as part of a package holiday. The country in the far north fascinated us so much that we returned there again and again. We simply felt at home and somehow the island cast a spell over us. It was like a virus that caught us.
At that time, however, there were no plans to emigrate. We had secure jobs in Switzerland, a regular income and were very happy with that. The process came gradually, so to speak. The desire for a change, the desire to try something completely new again became stronger and stronger and then came Corona. Steff worked in the event industry and this situation was not easy during Corona. This accelerated the desire for a change and fuelled the decision. This is how we realised our dream of building a lodge in Iceland and gaining a foothold in tourism.
The challenges
We didn't embark on this adventure headlong, but planned our emigration at least two years in advance. Firstly, we decided which part/region we wanted to settle in. Then we had to find a suitable property and familiarise ourselves intensively with the local laws and regulations. You have to think carefully about how you want to set up your new business. We made a conscious decision not to set up in the Reykjavík region. We were looking for seclusion with lots of space and nature. In our new home, Hús-Brekkugerdishús, we have found exactly that. A plot of land (416 hectares including 100 hectares of forest) with two existing properties. The main house is our new home, with 3 flats and the utility room in the outbuilding. This was perfect for us.
The vendor did not sell us the property, but a company, and he hired a lawyer to transfer the company. This was a stroke of luck for us, as we received serious and competent support from all the authorities right up to the purchase of the car.
Thanks to the existing licence for the property, we were able to start renting very quickly after our arrival. However, as the income would not be enough for the two of us, we realised that we would have to extend the lodge. We had already started planning three new Tiny Houses in Switzerland, which were prefabricated in Switzerland and then transported to Iceland in elements in three shipping containers. However, we had to obtain a building permit from the local authorities in advance and also have the entire construction project checked by an Icelandic architect for compliance with the legal requirements and then approved. The whole process went well for us, so we were able to start the construction project promptly. We did all the preliminary work ourselves, such as laying the foundations and pipes, until the builders arrived and erected the tiny houses for us in three weeks. After that, the entire interior work was also carried out in-house, so that we were able to start renting out the Tiny Houses in spring 2023.
Health and insurance
In Iceland, you are automatically covered by health insurance if you have worked in the country for 6 months. The healthcare system is standardised by the state and everyone is generally insured. We opted for international health insurance to bridge the first 6 months and to have all-round cover afterwards so that we are also covered in the event of a more serious illness and also have the option of being treated in Switzerland.
Conclusion
Even if the realisation has not always gone according to plan, be it formal problems or misunderstandings due to a lack of language skills or ignorance, our project is on track and we are very grateful to be able to live our dream here.
We look forward to your visit to the Hengifosslodge. https://www.hengifosslodge.is/