Leikskóli in Akureyri: how to apply and what to expect

Iceland's largest municipality outside the capital area targets 12 months and gives every child a free morning block — fixed hours, not a flexible weekly total.

The facts

Youngest age: 12 months, by 31 August each year (reviewed regularly; may vary by school)
How to register: Online via Akureyri's Þjónustugátt, once your child has a kennitala
When lists open: Deadline 1 February; children assigned to specific units in early June
Typical wait: Not published
Monthly cost: 39,915 kr. attendance for a full 8.5-hour day (51,496 kr. including meals) — the first 6 hours/day are free
Free hours: 08:00–14:00 (6 hours/day) free of the attendance fee, since 1 January 2024, plus income-tiered discounts on the rest
Official page: www.akureyri.is/is/thjonusta/menntun/leikskolar
Last checked: 17 September 2026

How to register

Get a kennitala first

Applications open only once your child has an Icelandic ID number.

Apply via Þjónustugátt by 1 February

This is the deadline for that year's autumn start.

Wait for unit assignment in June

Children are assigned to specific classes/units in early June.

Plan around the fixed free block

The free hours are a set 08:00–14:00 window, not a flexible weekly total — an early drop-off or late pickup is billed separately.

How this compares to other municipalities

Akureyri's free hours are a fixed morning block (08:00–14:00) rather than a flexible weekly total like Hafnarfjörður's or Kópavogur's, so a family needing an earlier drop-off or a later pickup pays for those hours even though they're under the free-hours threshold elsewhere.

Hafnarfjörður →Kópavogur →

Official sources

Vagga is a planning tool, not a government authority. Always confirm details on the official Icelandic sources below.

Akureyri — Leikskólaropen_in_newEnrollment rules and the current fee schedule

Frequently asked questions

What age can my child start preschool in Akureyri?expand_more

12 months, by 31 August each year, though the municipality reviews this regularly and it can vary slightly by school.

How do I apply?expand_more

Online via Akureyri's Þjónustugátt once your child has a kennitala — deadline 1 February for that year's autumn start.

How much does it cost?expand_more

39,915 kr./month attendance for a full 8.5-hour day (51,496 kr. including meals) — the first 6 hours a day, 08:00–14:00, are free.

Are the free hours flexible?expand_more

No — they're a fixed 08:00–14:00 block. Hours outside that window are billed even if you're under 6 hours a day in total.

Plan the whole gap, not just the waitlist

See how your municipality's rules line up with your parental leave and your child's age, in one place.

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