Vertical land motion (VLM) of Earth’s surface can aggravate or mitigate ongoing relative sea level change. The near-linear process of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) is normally assumed to govern regional VLM. However, present-day deglaciation of primarily the Greenland Ice Sheet causes a significant non-linear elastic uplift of >1 mm yr −1 in most of the wider Arctic. The elastic VLM exceeds GIA at 14 of 42 Arctic GNSS-sites, including sites in non-glaciated areas in the North Sea region and along the east coast of North America. The combined elastic VLM + GIA model is consistent with measured VLM at three-fourth of the GNSS-sites (R=0.74), which outperforms a GIA-only model (R=0.60). Deviations from GNSS-measured VLM, are interpreted as estimates of local circumstances causing VLM. Future accelerated ice loss on Greenland, will increase the significance of elastic uplift for North America and Northern Europe and become important for coastal sea level projections.