Iceland: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic
Stay alert
Overall verdict for Iceland: Stay alert. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.
Iceland: read the 3 riskiest rules free →
🎁 Free, no account: Drugs, Animals, Driving
The 23 topics at a glance
Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed
How Iceland compares
With 4 of 23 topics flagged red, Iceland is stricter than 33 of the 34 other countries in Europe (regional average: 2.2). Worldwide, Iceland ranks #75 of 148 for strictness (tied with 10 other countries).
What sets it apart
- Animals: flagged red here, while only 4 of 148 countries are this strict.
- Jail risk: relaxed here, while 127 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.
- Remote work: relaxed here, while 121 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.
What to watch most in Iceland
- Feeding wildlife — pigeons, monkeys, deer, dingoes — is an offence in a growing number of places, sometimes with four-figure fines.
- Getting close for a photo: national parks set legal minimum distances, and rangers enforce them.
- Buying souvenirs made from ivory, coral, turtle shell, reptile skin or shark: seized at customs, and prosecuted under CITES.
- An International Driving Permit is required or strongly recommended in most non-European countries — get it before leaving, it cannot be issued abroad.
- A few countries do not recognise foreign licences at all and require a local one.
- Rental insurance excesses are often huge; check what a scratch actually costs you.
- Pocket knives, multi-tools and even a corkscrew can be classified as a weapon depending on blade length and lock type.
- Pepper spray and personal alarms are banned or restricted in a surprising number of countries.
- Tasers and knuckledusters are prohibited essentially everywhere.
Iceland at a glance
CapitalReykjavík
CurrencyIcelandic Króna (ISK)
LanguageIcelandic
Emergency number112
Driving sideRight
Mains voltage230 V
Calling code+354
Time zoneUTC+00:00
Plug typesC · F
Land bordersNone (island or enclave)
Frequently asked questions
Is Iceland strict with tourists?
Overall verdict: Stay alert. 4 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Drugs, Animals, Driving, Weapons), 5 require caution.
What can get me fined or arrested in Iceland?
The strictest topics for travellers in Iceland are: Drugs, Animals, Driving, Weapons. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.
Where do I find the exact rules for Iceland?
In LawsTravels: open Iceland, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.
What is the emergency number in Iceland?
In Iceland, dial 112. Capital: Reykjavík. Currency: Icelandic Króna (ISK). Main language: Icelandic.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Iceland?
In Iceland, traffic drives on the right. Mains voltage: 230 V. Calling code: +354. Time zone: UTC+00:00. Plug types: C · F.
Countries with the closest profile
Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.
LawsTravels