Drone Laws in Iceland

Iceland Drone Regulations

According to Iceland’s national aviation authority, the Icelandic Transport Authority (ITA), flying a drone is legal in Iceland, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

If you’d like to contact the ITA directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: icetra@icetra.is / +354 480 6000

Why fly a drone in Iceland? To get aerial shots of amazing spots like this!

General Rules for Flying a Drone Within the European Union

Iceland has adopted the European Union drone laws and therefore must abide by the drone regulations put in place by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In addition to these regulations, Iceland also has regulations that are country-specific.

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone within the European Union.

There are three operational categories that determine drone regulations based on the weight of the drone and the intended operation. This section will only cover the Open Category, to see all European Union laws and categories, click here.

A drone can be operated in the “Open “category if:

• The drone has one of the class identification labels 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.
• The drone was purchased before 1 January 2023, with no class identification label as above.
• The drone has a maximum take-off mass of less than 25 kg (55 lbs).
• The remote pilot keeps the drone at a safe distance away from people.
• The drone will not be operated directly over people unless it has a class identification label or is lighter than 250 g (0.55 lbs). (Please refer to subcategories of operations: A1, A2, and A3 to find out where you can fly with your drone).
• The remote pilot will maintain a visual line of sight (VLOS) or the remote pilot will be assisted by a UA observer.
• The remote pilot will not operate the drone above 120m (400ft).
• The drone will not carry any dangerous goods and will not drop any material.

General Rules for Flying a Drone in Iceland (For Leisure)

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Iceland for leisure.

• All drones must be marked with the pilots’ name, address, & phone number.
• When flying in urban areas the drone must weigh 3 kilograms (6.61 pounds) or less.
• When flying in rural areas the drone must weigh 25 kilograms (55 pounds) or less.
• Drones weighing 20 kilograms (44 pounds) or more must be insured.
• Do not fly over 120 meters (394 feet) above the ground or sea.
• Do not fly over crowds or people.
• Do not fly within 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) of any international airports.
• Do not fly within 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) of any other airports.
• In urban areas, do not fly within 50 meters (164 feet) of any building. In rural areas, do not fly within 150 meters (492 feet) of any building.
• Do not fly within 150 meters (492 feet) from a public building.
• Drone pilots must maintain a direct visual line of sight with their drone while flying.
• Drone pilots are responsible for checking local drone regulations and local privacy regulations.
• Drone flights cannot interfere with air traffic.
• Drones cannot fly over vehicle or ship traffic.
• Drone pilots are responsible for any damages caused by their drone during flight.

General Rules for Flying a Drone in Iceland (Commercial Use)

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Iceland for commercial use.

• All drones must be registered with the ITA, and have an ID attached to them.
• When flying in urban areas the drone must weigh 7 kilograms (15.5 pounds) or less.
• When flying in rural areas the drone must weigh 25 kilograms (55 pounds) or less.
• Drones weighing 20 kilograms (44 pounds) or more must be insured.
• Do not fly over 120 meters (394 feet) above the ground or sea.
• Do not fly over crowds or people.
• Do not fly within 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) of any international airports.
• Do not fly within 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) of any other airports.
• In urban areas, do not fly within 50 meters (164 feet) of any building. In rural areas, do not fly within 150 meters (492 feet) of any building.
• Do not fly within 150 meters (492 feet) from a public building.
• Drone pilots must maintain a direct visual line of sight with their drone while flying.
• Drone pilots are responsible for checking local drone regulations and local privacy regulations.
• Drone flights cannot interfere with air traffic.
• Drones cannot fly over vehicle or ship traffic.
• Drone pilots are responsible for any damages caused by their drone during flight.

For more information on Iceland’s drone laws, see this page on the ITA’s website.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in Iceland? Send us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in Iceland can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Iceland? Here you go: