Can you fly a drone to film or photograph in Iceland?

The open category is for low-risk flights with drones under 25 kg, kept within line of sight and up to 120 m high.

Sources: Island.is: drone rules (Icelandic)

Under the EU rules Iceland applies, you register for drones of 250 g or more, and for lighter drones only if they carry a camera or sensor and are not toys.

Sources: EASA: open category drones

The open category covers hobby flying and low-risk commercial work with no authorisation needed. Medium-risk flights outside the open category need a permit based on a risk assessment.

Sources: EASA: open category drones · Island.is: drone rules (Icelandic)

Remote pilots must prove their competence. The A1/A3 online test is free, and the A2 exam is taken at Samgöngustofa or an approved provider for ISK 7,462.

Sources: Island.is: drone rules (Icelandic)

Without the owner's permission, drones may not fly within 150 m of sensitive sites such as power plants, Parliament, the President's residence, ministries, embassies, police stations, prisons and hospitals. Flying at airports, inside airport areas, or in the restricted zones around airports with scheduled flights needs the airport operator's permission.

Sources: Island.is: drone rules (Icelandic)

Visitors from countries outside Europe can register as drone operators at flydrone.is, and the registration lasts five years.

Íslenskir rekstraraðilar og ferðamenn frá löndum utan Evrópu geta skráð sig á flydrone.is. Skráningin gildir í fimm ár.

Sources: Island.is: drone rules (Icelandic)

Checked against the official source on October 8, 2026.

C0 drones under 250 g, and older drones without a class mark that are lighter than 250 g, can fly in subcategory A1.

C0 : Drónar undir 250 grömm, heimilt í A1 og A3 flokki. … A1 ef dróninn er léttari en 250 grömm.

Sources: Island.is: drone rules (Icelandic)

Checked against the official source on October 8, 2026.