Can you fly your drone in Iceland?

Two separate things are easily confused here. Registration as a drone operator is required as soon as your drone weighs 250 g or more, or has a camera or sensor able to capture personal data — so it covers many sub-250 g drones too, unless they qualify for the toy exemption. The A1/A3 certificate of competency competency certificate is something else: you need it once your drone weighs 250 g or more, or carries a C1 or higher class mark. A camera drone under 250 g therefore needs registration, but no exam. You get the certificate by passing an online theory test with Samgöngustofa (ICETRA), and it is then valid across the whole EASA area, not just here.

Yes — EU drone rules apply to visitors too. If you are already registered as a drone operator in another EASA country, that registration and your A1/A3 certificate (also A2) are valid in Iceland as well. Coming from outside the EASA area, you register once — in the first EASA country where you plan to fly, here with Samgöngustofa (ICETRA). Since 17 May 2026 Iceland's Nature Conservation Agency refuses recreational drone permits in more than 25 protected areas, including Gullfoss, Geysir, Skógafoss, Dyrhólaey and Snæfellsjökull National Park; Þingvellir issues none. The decision is under appeal — check the current status before travelling.

The short version: Maximum flight altitude 120 m above ground level (EASA Open category). On top of that: Register as a UAS operator (ISK 5,863 / 5 years) if your drone weighs 250 g or more or has a camera. Also: The A1/A3 online course is mandatory — minimum age 16. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Iceland, so always check the official sources.

The no-go areas are the restricted zones — typically around airports, prisons, military sites and protected nature. In Iceland you can see every zone on the interactive map on this page, and in the DroneKoll app wherever you are standing.

Drone flying in Iceland is regulated by Samgöngustofa (ICETRA). The airspace itself is managed by Isavia. You will find both organisations' official pages under Sources below — those are the links worth bookmarking.