Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Iceland, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. Persons violating Icelandic laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Iceland are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. In Iceland, driving under the influence of alcohol could land you immediately in jail. If you break local laws in Iceland your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Importation Of Whale Meat To The United States: All persons are barred from importing whale meat to the United States. Even though whale meat is sold throughout Iceland, the Marine Mammal Protection Act makes it illegal to bring back whale meat into the United States. Any importation of whale meat to the United States will result in the seizure of the goods and possible criminal prosecution. Penalties include jail time and fines of up to 10,000 USD.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: 

If you plan on traveling extensively outside of the city, you are strongly urged to carry a working cell phone. Remote areas of Iceland are sparsely populated and if you become lost or have car trouble, you may not encounter anyone for quite some time. Check with your mobile provider before you leave the United States to confirm your phone will work in Iceland. It is possible to purchase an inexpensive mobile phone and prepaid minutes in the airport upon arrival if necessary.

Be extremely careful if you are going to Iceland's numerous natural attractions, which include glaciers, volcanic craters, lava fields, ice caves, hot springs, boiling mud pots, geysers, waterfalls, and glacial rivers. Each year, between 600-700 people, most of them tourists, need to be rescued from the Icelandic countryside because they have underestimated Iceland’s volatile weather and terrain. The weather in Iceland can change extremely quickly and can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening problems for tourists who have not adequately prepared themselves.

If you plan on taking advantage of Iceland's hiking trails and unparalleled natural beauty, do your homework first. The Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue (ICE-SAR) operates an English language website which includes free, helpful information on how to safely enjoy Iceland's outdoor wonders. They also offer a free app, called 112 Iceland, which you can download on your smart phone to help you alert emergency services if you become lost or need assistance.

Additionally, the Icelandic meteorological office operates a comprehensive English language website which provides up-to-date weather information and road conditions for all regions of the country.

The Icelandic Road Administration has an English language website designed to assist travelers in Iceland. This website is updated in real time and clearly shows the status of most roads in the country in a color-coded, easy to read fashion.

Regardless of the time of year you are visiting Iceland, you should be aware that weather conditions can change extremely quickly. We urge you to consult these websites before venturing out on your Icelandic holiday.

If you plan to rent a car in Iceland, make sure you are clear on where you can and cannot drive the car. Tourists are often charged hefty fees by rental car companies when they return cars with ash or gravel damage caused by unauthorized off-road driving. Additionally, the search and rescue squads routinely need to extract tourists’ rental cars from rivers and off-road areas. Not only are such activities extremely dangerous, the fees incurred to pay for the damaged rental car can be exorbitant.

Hikers and backpackers should stay on marked trails, travel with another person, notify a third party about their travel plans, and check weather reports before visiting such areas. Be sure to leave a travel itinerary with family, friends, or local guides/officials if you are planning to trek through remote parts of the country. The Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue (ICE-SAR) provides a service through their website where you can leave your hiking route and phone number – at the end of your trip, if you do not check in with them, they will take steps to start searching for you. This service is provided free of charge.

Iceland is home to active volcanoes and was a focal point in international news following eruptions in Eyjafjallajokull and Grimsvotn. In August 2014, the Holuhraun volcano began erupting, and as of December 2014, the eruption still continues with a lava flow the size of Manhattan. While air tour operators offer flights over the eruption area, overland travel to the site is strictly prohibited. All roads leading to the area are clearly marked as closed and violators face stiff penalties. You can find updates on volcanic activity in Iceland though the Icelandic Office of Civil Defense.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBT events in Iceland. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Iceland, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Iceland, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States. Icelandic law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities and requires that public accommodations and government buildings, including elevators, be accessible to individuals with disabilities. All government buildings in Iceland are wheelchair accessible, as are most museums, malls, and large shopping centers in the capital area. The public bus system and taxis both provide transportation services for individuals with disabilities.

Many stores in the old downtown area in Reykjavik, such as around the popular shopping street of Laugavegur, however, are not wheelchair accessible. Many sidewalks in downtown Reykjavik lack curb ramps and the streets in the area are steep. Smaller hotels and hotels outside the major cities are not all accessible to individuals with disabilities. There are very few paths or marked trails at natural attractions found outside of urban areas.