Regional restrictions of the use of drones
Due to increased demand, disturbances, and incidents arising from the use of unmanned aerial vehicles/drones in protected areas where their use is prohibited or subject to a permit from the Nature Conservation Agency of Iceland, the Agency hereby announces a change in administrative procedure for processing applications for unmanned aerial vehicles/drones within protected areas, entering into force on May 17 2026.
To safeguard wildlife, visitor experience, and the sense of tranquility within the protected areas listed below, where drone flights are prohibited, the Nature Conservation Agency of Iceland will henceforth issue permits only for commercial use in connection with research, monitoring, supervision, construction, film-making projects (including film production, advertising, television programs, and news reporting), professional photography and events subject a permit from the Agency. Applications for such permits shall be submitted via the service portal. The Agency does not issue permits for drone use for any other purposes.
If an area is not listed below, permit requirements are determined by the rules applicable to that specific area. Information on drone-flight regulations for individual protected areas can be found on the website of the Nature Conservation Agency of Iceland.
- Akurey
- Drangar
- Dyrhólaey
- Geysir
- Gjáin í Þjórsárdal
- Goðafoss
- Gullfoss
- Háifoss og Granni í Þjórsárdal
- Hjálparfoss í Þjórsárdal
- Látrabjarg
- Verndarsvæði Mývatns og Laxár
- Skógafoss
- Skútustaðagígar
- Stórurð
- Ströndin við Stapa og Hellnar
For the protection of wildlife, the Nature Conservation Agency of Iceland issues permit in the areas listed below, and solely for for commercial use in connection with research, monitoring, supervision, construction, film-making projects (including film production, advertising, television programs, and news reporting), professional photography and events subject a permit from the Agency, for the period 1 May to 15 September. Applications for such permits shall be submitted via the service portal. The Agency does not issue permits for drone use for any other purposes. Outside this period, applications for permits can be submitted via the service portal.
- Blikastaðarkró-Leiruvogur
- Dimmuborgir
- Dynjandi
- Flatey
- Grótta
- Hornstrandir
- Hólmanes
- Ingólfshöfði
- Lundey
- Snæfellsjökulsþjóðgarður
- Þjórsárver
Due to wildlife protection, wilderness tranquility, and visitor experience, the Nature Conservation Agency of Iceland issues permits for the use of drones during the period from 15 June to 15 September, solely for commercial use in connection with research, monitoring, supervision, construction, film-making projects (including film production, advertising, television programs, and news reporting), professional photography and events subject a permit from the Agency. Applications for such permits shall be submitted via the service portal. The Agency does not issue permits for drone use for any other purposes.
· Friðland að Fjallabaki
Rules for Drone Use in Vatnajökull National Park
Within Vatnajökull National Park, both general and regional rules apply to the recreational use of drones.