Iceland travel advice

Risk level

Safety and security

Crime

Petty crime

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs.

Ensure that your belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times.

Violent crime

Although rare, violent crime has occurred in downtown Reykjavik, particularly inside and near nightlife venues including bars and clubs. Incidents include:

• gang violence
• knife attacks

Tourists are usually not targeted. However, you could be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations may occur. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Terrorism

There is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorists have carried out attacks in several European cities. Terrorist attacks could occur at any time.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places. Be particularly vigilant if attending sporting events and during religious holidays and other public celebrations, as terrorists have used such occasions to mount attacks.

Swimming and water hazards

Coastal waters can be dangerous. Riptides, large waves, and strong ocean currents can catch even experienced swimmers off guard. Large surges of water or “sneaker waves” have killed people at the Reynisfjara and Kikjufjara black sand beaches in southern Iceland, including one in June 2022. 

Inland waters may also be dangerous. Many of Iceland’s rivers have swift currents and waterfalls. Hot springs can be dangerously hot.

• Always check downstream before you swim in a river
• Always check the water before going into a natural hot spring

Adventure tourism and natural hazards 

The weather conditions, rough terrain, and volcanic activity in Iceland can lead to safety concerns if you don’t adequately prepare for your trip.

Trails and natural hazards are not always well-marked or signed. Certain routes cross glaciers that are dangerous to navigate without proper equipment and training. Volcanic and geologically active areas pose a distinct risk to hikers and trekkers. Hazards can be hidden within the landscape.

If you plan on trekking, biking, visiting natural tourist attractions or travelling to remote areas:

• never go alone and stay with companions
• buy travel insurance that includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation
• ensure that your physical condition is good enough to meet the challenges of your activity
• make sure that you’re well-equipped and informed about weather and any hazardous conditions
• inform a family member or friend of your itinerary
• register your itinerary and contact details with the Icelandic authorities and book accommodations, or camp, in authorized campsites
• carry a cell phone, emergency contact information, and bring an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) to remote areas

Useful links

• Advice, alerts, and registration of itinerary – Safe Travel Iceland
• 112 Iceland app – Government of Iceland

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety can vary throughout the country. Most urban roads, as well as Iceland’s national Route 1, the “ring road,” are paved. Many inland roads are unpaved, narrow and lack shoulders.

Most bridges outside of Reykjavik are one-lane. Slow down when approaching bridges to ensure there is no traffic approaching from the other side. If cars are approaching from both sides, the closest car to the bridge has the right of way.

Roads in the highlands and other remote areas are only open during the summer.

Driving can be hazardous, particularly in winter. Wildlife road accidents can occur. Be particularly vigilant if driving at nighttime.

If you plan to drive in a remote area, including the highlands:

• check road conditions
• use a four-wheel-drive vehicle
• share your travel itinerary with a third party
• bring a cell phone and sufficient supplies of fuel , water and food

Useful links

• Information on road and weather conditions - Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration
• Road and Travel Conditions - Safe Travel Iceland
• Important tips for driving in Iceland - Safe Travel Iceland

Public transportation

Buses

Municipal bus services are generally not available outside Reykjavik and the surrounding towns. Bus shuttle services from the international airport to the capital region are available. Long-distance buses also operate throughout the country.

Trains

There is no rail service.

Ferries

Ferries connect the main island to certain remote islands.

Taxis

Taxis are available in main cities and populated areas.

Air travel

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Entry and exit requirements

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Icelandic authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

Schengen area

Iceland is a Schengen area country. Canadian citizens do not need a visa for travel to countries within the Schengen area. However, visa-free travel only applies to stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Stays are cumulative and include visits to any Schengen area country.

If you plan to stay in the Schengen area for a longer period of time, you will need a visa. You must contact the high commission or embassy of the country or countries you are travelling to and obtain the appropriate visa(s) prior to travel.

Useful links

• Schengen area
• Foreign Representatives in Canada

Passport

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules. 

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you expect to leave the Schengen area.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Visas

Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Business visa: not required.
Student visa: required
Student visa: required
Work visa: required

Certain workers in Iceland for short-term projects or contracts are exempt from work permit requirements for up to 90 days. This exemption does not apply to travel guides or tour operators. You should contact the Icelandic Directorate of Labour to confirm if you are eligible for exemption.

Useful links

• Visas and residence permits - Icelandic Directorate of Immigration
• Exemptions of work permit requirement for short-term projects - Icelandic Directorate of Labour

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children.

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section). 

Health

Routine vaccines

Make sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date before you travel, no matter where you’re going.

These may include vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, varicella (chickenpox), meningococcal disease, seasonal flu, and others.

Provincial and Territorial Immunization Information

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

When travelling in this destination, you might be at risk for diseases that can be prevented with vaccines or medications. Talk to a travel health care provider about which ones are right for you based on your travel plans.

The highlights below will also tell you if your destination may require that vaccine for entering or exiting.

Safe food and water precautions

Eating or drinking unsafe food or water, or swimming in contaminated water can make you sick while travelling. Take precautions by following these tips:

• Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it (only eat food that is prepared safely)
• Avoid, if possible, getting water in your eyes, mouth, or nose when swimming in freshwater (like streams, lakes, or canals), especially after heavy rain or flooding - the water might look clean but can still be contaminated 
• Don’t swallow water when bathing, showering, swimming in pools, or using hot tubs 

Eat and drink safely abroad

Tick and insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by bites from infected ticks and insects like mosquitoes, fleas, or flies. Before you travel, find out what types of ticks or insects are in the area, when they’re most active, and what diseases they can spread.

To protect yourself from bites:

• use an approved bug spray (insect repellent) on exposed skin
• wear light-coloured, loose clothing made of tightly woven materials like nylon or polyester
• wear socks and closed-toe shoes
• sleep under mosquito netting if you’re outdoors or staying in places that aren’t fully enclosed
• do a full body tick check on yourself, your children, your gear, and any pets you’re travelling with when you return from outdoor activities

Insect bite and pest prevention
Personal insect repellents

Animal precautions

Some infections, like rabies and bird flu (avian influenza), can be spread from animals to humans. Certain activities can increase your chances of coming into contact with animals, like:

• travelling in rural or forested areas
• camping, hiking, or visiting caves
• visiting places where live animals are sold or killed for food, like wet markets

To reduce your risk of getting sick, avoid contact with animals like stray dogs, livestock (such as pigs and cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats. Avoid eating undercooked meat.

Make sure to closely watch children; they are more likely to try to touch animals.

Person-to-person infections

When travelling, you can reduce your risk of getting or spreading respiratory infections, like the flu or COVID-19, by:

• staying at your accommodation and limiting contact with others if you’re sick
• wearing a well-fitting mask, especially: 
  
  • if you’re sick and need to be around others 
  • when you’re at large indoor events or in crowded settings, like sporting events, concerts, and airports
• cleaning your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
• covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, not your hands

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)
Clean your hands to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases
Respiratory infectious diseases: How to reduce the spread with personal protective measures

To lower your risk of getting sexually transmissible infections (STIs), HIV, and mpox, you can:

• get vaccinated against mpox if you’re eligible
• practise safer sex methods
  • use barrier protection during sexual activity, like condoms and dental dams.

Mpox vaccines
Sexual health and travel
HIV and AIDS: Travel health advice

Medical services and facilities

Health care is excellent, but services can be limited outside of urban areas. Most doctors and medical staff will speak some English. Upfront payment may be required.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Health and safety outside Canada

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a travel health kit, especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

Laws and culture

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad.

Transfer to a Canadian prison

Canada and Iceland are signatories to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This enables a Canadian imprisoned in Iceland to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Iceland authorities.

This process can take a long time, and there is no guarantee that the transfer will be approved by either or both sides.

Drugs

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences or heavy fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Identification

Local authorities may ask for your identification at any time. Keep a photocopy of your passport in case of loss or seizure. Keep your original passport in a safe, dry place.

Drones

The recreational and commercial flying of drones is strictly regulated.

You must have permission from the Environment Agency of Iceland to use a drone in several protected areas. If you don’t comply, you may be fined and have your drone confiscated.

Camping

It’s illegal to camp outside organized campsites or urban areas unless the landowner has explicitly granted permission.

By law, human waste must be properly disposed of when camping in Iceland. This includes travellers using camper vans or cars to visit remote areas. All human waste must be stored and disposed of at designated sites.

Natural artefacts

It’s illegal to remove and export fossils and certain types of rocks from their natural setting without a permit issued by the Icelandic Institute of Natural History.

Useful links

• Travel information - Environment Agency of Iceland
• Nature conservation - Environment Agency of Iceland

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Iceland.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Iceland, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements.

Dual citizens

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and Iceland.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Iceland, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Icelandic court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Iceland to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children's Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

Useful links

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abductions: A guide for affected parents
• Children and travel
• The Hague Convention – Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Request emergency assistance

Driving

You can drive in Iceland with your Canadian driver’s licence for up to 6 months. After that, you must apply for an Icelandic driver’s licence.

You should also carry an international driving permit.

It’s strictly forbidden to drive off-road and track in Iceland.

You must keep headlights on at all times.

Equipment

Winter tires are mandatory between November and April. Exact dates are subject to change based on weather conditions. Tires with studs are commonly used in the winter in Iceland. Most car rental services providers outfit their vehicles with studded tires during the winter months.

Useful links

• Important tips for driving in Iceland - Safe Travel Iceland
• Driving in Iceland - Visit Reykjavik
• International Driving Permit

Money

The currency of Iceland is the Icelandic krona (ISK).

If you are carrying €10,000 or more, or the equivalent in other currencies, you must make a declaration to customs when you enter or leave Iceland.

The sum can be in:

• banknotes and coins
• bearer negotiable instruments such as:
• cheques
• travellers’ cheques
• promissory notes
• money orders

Cash declaration - Iceland Revenue and Customs

Natural disasters and climate

Iceland is subject to various natural disasters such as:

• violent storms
• glacial floods
• volcanic eruptions
• earthquakes and landslides

The climate can be unpredictable regardless of the time of year. Monitor weather reports closely.

Useful links

• Climate information and warnings – Icelandic Meteorological Office
• Travel and Road Conditions – Safe Travel Iceland

Climate change

Climate change is affecting Iceland. Extreme and unusual weather events are becoming more frequent and may affect your travel plans. Monitor local media for the latest information.

Storms

Storms occur regularly in Iceland and are most common during fall and winter months, usually from October to March. These storms bring strong winds, heavy rain or snow, creating hazardous conditions. Travel and driving conditions can be dangerous.

• Monitor local media for the latest updates, including those on road conditions
• Monitor weather reports

Glacial floods

Glaciers cover about 10% of Iceland, making it prone to "jökulhlaup", glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). GLOFs are frequent, unpredictable, and can last from a few hours to a few weeks.

Flooding can hamper overland travel and reduce the provision of essential services. Roads may become impassable, and bridges may be damaged.

• Monitor local news and weather reports
• Follow the instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders

Seismic activity

Volcanoes

There are several active volcanoes in Iceland. The Reykjanes Peninsula in Southwest Iceland, near the town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon, has experienced recurring volcanic eruptions since July 2023. Further eruptions could occur at any time and without warning. Following an eruption, winds can blow clouds of poisonous volcanic gas far from the eruption site. This could bring potentially dangerous pollution levels to areas unaffected by the eruption, including Reykjavik.

Volcanic ash fall may:

• damage vehicles
• disrupt domestic and international flights
• cause road and bridge closure
• deteriorate air quality and affect your breathing, especially if you suffer from respiratory ailments.

Dangerous lava flows can also move slowly over land. The Icelandic authorities limit access near active eruption sites by closing roads and issuing evacuation orders.

If you are in an area affected by volcanic eruptions:

• do not approach an active eruption or walk on recently cooled lava
• avoid areas close to mountains and steep slopes due to danger of falling rocks and landslides
• monitor the local air quality, particularly if you suffer from respiratory ailments
• keep your windows closed and turn off ventilation systems
• avoid low-lying ground and valleys

There are several geysers around the country. Boiling water and steam from geysers can result in severe burns.

During your stay in Iceland:

• always obey safety rules and advice in the vicinity of volcanoes and geysers
• follow the instructions of local authorities, including any evacuation orders
• monitor local media sources for up-to-date information on volcanic activity

Useful links

• Map of Icelandic volcanoes – State Volcano Observatory
• Alerts and warnings – Safe Travel Iceland
• Ambient air quality – Icelandic Environment Agency
• Ongoing volcanic unrest in the Reykjanes-Svartsengi volcanic system – Icelandic Meteorological Office

Earthquakes and landslides

Iceland is located in an active seismic zone. Earthquakes commonly occur, especially around volcanoes before and during eruptions.

Landslides can occur with little warning following volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Roads may become impassable.

• Monitor local media for the latest updates, including those on road conditions
• Stay away from flooded areas
• Monitor weather reports

Earthquakes - What to Do?