Iceland
Iceland's freedom of panorama is non-commercial only: selling an image whose subject is a copyrighted work can owe the creator a fee.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Site managers and national park authorities for commercial shoots and protected areas; no permit for personal photography
Cost: No permit for personal photography; commercial shoots and protected nature sites need permits
Tourist photography needs no permit. Commercial shoots and some protected nature sites and national parks such as Vatnajokull and Thingvellir require permits.
Drone / airspace
Governed by EU EASA rules administered by the Icelandic Transport Authority; many top sites restrict or ban drones
For the category detail, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes, but publishing identifiable people commercially can require consent under Icelandic privacy and EEA data-protection law
Wide scenes where no one is the subject are lower risk than a commercial portrait.
Freedom of panorama
Limited (non-commercial)
Article 16 of the Copyright Act permits photographing buildings and public outdoor artworks, but if such a work is the main subject and the use is commercial, the creator is entitled to remuneration. News publishers and broadcasters are exempt from that payment.
Practical notes
- Selling a photo where a modern copyrighted sculpture or building is the dominant subject can require paying the creator; plan clearance for commercial work.
- Drones are banned or restricted at many of the most photographed spots, including national parks and near waterfalls; check signage and the Transport Authority.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: