pescaday
DEMy area

Fishing licence worldwide

Fishing licence in Iceland: what anglers need

In the sea you may fish for your own use with a rod or hand line without a permit. On rivers and lakes the fishing right belongs to the landowner, you need their permission, and used fishing gear from abroad must be disinfected.

Checked on 13.10.2026 against official sources. Not legal advice.

Sea
free
Freshwater
licence

Do you need a licence for sea fishing in Iceland?

Anyone may fish in the sea for their own use with a rod or hand line without an automatic jigging machine, with no permit. Landowners' rights on the coast still apply. Only tourism operators using boats for angling need a permit from the Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskistofa).

Source: island.is, Recreational fishing permit (Fiskistofa), ohne Seitendatum, abgerufen 13.10.202

Do you need a licence for freshwater fishing in Iceland?

The fishing right in rivers and lakes belongs to the land along the shore, on state land (þjóðlendur) to the state. You need permission or a card from the rights holder.

Source: Althingi, Gesetz 61/2006 über Lachs- und Forellenfischerei, Art. 5 (Wortlaut im Gesetzentw

How much is a fishing licence in Iceland?

There is no state fishing licence and no state fee for anglers. Rights holders set the card prices. Example state-run Þingvellir National Park: day permit for one rod ISK 2,500.

Source: island.is, Recreational fishing permit

Where do you buy a fishing licence for Iceland?

There is no state sales page for anglers. Cards are sold by each rights holder. Þingvellir sells them online via the national park website and at the Leirar Service Centre.

Source: Þingvellir-Nationalpark, Angling, abgerufen 13.10.2026

What about children, teens and seniors?

Without a state licence there is no state age limit. In Þingvellir children fish for free with an adult who holds a valid permit.

Source: Þingvellir-Nationalpark, Angling, abgerufen 13.10.2026

What applies to visitors from abroad?

Used fishing gear from abroad (rods, reels, hooks, lures, waders) may only be used in rivers and lakes after disinfection. Best done before arrival by a vet with a certificate, otherwise at Keflavík Airport or by vets, angling clubs and water owners in Iceland. New unused gear and gear used in Greenland are exempt.

Source: Matvælastofnun (MAST), Import of used fishing equipment, aktualisiert 23.06.2026, abgerufe

Which catch and take-home rules apply?

Fish from free sea angling may not be sold or used commercially. Salmon may not be caught at sea, if one bites, release it at once. On tourism angling boats without a catch quota a daily limit applies by passenger number, with up to 19 passengers at most 7 rods and 49 fish.

Source: island.is, Recreational fishing permit (Fiskistofa)

What else should you know?

Approved disinfectants are Virkon S (1 %) and alcohol at 70 to 85 %. Each water sets its own season, bait rules and catch log, e.g. Þingvellir: season 20 April to 15 September, fly only until 31 May, every catch goes into the electronic logbook.

Source: MAST, Import of used fishing equipment, aktualisiert 23.06.2026

Not confirmed yet

The current version of Act 61/2006 on althingi.is could not be loaded (protection page), Art. 5 is taken from the 2006 bill. An amendment by Act 85/2026 takes effect on 1 January 2027, content not checked. Þingvellir price has no year.

Do you know more or have an official source? Let us know.

Next steps

Other countries

Sources (4)

Not legal advice. Rules and prices change; the linked authority and the local water permit are what count. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

Know more?

Additions, photos of your catches or a mistake in the text: write to us and we will gladly credit you as a helper.

Send a tip