Iceland - Customs
General Process:
For full details of the Customs clearance process, including links to all forms that need to be completed in order to clear into and out of the country, see the main Clearance section.
Customs clear in vessels 24 hrs. At the moment Customs does not charge Customs fees and lighthouse fees for smaller sailing boats and yachts. This is up for review and might change in the future.
Length of Stay:
A foreign private sail boat / yacht that is visiting Iceland for reacreational purposes is currently permitted (in most cases) to stay in Iceland for up to 1 year without having to be imported. Customs advise that this is up for review and might change in the near future.
If the private foreign vessel is staying in the country for more than 1 year, then it will need to be Customs cleared and imported into the country by paying the import tax etc.
Leaving your Yacht in Iceland:
If the owner or crew leaves their vessel in Iceland unattended for a period of time, Customs might require that the vessel is imported and subsequently would lead to import duties having to be paid. The period of that time is a bit uncertain at the moment and is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Customs Rules:
Duty-free allowances are one litre of spirits, one litre of wine and 200 cigarettes. Alternatively, the alcohol allowance can be one litre of spirits and six litres beer or one litre wine and six litres of beer or two litres of wine. The minimum age for these allowances is 20 years.
The sale of alcohol in Iceland is strictly controlled.
If you are carrying cash of more than € 10,000 or the equivalent in other currencies, travellers´ cheques or bearer negotiable instruments, when departing or arriving in Iceland, you are obliged to declare it to the customs in Iceland at the point of departure or arrival.
Restricted Items:
- Firearms must be declared on arrival and remain under seal while in Iceland, or, a permit obtained from Police Authorities.
- Uncooked meat and eggs brought from abroad may be prohibited.
- Narcotics and dangerous drugs are prohibited.
Department of Customs Enforcement
Open 24/7 all year round
Phone: +354 442 1754
E-mail: skipavakt@skatturinn.is.
Web: www.skatturinn.is
Last updated: November 2023
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Clearance update August 2024:
Some 30nm from the coast the coastguard called us and requested us to email with the following info to sar@lhg.is :
INFORMATION ON VESSEL:
VESSEL NAME
CALLSIGN
FLAG
POB
LAST PORT OF CALL
NEXT PORT OF CALL
ETA (DATE AND TIME)
INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE ON BOARD THE VESSEL:
FULL NAME
GENDER
DATE OF BIRTH
NATIONALITY
PASSPORT ID
When we arrived in Reykjavik, immigration and customs officers visited. We willed out the relevant customs forms there.
COVID 19
Iceland is open for UK/EU pleasure crafts. As for now there is a 14 days quarantine that begins when you left the last port before reaching Iceland, and includes the time being at sea.
No later than June 15th there will be testing (or quarantine) for all incoming visitors and nationals, made by the Landspitali teams, in Reykjavik area. Tests will be free until end of June, after this the cost will be 50 000 ISK per test. Results are expected within 24h.
It is also important to note the exact definition of quarantine in Iceland : it only means you cannot meet other people (than the ones you are living in with) and so you can take your boat and sail, walk ashore, and so on, as long as you do not meet other people, especially inside buildings.
https://www.landlaeknir.is/servlet/file/store93/item40946/KSJ%20Instructions%20for%20the%20general%20public%20on%20home-based%20quarantine%2004.04.2020.pdf
Great information, thanks so much.