Island

Översikt

Iceland remains a very safe destination and is widely considered one of the safest countries in the world. Various factors contribute to this assessment, including a highly-developed police force, low population, low crime rate and political stability. The most likely disruption that foreign nationals may face is environmental factors, specifically Iceland’s harsh winters and risk of volcanic activity. 

During the winter travel can be severely disrupted with roads often blocked. Measures including snow tyres and chains are required during the winter months to facilitate road travel. Iceland has also experienced significant volcanic eruptions which grounded flights in Iceland and Europe in 2010 and 2011.

According to National Statistical Institute of Iceland (Statice) data reported instances of most crime categories have been on the decrease since the early 2000s, with the exception of sexual offences which has gone up. The overall assessed crime risk remains low. Foreign visitors is expected to be most likely to encounter acquisitive crimes such as pick-pocketing.

Hälsa, sjukdomar och vaccination

No special vaccinations/immunisations are required for travel to Iceland. Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before your trip. The following vaccinations are recommended: measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, polio and influenza.

Tap water is safe to drink in Iceland.

Medical facilities in Iceland are of high quality. However, the distances between facilities can be great and while most towns have a basic hospital, serious cases require an ambulance or air transfer to Reykjavik or Akureyri. Most medical services, including the emergency help, require full payment at the time of service.

Therefore, travellers are strongly advised to obtain a comprehensive travel and medical insurance which will include medical evacuation cost. British citizens should get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK, which will entitle them to free emergency treatment.

Pass

Travellers are required to have a valid passport upon entering Iceland. Travellers’ from non-EU countries should have a passport that is valid for three months beyond the planned stay. EU citizens can enter Iceland with their national ID cards or passports. Passports for EU nationals need validity for their length of stay.

Visum

Iceland is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, and depending on the travellers’ citizenship, Schengen visa may be required.

The citizens of the USA, Canada and Australia may enter Iceland for up to three months for tourist and business purposes without a visa. Nationalities from other countries should check with Icelandic representation.