Various activities within Vatnajökull National Park require a permit, such as research, film and advertising production. 

Vatnajökull National Park's cooperation with the scientific community is both statutory and extremely valuable. Multidisciplinary research is carried out in the dynamic nature of Vatnajökull National Park every year. The National Park is also a popular location for film and commercial shoots, and the use of drones by tourists is increasingly popular. 

Objectives of the establishment of Vatnajökull National Park according to Article 2. in the national park law is to: 

Protect the nature of the area, such as landscape, biosphere, geological formations and cultural monuments. 

Give the public the opportunity to get to know and enjoy the nature and history of the area. 

Promote research in the area, educate about it and encourage increased public understanding of the quality and uniqueness of the area. 

Strive to strengthen settlements and business activities in the vicinity of the national park, i.a. by encouraging the sustainable use of the quality of the area. 

The aforementioned goals are a guiding light in all the work of the national park and strategic planning, i.a. when contracts are made for private business-related activities in the national park. The primary condition is always that the activities comply with these goals. 

Rules for the use of drones for recreational purposes

CLICK HERE FOR RULES ON FLYING DRONES IN RECREATIONAL USE 

In general, the use of drones for recreational purposes is allowed in Vatnajökull National Park, but regional restrictions apply in some areas. The general rules of the Icelandic Transport Authority must be followed, but the rules of Vatnajökull National Park (general and regional) below also apply.

Those who intend to do filmmaking, advertising or other such activities within the national park fill out an application for a permit in the service portal (link to the application form further down the page). 
A permit must be applied for at least 30 days in advance. Film and advertising licenses are charged according to Vatnajökull National Park's price list. 

According to the first paragraph. Article 38 of the Regulation on Vatnajökull National Park No. 300/2020 one shall obtain a permit from a national park manager for organized events and projects that require facilities, manpower or the handling of equipment in the national park, such as for filming, art events, gatherings and research. 

Those who intend to do filmmaking, advertising or other such activities within the national park fill out an application for a permit in the service portal (see link below).

The application must include a description of the event/project for which permission is requested, and, as appropriate, information on the estimated number of visitors and staff, the planned facilities and equipment, the timing of the event/project and its duration, and the location and size of the area where it is requested to an event/project takes place.

The applicant must demonstrate with the application documents that the event/project for which a permit is requested complies with the provisions of the Act on Vatnajökull National Park, the regulations on Vatnajökull National Park and the management plan of the national park and that there is no risk of damage to nature, cultural monuments or structures of the national park. The staff of Vatnajökull National Park guides the applicant on which documents must be included with the application and can always request additional information and explanation regarding implementation and arrangements.

A permit must be applied for at least 30 days in advance, and earlier if the circumstances and scope require. Film and advertising licenses are charged according to the Vatnajökull National Park price list.

Commercial filming and/or advertising permit

The permit holder has a permit letter available at the venue of the authorized event/project and can present it to the staff of the national park if requested.

The permit holder follows the terms of the permit and familiarizes himself with and respects the provisions of the law on Vatnajökull National Park, the provisions of the regulations on the national park, rules of access, as well as the provisions of the management plan. The permit holder, his staff and visitors on his behalf shall take good care of the nature of the national park and cultural monuments and show the utmost caution and consideration so that the nature, cultural monuments and structures of the national park are not damaged, cf. Paragraph 1 Article 9 regulations on Vatnajökull National Park.

The instructions of national park managers and other staff of the national park regarding interaction and behavior in the national park must be obeyed, cf. Paragraph 2 Article 9 regulations on Vatnajökull National Park. The national park manger is authorized to stop the activity of the permit if it is shown that it can and/or has had a negative impact on the natural and cultural monuments and structures of the national park and is also authorized to expel the permit holder, his staff or visitors on his behalf from the national park if the person/s violates the provisions of the law about Vatnajökull National Park or the regulations of the national park. Violations of the Act and the regulations issued pursuant to it are subject to fines or imprisonment of up to two years.

The national park manager and other staff of the national park on his behalf ensure that the permit holder respects the conditions of the permit and the provisions of the laws and regulations that apply to the implementation of the event/project, cf. 3. tl. Article 10 Act on Vatnajökull National Park. The permit holder must provide the national park manager with all the information and data that the national park manager deems necessary to carry out his supervisory role.

It is allowed to have an inspector on site if the national park manager deems it necessary for conservation reasons and this is then specified in the permit letter. The permit holder pays for it according to the price list. If the permit holder violates the provisions of the license letter, the license will expire.

Issued permits may be published on Vatnajökull National Park's website.

Practical information before applying for a filming permit 

Application for filming and/or advertising permits

Those who wish to conduct research in the national park fill out an application for a permit in the service portal (link to the application form can be found further down the page). A permit must be applied for at least 30 days in advance.

One of the goals of the establishment of Vatnajökull National Park is to promote research in the area, cf. Paragraph 1 Article 2 Act on Vatnajökull National Park no. 60/2007.
According to the first paragraph. Article 38 Regulation on Vatnajökull National Park no. 300/2020, one shall obtain a permit from a national park manager for organized events and projects that require facilities, manpower or the handling of equipment in the national park, such as for filming, art events, gatherings and research. A permit must be applied for in accordance with this for all research on natural history and cultural monuments in Vatnajökull National Park that is not carried out by the national park authorities or is part of the implementation of the national park's approved management plan.

Those who intend to conduct research within the national park must also take care to apply for the required permits for research from other parties, such as in the case of research on microorganisms in geothermal areas, cf. Article 34 Act no. 57/1998, research on fossils, cf. Article 60 Act on Nature Conservation no. 60/2013, or research on protected plant or animal species. If natural treasures are to be exported (the research sample may fall under the term natural treasures), a permit from the Icelandic Institute of Natural History is required, cf. Article 15 Act no. 60/1992.

Those who wish to conduct research in the national park fill out an application for a permit in the service portal (link to the application form can be found further down the page).

The application shall include a description of the proposed research for which permission is requested and its location, as well as, as appropriate, information on the estimated number of employees, the proposed facilities and equipment, the timing of the research and the duration.

A permit must be applied for at least 30 days in advance.

The results of research, reports and related material are requested to be sent to the national park. Introductory material on research for national park visitors in extracts from a leaflet, on posters or in lectures is welcome. This information is requested with reference to Article 2. Regulation of the park stating that the park should provide education about nature and conservation, history, community, and cultural area and promote research to enhance knowledge of these factors.

Practical information before applying for a research permit 

Here you can apply for permission to hold events other than those discussed above. Examples of events can be: sports tournaments, gatherings (weddings, birthdays, family reunions, etc.), concerts, film screenings, etc. An event permit must be applied for as far in advance as the applicant can.

According to the first paragraph. Article 38 Regulation on Vatnajökull National Park no. 300/2020, one shall obtain a permit from a national park manager for organized events and projects that require facilities, manpower or the handling of equipment in the national park, such as for filming, art events, gatherings, and research. Examples of events can be: sports tournaments, gatherings (weddings, birthdays, family reunions, etc.), concerts, film screenings, etc.

Anyone who requests such permission submits an application through a service portal (link below). The staff of Vatnajökull National Park guides the applicant on which documents must be included with the application and can always request that additional information and explanations be provided regarding implementation and arrangements.

The decision to grant a permit is made considering security considerations, the conservation objectives of the national park and the management plan. The conditions for granting a license that are deemed necessary, such as access and restrictions, can be set.

An event permit must be applied for as far in advance as the applicant can. In cases where the national park deems it necessary to have national park staff on site, a fee may be charged for an event permit according to Vatnajökull National Park's price list.

The permit holder follows the terms of the permit and familiarizes himself with and respects the provisions of the law on Vatnajökull National Park, the provisions of the regulations on the national park, rules of access, as well as the provisions of the management plan. The permit holder, his staff and visitors on his behalf shall take good care of the nature of the national park and cultural monuments and show the utmost caution and consideration so that the nature, cultural monuments, and structures of the national park are not damaged, cf. Paragraph 1 Article 9 regulations on Vatnajökull National Park.

Practical information before applying for an event permit

Here you can view the price list of Vatnajökull National Park for issuing permits 

Permits

Objectives of the establishment of Vatnajökull National Park according to Article 2. in the national park law is to:

Drone rules - recreational use

Commercial filming permit

Commercial filming permit

Practical information before applying for a filming permit

Commercial filming and/or advertising permit

General terms and conditions

Application for filming and/or advertising permits

Research permit

Research permit

Practical information before applying for a research permit

Research permit

General terms and conditions

Application for a research permit

Events

Events

Practical information before applying for an event permit

Event permit

General terms and conditions

Application for an event permit

Vatnajökull National Park pricelist