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Iceland
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Household Goods
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
- Copy of passport
- Detailed inventory, dated and signed by the owner
- Original bill of lading (OBL) or air waybill (AWB)
- Duty exemption registration (if applicable)
- Proof of residency abroad (e.g., residence permit, employment contract)
Specific Information
New items allowance: A person aged 18 or older may import goods owned for less than 12 months up to a total value of ISK 140,000. Those under 18 may import up to half that value.
Subsequent shipments: If a second shipment is anticipated, it must be stated at the time of the first importation.
Shipment deadline: The shipment must be imported within 12 months of the date of transfer of residence.
Delivery address required: A delivery address in Iceland must be known at the time of customs clearance.
Proof of eligibility: Customs may require documents proving that the duty-free conditions are met, such as a residence permit or employment contract.
EEA/EFTA status: Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), but is not an EU member state. This means Iceland follows many EU customs and trade rules but has its own national customs authority and tariff schedule.
ISPM 15: Wood packaging materials should comply with ISPM 15 standards.
Duties & Taxes
Duty-free conditions (per official Iceland Revenue and Customs website): Home inventory may be imported duty-free if all of the following conditions are met:
- The person must have had permanent residency in another country for at least 12 months prior to moving to Iceland.
- The person must register their legal residence in Iceland in accordance with Icelandic law.
- The home inventory must be used and owned by the person for at least 12 months.
- The goods must arrive with the person or within 6 months of moving permanent residency to Iceland or registering legal residence.
VAT: Iceland's standard VAT rate is 24%, with a reduced rate of 11% for food, books, magazines, and other necessities. VAT applies to non-exempt imports.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
- Chewing tobacco and finely powdered snuff
- Uncooked meat and meat products (only boiled or canned meat may be imported; smoking, salting, or drying without boiling is insufficient; includes bacon, sausages, salami, smoked uncooked sausages, poultry)
- Uncooked milk and uncooked eggs
- Illegal drugs and narcotics
- Natural/live plants (without permits)
- Paints, polishes, and cleaning solvents
- Explosive materials
- Used leather riding gear (saddles, bridles, reins, muzzles, switches)
- Knives with blades exceeding 12 cm, switchblades, flick knives, throwing knives, brass knuckles, truncheons, crossbows, handcuffs
- Counterfeit goods
- Pornographic material (per VisaHQ)
- Unregistered firearms and ammunition (without police permit)
Restricted / Dutiable Items
Personal duty-free allowances (per VisaHQ, confirmed by Iceland Customs):
- 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of other tobacco products (age 18+)
- Alcohol allowances (age 20+, various combinations): 1 litre spirits and 1 litre wine, OR 3 litres wine, OR 1 litre spirits and 6 litres beer, OR 1.5 litres wine and 6 litres beer
- 3 kg of food not exceeding ISK 18,500 in value
- Currency exceeding EUR 10,000 (or equivalent) must be declared
Alcohol and tobacco in household goods shipments: Alcohol and wine must be inventoried separately with brand name, type, amount, number of bottles, and value. Duties and taxes must be paid on all alcohol and tobacco within household goods shipments (these are never duty-free, even for exempt household goods).
Items always subject to duty (even in otherwise duty-free household shipments):
- Objects and equipment for commercial use
- Vehicles subject to registration, motorized vehicles, sailing or flight vehicles
- Objects usually fixed to walls or floors (fixtures, wood flooring, etc.)
- Food and beverages, including alcohol and tobacco
Telephones and communications equipment: Generally subject to a permit from the Post and Telecom Administration. GSM mobile phones with a CE mark are exempt; one non-CE-marked GSM phone per traveler is also permitted.
Angling gear: Fishing equipment used abroad must be disinfected before use in Iceland. A certificate of disinfection from a foreign authority is required; otherwise, disinfection will be carried out in Iceland at the traveler's expense.
Riding gear: Clothing used abroad must be disinfected. Used leather items (saddles, bridles, muzzles, reins, switches) are prohibited because leather cannot be adequately disinfected.
Firearms, ammunition, and explosives: Import subject to a permit from the National Commissioner of Police. Holders of a European Firearms Permit may import weapons listed in the license without a special permit for stays under 3 months. PERMIT REQUIRED
Medicines: Personal use only, quantity corresponding to maximum 100 days. Anabolic steroids and peptides limited to 30 days' supply. Customs may request proof of prescription. Import of drugs by mail from outside the EEA is prohibited.
Live animals: Permit from MAST required. See Pets section. Animals imported without a permit will be euthanized. PERMIT REQUIRED
Flowers and plants: Generally require a phytosanitary certificate and MAST permit. Travelers may bring: a bouquet of cut flowers/branches (up to 25 plants), flower bulbs/tubers/roots from within Europe in unbroken packaging (up to 2 kg), and individual potted plants from within Europe (up to 3).
New items in household goods: Items less than 12 months old are subject to duty (with the ISK 140,000 allowance noted above).
Knives: Blades exceeding 12 cm are prohibited. Switchblade knives, flick knives, throwing knives, brass knuckles, truncheons, crossbows, and handcuffs are also prohibited.
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Copy of passport
- Original certificate of title showing owner's name and vehicle serial number
- Original registration card from the origin country
- Original purchase invoice or bill of sale
- Insurance certificate
- Inventory
- Letter of employment (if importing for temporary stay)
Specific Information
Temporary duty-free import (up to 12 months): Persons entering Iceland for employment, study, or travel for one year or less may import a registered foreign vehicle without paying duty or import charges, provided:
- The person is or has been domiciled abroad
- The vehicle is for personal use of the owner and their family members
- The vehicle is imported or purchased new/unregistered within 1 month of arrival
- The vehicle will not be used for commercial transportation
- The vehicle is exported when the person leaves (within 12 months of arrival)
Customs may request a letter of employment or other documentation proving the stay is temporary. If the person takes up permanent residence or stays longer than 12 months, the temporary exemption no longer applies and duties/taxes must be paid or the vehicle exported.
Permanent import: Persons moving to Iceland permanently and importing a vehicle are subject to customs duties and excise tax. A customs valuation is required. The vehicle's value can be depreciated based on invoice or Icelandic retail price. Collection of excise duty may be postponed for up to one month from the vehicle's arrival. The vehicle must be pre-registered and customs cleared within this period.
Vehicle types: Motorcycles, caravans, campers, and trailers may also be imported under similar rules.
Electric/hybrid vehicles (2025/2026 update): The blanket VAT exemption for EVs was revoked in 2024. A capped partial exemption now applies: fully electric vehicles (BEVs) and hydrogen vehicles are exempt from VAT on the first ISK 1,440,000 of the purchase price; plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) receive a capped exemption of up to ISK 960,000. Additionally, effective January 1, 2026, Iceland transitioned from fuel taxes to a universal kilometer-based road usage charge (ISK 6.95/km for passenger cars up to 3.5 tonnes) applying to all vehicles regardless of fuel type. BEVs and PHEVs previously paid per-km charges from 2024; from 2026 the same rate applies to all vehicles. Confirm current incentive status with the destination agent, as EV policy has been changing frequently.
Pets
- Special Import Permit from MAST (Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority)
- Veterinary health certificate (issued within 5-10 days of entry; must be endorsed by a government veterinarian)
- Vaccination records (rabies + additional vaccinations specific to species)
- Rabies titer (serology) test results from an EU-approved laboratory
- Microchip documentation
- All documentation must be submitted to MAST at least 5 days before import via email
Note: EU Pet Passports and EU Health Certificates are NOT accepted in Iceland.
Iceland has some of the strictest pet import regulations in the world. All imported pets are subject to mandatory quarantine, even if all requirements are met. The process requires extensive advance planning.
Country classification system: Iceland classifies countries into two groups. Pets must have resided continuously in a listed country since birth or for a minimum of 6 months prior to import.
Group 1: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway (excl. Svalbard), Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, United Kingdom.
Group 2: Canada, Greenland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Turkey, Thailand, United States.
Countries not in Group 1 or 2: Pets from unlisted countries CANNOT be imported to Iceland. There are no exceptions.
Mandatory quarantine: All pets entering Iceland from any country (Group 1 or Group 2) are subject to a minimum 14-day quarantine. Reservations must be made well in advance. There is a set period of only 3 days per month when pets may be admitted to the quarantine facility.
Import permit: Required from MAST. Application should be submitted at least 30 days before import. Valid for 12 months.
Microchip: Required. Must be a 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip. All documents must reflect the microchip number.
Rabies vaccination: Required for all dogs and cats. Must be administered between 30 days and 12 months before entry.
Rabies titer test: Required for pets from both Group 1 and Group 2 countries. Must be administered more than 30 days after rabies vaccination at an EU-approved laboratory. Pets from Group 2 countries must additionally wait 3 months after the blood draw before entering Iceland.
Additional vaccinations and tests (dogs): Dogs must also be vaccinated against canine distemper, infectious contagious hepatitis, and canine parvovirus (no less than 14 days and no more than 1 year before import). Dogs must be vaccinated against leptospirosis and tested for Brucella canis and Angiostrongylus vasorum within 30 days of import (or treated for Angiostrongylus vasorum). Dogs from the US, Canada, or Singapore must additionally be vaccinated for canine influenza at least 14 days before import.
Additional vaccinations and tests (cats): Cats must be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, and feline leukemia within 6 weeks of import. Cats must be tested for antibodies within 14 days of import and tested for FIV and FeLV.
Parasite treatments: Required. Dogs and cats must have two treatments for internal and external parasites within specific time periods before entry.
Health certificate: Must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 5-10 days of entry and endorsed by a government veterinarian. All documentation including test results, health certificate, and vaccination records must be submitted to MAST at least 5 days before import via email.
Dogs tested for tapeworm: Required within 10 days of arrival.
Puppies and kittens: From Group 1 countries, minimum age is 5 months. From Group 2 countries, minimum age is 7 months (must be microchipped, rabies-vaccinated, and titer-tested per the standard requirements).
Banned breeds: The following breeds and their crosses are prohibited: American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino (Argentine Mastiff), Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff). Wolf mixes are not permitted. Other dogs displaying aggressive or dangerous behavior may be denied entry. A temperament evaluation may be required for large breeds or breeds with aggressive tendencies.
Entry by air: Pets must enter via Keflavík International Airport during business hours on days scheduled for quarantine admission. Advance notice to veterinary officials is required. Pets can arrive in-cabin, as checked baggage, or as air cargo per airline policies. Flights should be direct if feasible. If a layover occurs in an EU member state, additional requirements apply. Transport through a country with rabies is not permitted unless the pet remains in the secure international zone of the transit airport.
Unauthorized imports: If animals are discovered imported without a permit, they will be euthanized. This is strictly enforced.
Contact MAST: petimport@mast.is or mast@mast.is for questions about import eligibility.
CDC note: Iceland is NOT on the U.S. CDC high-risk countries list for dog rabies.
Special Categories
Common Mistakes
- Assuming pets from unlisted countries can be imported (they cannot)
- Not reserving quarantine space far enough in advance (only 3 admission days per month)
- Using EU Pet Passports or EU Health Certificates (not accepted in Iceland)
- Failing to submit all documentation to MAST at least 5 days before arrival
- Not completing the canine influenza vaccination for dogs from the US, Canada, or Singapore
- Transiting through a country with rabies without remaining in the secure airport zone
- Attempting to import a banned breed or wolf mix
Sources Consulted
- IAM Country Guide: Iceland (May 17, 2017) -- baseline for document requirements, duty-free conditions (12 months abroad, 12 months ownership, 6-month arrival window), vehicle temporary import rules, pet quarantine period, restricted/prohibited items including angling gear disinfection, riding gear restrictions, knife blade limits
- Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) official website -- confirmed and expanded duty-free conditions (12 months residency, 12 months ownership, 6-month window), new items allowance (ISK 140,000), dutiable goods categories, import restrictions (telecommunications, fishing equipment, riding gear, firearms, medicines, plants), vehicle import procedures and valuation process
- FIDI Global Alliance -- no dedicated Iceland customs guide found (404)
- VisaHQ Iceland Customs -- duty-free personal allowances (tobacco, alcohol combinations, food allowance of 3 kg/ISK 18,500), currency declaration threshold (EUR 10,000), prohibited items
- PetTravel.com Iceland Pet Import Requirements (updated 2026) -- comprehensive import process including country group classifications (Group 1 and 2 only; unlisted countries cannot import), 14-day mandatory quarantine for all countries, 3-day monthly admission schedule, canine influenza requirement for US/Canada/Singapore dogs, extensive vaccination/testing requirements for both dogs and cats, banned breeds list, age minimums for puppies/kittens, EU Pet Passports not accepted
- Trade.gov Iceland Import Tariffs -- VAT rates (24% standard, 11% reduced), EV/hybrid exemption through 2024, EU-Iceland agricultural tariff agreement
- CDC High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies -- Iceland not listed
- Hinterland Travel -- Iceland customs page returned 503
Discrepancies
- Quarantine period: The IAM guide (2017) states "a quarantine period of 4 weeks." PetTravel (2026) and recent PetTravel comment responses confirm the current quarantine period is 14 days (reduced from the historical 4 weeks). The 14-day period is the current requirement.
- Health certificate validity: The IAM guide states "within 10 days of travel." PetTravel states "within 5-10 days of entry." Both are broadly consistent; the 5-day minimum reflects the requirement to submit documentation to MAST at least 5 days before arrival.
- Alcohol allowance details: The IAM guide does not specify personal allowances. VisaHQ provides specific combination options (e.g., 1L spirits + 1L wine, or 3L wine, etc.). The IAM guide correctly notes that alcohol in household goods is always subject to duty.
Unverified Items
- The ISK 140,000 allowance for new items (from the official Iceland Customs website) is current as of the page content but the threshold may be adjusted periodically. Confirm with the destination agent.
- Electric/hybrid vehicle VAT exemption status after 2024 (resolved -- confirmed blanket exemption revoked and replaced with capped exemption per purchase price thresholds; universal kilometer road charge introduced January 1, 2026; see Motor Vehicles section)
- Specific customs duty rates on vehicles and non-exempt goods were not extracted in this research. Iceland applies its own tariff schedule (not the EU Common External Tariff). The destination agent or Iceland Customs calculator should be consulted.
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air and sea shipments.
Iceland's unique restrictions: Iceland has unusually strict biosecurity controls that affect many common items. Fishing equipment, riding gear, and leather goods used abroad are all subject to disinfection requirements or outright prohibition. These restrictions reflect Iceland's geographic isolation and the importance of protecting its ecosystem from foreign pathogens.
Inventory requirements: The inventory must be detailed, dated, and signed by the owner. Alcohol must be inventoried separately with full details. New items (under 12 months old) must be identified for duty assessment.
Timing: Goods must arrive within 6 months of the owner's move to Iceland. Vehicles must be imported within 1 month of the owner's arrival. All supporting documentation for vehicles should be sent to the customs broker.
Port of entry: Sea cargo arrives at Reykjavik or Reydarfjordur. Air cargo clears through Keflavík International Airport.
Second shipments: If a follow-up shipment is planned, declare this at the time of the first importation.
Pet imports: Coordinate with MAST well in advance. Reserve quarantine space early (only 3 admission days per month). Submit all documentation at least 5 days before the pet's arrival. Pets from unlisted countries cannot be imported at all.
Cultural & Other Information
- OpenFactBook (replaces CIA World Factbook): https://www.openfactbook.org/countries/iceland/ (verified 200)
- Wikipedia -- Iceland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland (verified 403 to bots; works in browser)
- Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn): https://www.skatturinn.is/english/ (verified 200)
- Moving to Iceland -- Home Inventory: https://www.skatturinn.is/english/individuals/customs-matters/moving-to-iceland/home-inventory/ (verified 200)
- Moving to Iceland -- Dutiable Goods: https://www.skatturinn.is/english/individuals/customs-matters/moving-to-iceland/dutiable-goods/ (verified 200)
- Moving to Iceland -- Import Restrictions: https://www.skatturinn.is/english/individuals/customs-matters/moving-to-iceland/import-restrictions/ (verified 200)
- Moving to Iceland -- Personal Vehicles: https://www.skatturinn.is/english/individuals/customs-matters/moving-to-iceland/personal-vehicles/ (verified 200)
- Duty-Free Imports (travelers): https://www.skatturinn.is/english/individuals/customs-matters/travelling-to-iceland/duty-free-imports/ (verified via main page link structure)
- MAST (Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority): https://www.mast.is/en (verified 200)
- MAST -- Import of Live Animals: https://www.mast.is/en/import-export/import-of-live-animals (verified 200)
- Iceland Transport Authority (Samgöngustofa): https://www.samgongustofa.is/english/ (verified 200; redirects to island.is)
- Iceland Government -- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.government.is/ministries/ministry-for-foreign-affairs/ (verified 200)
- Trade.gov -- Iceland Import Requirements and Documentation: https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/iceland-import-requirements-and-documentation (verified 200)
- Trade.gov -- Iceland Import Tariffs: https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/iceland-import-tariffs (verified 200)
- PetTravel.com -- Iceland: https://www.pettravel.com/information/pet-passports/iceland-pet-import-requirements/ (verified 200)
- VisaHQ -- Iceland Customs: https://www.visahq.com/iceland/customs/ (verified 200)
Useful resources