Is It Legal to Use a VPN?: Legal Usage of VPNs, Explained

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Summary: Is It Legal to Use a VPN?

VPNs are legal in most countries. However, some governments have placed restrictions on VPN use or banned the practice altogether.

Using VPNs for illegal activities such as hacking or cyberstalking is prohibited and can get you in trouble with the law.

Legal uses of a VPN include protecting your online privacy, keeping your data safe from hackers and other entities, unblocking streaming content, and more.

A VPN that lends itself very well to all these uses and more is NordVPN, thanks to its secure VPN protocols, large server network, solid speeds and great unblocking features.

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To learn more about where, when, and why VPN use is illegal, read the complete article below.

Many people ask themselves an important VPN-related question before even using one: is it legal to use a VPN? In most parts of the world, especially in Western countries, the question “Are VPNs legal?”, can be answered with a resounding “yes.” The simple use of a VPN won’t land you in jail or in trouble in these countries.

However, there are some countries whose governments don’t accept VPN use. Usually, these countries have dictatorial regimes or authoritarian leaders. Some examples would be North Korea, Belarus, and Iraq. Some regimes only allow government-approved virtual private networks, such as China, Russia, and Iran.

This article explains which countries ban VPNs and why. It’ll also dive into many of the legal uses of a VPN.

When is Using VPNs Illegal?

To put it simply, using a VPN is illegal in two cases:

It can be illegal due to a nation’s government having banned its use.
It can be illegal when being used to commit illegal activities online. These activities include hacking, cyberstalking, and downloading and selling copyrighted information.

Sometimes circumventing geo-restrictions can also result in violations of the law or companies’ terms of service. For example, the use of a VPN to stream content on Netflix can constitute a violation of its terms of service.

However, the above does not make VPN use itself illegal. Instead, you may be subject to consequences such as a cancellation or suspension of membership.

The following sections provide a breakdown of which countries ban or heavily regulate VPN use and why.

Why is It Illegal to Use a VPN in Some Countries?

VPN use is mostly forbidden in countries with authoritarian laws such as North Korea, Belarus, and Iraq. Governments in these countries limit internet freedom, as well as the freedom of the press.

Moreover, these governments tend to block social media and critical news websites for internet users in the country. The image below shows countries that use online censorship on a huge scale and their main motivations for doing so.

To access blocked websites and online services, many civilians, tourists, expatriates, journalists, and whistleblowers use a VPN or proxy server. When using a VPN, they are all able to circumvent online censorship while also anonymizing all their online data.

As expected, the above has caused various governments to ban VPNs. By banning VPNs, governments hope to achieve a few objectives:

Authoritarian regimes seek to create conformity and reduce dissent by exercising strict control over the information available to their citizens and monitoring and registering civilians’ internet behavior.
In some cases, VPNs are initially made illegal for safety reasons. Iraq, for example, decided to forbid the secure connection to make it easier to combat IS.

In Which Countries Is Using a VPN Illegal?

We’ve already named a couple of countries where a VPN is illegal. For the sake of clarity, we’ve listed all countries known to block, punish, or heavily regulate VPNs in the table below.

It isn’t always clear whether VPN connections are actually forbidden and what kind of punishment to expect when you do use one. Regardless, using a virtual private network in any of these places is a significant risk.

Country	Legal Status	Consequences of illegal VPN use
Belarus	Illegal	Belarus may fine VPN users an unspecified amount. Moreover, the country has strict rules on visiting foreign websites. Breaking these can result in a fine of $120.
China	Heavily Regulated	People who use a non-government-approved VPN in China risk getting a fine of over $2000.
Egypt	Heavily Regulated	It’s unclear if the Egyptian government actively persecutes and punishes VPN users.
Iran	Heavily Regulated	Involvement in the development or distribution of a non-government-approved VPN carries a prison sentence of up to two years.
Iraq	Illegal	It’s unclear how Iraq enforces its VPN ban and what the legal consequences of using one are.
North Korea	Illegal	The consequences of VPN use in this country are unknown. It’s unlikely VPN use is a widespread practice, as only the North Korean elite has access to the internet.
Oman	Heavily regulated	Trying to bypass Oman’s strict censorship laws with a VPN can get you a fine of 500 Omani Rials (about $1,300).
Russia	Heavily regulated	Using a non-authorized VPN carries a fine of 300,000 RUB (over $4,000). Providers of these services face even harsher fines: 700,000 RUB.
Syria	Partially legal	As of now, there seems to be no punishment for VPN use. The only consequence seems to be potentially having your connection blocked.
Turkey	Heavily regulated	Residents who criticize the Turkish government (using a VPN) face serious danger if they are discovered. For instance, people have been jailed in Turkey for supposedly insulting the Turkish president.
Turkmenistan	Illegal	In 2020, Turkmen police officers raided several marketplaces and electronic stores to arrest persons who were believed to install VPNs on customers’ devices.
Uganda	Heavily regulated	VPNs are not technically illegal, but the Ugandan government has threatened to arrest VPN users.
United Arab Emirates	Heavily regulated	It’s an offense to commit illegal acts online using a false IP address. However, people aren’t punished for VPN use in and of itself in the UAE.

Now, we’ll discuss each of these countries’ stances on VPN use in a bit more detail:

Belarus

Belarus made VPN use illegal in 2015. Using a VPN could get you a fine of an unspecified amount. From 2016 onwards, it has also been illegal to use the Tor browser in Belarus.

Like many countries on this list, Belarus has banned VPNs and Tor to prevent its citizens from accessing foreign websites. In fact, in 2012, Belarus enacted strict laws regulating foreign website use and established a fine of roughly $120 for breaking these.

Make sure to check out our complete article on censorship in Belarus to learn more.

China

VPN use in China is legal, but only if you have a VPN that’s been approved by the government. These government-approved VPNs must comply with strict privacy-invading rules, such as logging and storing your data. Needless to say, this defeats the main purpose of a VPN.

Currently, most commercial VPNs are blocked in China, and if you’re caught using one you risk a fine of over $2000. Fortunately, there are still some real VPNs that work in China, such as NordVPN.

Egypt

Egypt’s government has been using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to block several VPN protocols (PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN) since 2017. The country has also been blocking numerous websites and services for a long time.

Although VPNs aren’t officially illegal, Egypt has made it very hard to use a VPN to enjoy free internet within its borders. Read our complete article on online censorship in Egypt to learn more.

Iran

From 2013 onwards, using a non-government-approved VPN has been illegal in Iran. Government-approved VPNs have to monitor their users’ online activity. Anyone involved in the development or distribution of VPNs that aren’t government-approved may face up to two years in prison.

Make sure to check out our article on the best VPNs to stay safe and anonymous in Iran.

Iraq

Iraq introduced a complete VPN ban in 2014, also blocking internet access to some social media and other services. Their main motivation was that it would help them fight IS. These laws are still active, even though IS no longer has the country in its grip.

North Korea

North Korea is known for its strict censorship. It doesn’t even allow civilians to use the regular internet. VPNs are forbidden, but since North Korea is so closed off from the rest of the world, the consequences of VPN use in this country are unknown.

Oman

From 2010 onwards, only corporate VPNs have been allowed in Oman. These also have to be approved by Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). These VPNs are obligated to keep web usage logs.

The VPN ban is, as you’d expect, meant to prevent Oman’s citizens from bypassing its censorship. Trying to bypass Oman’s internet censorship laws can result in a large fine of 500 Omani Rials (about $1,300).

Russia

Russia is another country that only allows government-approved VPNs. However, we strongly recommend against using these, as they have to provide all their user data to the Russian government.

In 2019, Roskomnadzor (the Russian national media control force) gave several well-known VPNs thirty days to grant them access to all Russian users’ data. Many VPNs responded by shutting down their Russian servers.

Moreover, In September 2021, Roskomnadzor banned NordVPN, ExpressVPN, IPVanish VPN, Hola VPN, KeepSolid VPN Unlimited, and Speedify VPN in Russia.

Russia’s VPN ban isn’t just all bark and no bite. In fact, using a non-government-approved VPN provider can set you back 300,000 RUB (over $4,000). Providing an unauthorized VPN service carries an even heavier fine: 700,000 RUB.

We have an article about VPNs that work in Russia and that have advanced features to keep you out of trouble.

Syria

Using a VPN isn’t necessarily illegal in Syria. However, since 2011 some VPN connections are being blocked, as the government blocks certain VPN protocols. It’s uncertain how successful these attempts are.

Turkey

To keep citizens from accessing blocked websites, the Turkish government has restricted VPN use. Attempts are made to detect and block Turkey VPNs by means of DPI. Therefore, using a VPN in Turkey might not always work.

Moreover, it can make you more of a target for the government: their watchful eyes will be studying you more closely. The Turkish government has stated they block VPNs in the interest of national security and fighting terrorism.

In 2016, Turkey blocked 10 VPN services, along with the Tor network. As far as penalties for bypassing Turkish censorship go, the main parties that seem to be punished are people who are critical of the government, not necessarily those who just access illegal content. Click here for more information on internet censorship in Turkey.

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan heavily censors and restricts the internet in order to block foreign media. In fact, “internet users” in Turkmenistan don’t have access to the regular internet. Instead, they can only use “Turkmenet.” This is a heavily modified and censored version of the internet, only available in Turkmen.

Turkmenet is offered by Turkmen Telecom, which is the only communications and internet service provider in Turkmenistan.

Needless to say, Turkmenistan’s government is heavily opposed to VPN use. It’s not easy to use a VPN in the country, as the websites of providers offering these aren’t available on Turkmenet.

Moreover, in the past, internet users in the country have been forced to swear on the Koran they wouldn’t use a VPN. In 2020, police officers raided several marketplaces and electronic stores. They suspected that people working there were installing VPNs on customers’ devices.

Uganda

Uganda introduced a social media tax in 2018. To get around this tax, many citizens started using VPNs. The government then ordered ISPs to block VPN users ever since. It recently threatened to arrest VPN users even though VPNs are not technically illegal.

United Arab Emirates

In the UAE, only organizations can use a VPN without restrictions (as long as they don’t break the law). As for consumers, they can only use a government-approved VPN.

VoIP services such as Skype aren’t allowed, either. That’s because the UAE’s government prefers their citizens to use local telecom services Etislat and Du, presumably because they make money off these services. Find out more about internet censorship in the UAE by reading our complete article on this topic.

How are VPN Bans Enforced?

These are the main methods governments use to enforce VPN bans:

Demanding access to user data, which will often cause providers not to have servers in that country
Blocking VPN providers’ websites
Using deep packet inspection (DPI) to detect meta that points to a VPN connection and block the connection

Generally, internet service providers (ISPs) play an important role in enforcing VPN bans, especially as far as the second and third enforcement methods go.

In most countries that ban VPNs, getting ISPs to cooperate with VPN bans is quite easy, as the government can impose large taxes, heavy fines, or a complete ban on any ISPs who refuse to comply.

What Happens If You Use a VPN Illegally?

A lot of countries that ban VPNs don’t mess around when it comes to blocking or punishing people who find creative ways around the ban. As we’ve seen above, different things can happen when you use a VPN in such a country:

Your connection might simply get blocked and you won’t be able to browse the web.
You could get caught and face a hefty fine.
You might get caught and face a jail sentence.

Beware that it’s not just VPN use that can get you in trouble. In fact, a lot of governments care much more about what you’re doing with your VPN than the VPN use itself.

For instance, in some countries, such as Turkey, people criticizing the government using a VPN can face great danger, even though Turkey claims they banned VPNs for national security and not for political reasons.

How to Get Around VPN Bans

Getting around VPN bans can be tricky, especially in countries that use advanced VPN-detection mechanisms, such as China. Fortunately, if you get a reliable VPN with technology that combats these detection systems, there’s still hope.

Here are some features to look out for when picking a safe VPN to use in strict countries.

Feature	Description	Popular VPNs with This Feature
Obfuscated servers	Obfuscated servers hide the fact you’re using a VPN from parties that use deep-packet inspection, like some totalitarian governments. They do so by removing any metadata about the VPN protocol you’re using to send out your data traffic.	NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, PIA
NoBorders Mode	If Surfshark detects you’re in a country with online restrictions, this feature is enabled and makes sure you’ll only connect to servers with the best performance when it comes to circumventing censorship. You can also enable this feature manually under “Settings” > “VPN Settings.”	Surfshark
Multi-Hop	This feature lets you connect to at least two different VPN servers (in series, not parallel). As such, your entry and exit servers will be in different countries. This allows you to bypass censorship in countries that make it impossible to connect to a foreign IP.	NordVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN
Secure VPN protocols	We recommend sticking with the tried-and-tested OpenVPN protocol for bypassing online censorship. This is a secure protocol that will hide the websites you visit and what you do online.	NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PIA
No logs policy	If I VPN has a “no logs policy”, this generally means they don’t collect and store information about your online activities, such as the websites you visit. Note that many VPNs do keep so-called technical logs, as these are necessary to provide their service. However, these are not nearly as problematic as activity logs.	NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PIA
Anonymous payment options	In many countries that censor the internet, VPN use is illegal or heavily regulated. Using a VPN can get you in huge trouble in some of these countries. That’s why it’s important to hide the fact you’ve acquired a VPN. Anonymous payment options, such as cryptocurrencies, are great for doing so.	NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PIA

We recommend NordVPN for use in any country that bans VPNs because it has the technology to combat government blocks. Moreover, NordVPN offers a vast server network. This ensures you’ll have a stable connection and good speeds.

Last but not least, NordVPN is very affordable and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
Perfect for privacy and streaming
Trusted by many, with over 14 million users

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When is Using a VPN Legal? Legitimate VPN Uses

Luckily, in most countries, VPNs are legal. Despite their use being banned in the above nations, VPNs are considered an effective tool to ensure privacy and security online.

There are many good reasons to use a VPN. And many governments acknowledge the merits of VPN usage. Some of these are:

Protection of individual privacy: Many users who are concerned about their privacy use VPNs to browse the internet anonymously.
Secure public browsing: Plenty of individuals using public wi-fi prefer to use VPNs to securely encrypt and protect their traffic.
Transfer of sensitive information: Governments and enterprises use VPNs to secure communications and transactions that pertain to their work.
Unblocking: VPNs can be useful to avoid geo-blocking restrictions and make streaming content easier.

For a deep dive into the reasons why you may want to use a VPN, we’d like to refer you to our full article on VPNs and their uses.

Why Do VPNs Have a Bad Reputation?

After reading about all of these advantages, you may be wondering why VPNs have such a bad reputation despite having many legal and useful applications. The simple answer is that VPNs have been used to conduct and cover up criminal activities.

VPNs allow for anonymous and private browsing. While this is not illegal by itself, it can be used to become less easy to track while: hacking devices, spreading malware, or downloading illegal content.

Illegal activity gives useful cybersecurity solutions a bad name. However, it’s important to remember that the use of a VPN for legal reasons is allowed in most countries.

In fact, VPNs are an essential tool to maintain privacy in the digital age. So, if you’re wondering if VPNs are worth using, in most cases the answer is yes.

Final Thoughts: Learn More About VPNs

Now that you know that VPNs are completely legal in most countries, you might have become more interested in using one. If that’s the case, you’re welcome to learn more about VPNs by reading our extensive articles on their advantages, disadvantages, and other characteristics:

Is it Legal to Use a VPN?: Frequently Asked Questions

If you have pressing questions about the legality of VPN use, our FAQ section will help. You can click on any of the queries below to see answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Are VPNs legal?

In most countries, VPNs are completely legal. Many governments even encourage their citizens to adopt safe internet practices, including the usage of VPNs, for added security and privacy. However, there are also countries where using a VPN is prohibited. The main reason for banning VPNs is that governments cannot keep track of people’s internet activities when a VPN is being used. Furthermore, a VPN enables people to circumvent government censorship.

Where are VPNs Illegal?

It is not always easy to determine which countries are banning or restricting VPN use. However, as per most recent reports, the following countries ban or heavily regulate VPN usage:

Belarus
China
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
North Korea
Oman
Russia
Syria
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
UAE

Is it legal to stream content with a VPN?

VPNs allow users to avoid geo-blocking and access content available in other countries. This can cause conflicts with the terms of service of several streaming services, such as Netflix. So, in some cases, streaming content using a VPN can result in an error or suspension or a ban of your account. However, it does not usually amount to a crime.

Can using a VPN land me in jail?

Using a VPN is completely legal in most countries! In fact, it’s a great tool to protect your privacy and identity online. However, in countries where using a VPN is illegal, its mere use can land you in jail depending on the punishment prescribed in domestic laws. In countries where VPN use is otherwise legal, you can still end up in jail if caught committing an illegal act while using a VPN.

Priscilla Sherman Author

Chief Editor

Priscilla is VPNOverview’s chief editor and has several years of experience in VPNs and product reviews. She helps coordinate the team and ensures that all content on our website is honest and accessible.