The short answer: VPNs are legal in the vast majority of countries. In the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and throughout the European Union, there are absolutely no laws against using a VPN. You can use one freely for any lawful purpose -- privacy, streaming, work, or anything else.
The longer answer is more nuanced. A handful of countries restrict or ban VPN usage entirely, and even in countries where VPNs are legal, using one to commit a crime does not make the crime legal. Downloading pirated content through a VPN is still piracy. Fraud through a VPN is still fraud. The VPN encrypts your connection -- it does not put you above the law.
Countries Where VPNs Are Fully Legal
United States
Completely legal. No federal or state laws restrict VPN use. Many US companies require employees to use VPNs for remote work. ISPs cannot legally interfere with VPN connections.
United Kingdom
Completely legal. The UK has the Investigatory Powers Act which requires ISPs to retain browsing history, which is one reason many UK residents use VPNs. There are no laws against doing so.
Canada
Completely legal. Canada has strong privacy laws (PIPEDA) and no restrictions on VPN use.
Australia
Completely legal. Australia has mandatory data retention laws for ISPs, making VPNs popular among privacy-conscious Australians.
European Union
Completely legal across all EU member states. The GDPR actually strengthens the case for VPN use by establishing privacy as a fundamental right. No EU country restricts VPN use.
VPNs are also fully legal in Japan, South Korea, India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and the vast majority of countries worldwide. If you live in a democratic country, you can almost certainly use a VPN without any legal concerns.
Countries Where VPNs Are Restricted
China
China operates the Great Firewall, which blocks most VPN traffic. Only government-approved VPNs are technically legal, but enforcement against individual users is extremely rare. Millions of Chinese citizens and virtually all foreign business travelers use unauthorized VPNs daily. The government primarily targets VPN providers rather than users. If you are visiting China, download your VPN before you arrive -- you will not be able to access VPN websites from within China.
Russia
Russia passed a law in 2017 requiring VPN providers to register with the government and block access to banned websites. Most international VPN providers refuse to comply and are blocked. Using a non-approved VPN is technically illegal, but enforcement against individuals is rare. The bigger risk is that the VPN simply will not work because ISPs block VPN protocols.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
VPN use itself is legal in the UAE for lawful purposes. Many businesses and expatriates use VPNs daily. However, using a VPN to commit a crime or access content that is illegal in the UAE can result in fines of 500,000 to 2,000,000 AED ($136,000-$545,000) and/or imprisonment. This includes using a VPN to access VoIP services that have been blocked, such as regular WhatsApp calling (though WhatsApp messaging is fine).
Iran
Only government-approved VPNs are legal. These approved VPNs monitor traffic and comply with censorship requirements, defeating the purpose. Unauthorized VPN use is technically illegal but widespread, especially among younger Iranians. Penalties are rarely enforced against individual users.
Turkey
VPN use is not explicitly illegal, but the government actively blocks many VPN providers and has blocked the Tor network. VPN use is widespread despite restrictions, particularly for accessing blocked social media platforms.
Oman
Using a VPN for personal use is not illegal, but using one to access content that is blocked by the government (such as VoIP services) is prohibited. Fines can reach 1,000 OMR ($2,600) for violations.
Countries Where VPNs Are Banned
North Korea
North Korea has a completely isolated national intranet. Ordinary citizens have no access to the global internet at all, making the concept of a VPN irrelevant. Foreign visitors have their devices inspected and internet access is heavily monitored.
Belarus
Belarus banned VPNs and Tor in 2015. The government actively enforces this ban, and ISPs are required to block VPN traffic. Penalties include fines, and in some cases, criminal charges.
Iraq
Iraq banned VPNs in 2014, initially to combat ISIS use of social media for recruitment. The ban remains in effect. Enforcement is inconsistent, but penalties exist.
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan has some of the most restrictive internet laws in the world. VPNs are illegal, internet access is heavily monitored, and the government controls the sole ISP.
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. VPN laws change frequently. Always check the current laws of your specific country before relying on a VPN, especially if you are traveling to a restrictive country.
The Bottom Line
If you live in North America, Europe, Australia, Japan, or most other countries, VPN use is completely legal and you have nothing to worry about. If you are traveling to China, Russia, or the Middle East, download your VPN before you leave and use obfuscated servers (available on NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and others) to get through government firewalls.
ExpressVPN and NordVPN both have obfuscated servers specifically designed to work in restrictive countries like China and Russia. Set up the app and test your connection before traveling.