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Can tourists fly a drone in Norway?

Registration, certificate, insurance and no-fly zones for visitors.

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Short answer

Tourists can fly a drone in Norway under the open category rules if they are registered as a drone operator in Norway or another EASA country. Citizens of other countries register in the first country they fly in. You also need an EASA certificate, insurance for drones from 250 grams and the operator number on the drone.

Flying drones in Norway a shield icon with a check mark next to a tent and a small no-campfire sign on a green hillside

Why

  1. Luftfartstilsynet (the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority) exempts only drones under 250 grams without a camera, and drones clearly marked as toys, from operator registration.
  2. You must always fly below 120 metres above the ground, keep the drone in sight and stay at least 5 kilometres away from all airports.
  3. A private person who registers as a drone operator in Norway pays an annual fee of NOK 230, and the A1/A3 course and exam at flydrone.no are available in English.

Details

Mark the drone with your operator number, since the number on your pilot certificate does not count as a marking. Before take-off, check the map of drone zones at dronesoner.no and remember that nature conservation areas may have their own drone rules. Do not fly over crowds, festivals or sports events, and do not film people or their property without consent. Luftfartstilsynet tells visitors to register the use of a camera or other sensors with the Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM) before flying, and NSM's own rules say that foreign aircraft visiting Norway must notify NSM when they use sensors over Norwegian territory.

Tip

Register and take the A1/A3 test before the trip, and keep proof of your liability insurance with you when you fly.

What may differ

Citizens of EU and EEA countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland register in their home country, while others register in the first country where they plan to fly. Near military and other protected installations, NSM's map shows sensor restriction areas where photography and filming from the air are banned. Russian flights have been banned from Norwegian airspace since 28 February 2022, so separate rules apply to Russian citizens.

Common misconception

A drone under 250 grams never needs to be registered.

What actually happens

The exemption covers only drones under 250 grams without a camera, and toys. A light drone with a camera still needs a registered operator.

People also ask

  • What are the drone rules in Norway?
  • Do I need to register my drone in Norway?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Luftfartstilsynet before you travel.

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