Drone rules in Svalbard

Facts last verified 2026-10-03

Svalbard looks made for drone footage. But the short answer to “can I fly my drone here?” is: almost certainly not where you want to. Most of the archipelago is protected, Longyearbyen sits inside the airport’s no-fly zone, and the rules are enforced. If drone photography is a big part of your trip, read this before you pack.

The short version

• Not in Longyearbyen. You may not fly closer than 5 km to the airport, and that zone covers the whole town.
• Not in protected areas. Since 1 January 2025, drones have been banned in all of Svalbard’s national parks and nature reserves. Together they cover about 65% of the land.
• Not near bird cliffs in summer. From 1 April to 31 August you must stay at least 500 metres from bird cliffs.
• Not in Ny-Ålesund or Kongsfjorden. A 20 km radio-silent zone around the research town rules drones out there.
• Never disturb wildlife, anywhere, including polar bears, walruses, reindeer and birds.

That leaves very little. If you’re going on a cruise or a tour, assume the answer is no unless the operator tells you otherwise.

The rules in more detail

Around the airports

It is prohibited to fly a drone closer than 5 km to Svalbard Airport, Longyear, unless air traffic control has given permission. Longyearbyen lies entirely inside that zone. The same 5 km rule applies around the airport in Ny-Ålesund.

Protected areas

Svalbard’s national parks and nature reserves together cover 65.2% of the land and 84.7% of the territorial waters. Since the new environmental rules took effect on 1 January 2025, flying a drone in any of them is forbidden. The aim, in the Governor’s words, is to protect vulnerable wildlife and reach Svalbard’s strict environmental goals.

The Governor can give permission for purposes other than hobby and leisure, but holiday filming doesn’t qualify.

The ban is enforced. In June 2026 a visitor flew a drone at Trinityhamna in Magdalenefjorden, in Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, and shared the footage on social media. The Governor fined them NOK 12,000 and confiscated the drone.

Bird cliffs

To protect nesting birds from noise and disturbance, you may not fly closer than 500 metres to a bird cliff between 1 April and 31 August.

Ny-Ålesund

The research town of Ny-Ålesund is surrounded by a 20 km radio-silent zone. Kings Bay, which runs the town, does not allow wireless equipment there, and in practice the zone rules out drones in the town and across Kongsfjorden.

Everywhere else

Even outside these areas, Svalbard’s environmental law says no activity may damage the environment or cultural heritage, or cause unnecessary disturbance to people or wildlife. Keep your distance from animals: for polar bears, the legal minimum is 300 metres, and 500 metres from 1 March to 30 June. See Polar bear safety.

If you still plan to fly: the paperwork

Svalbard is part of Norway, so Norway’s drone rules, set by the Civil Aviation Authority (Luftfartstilsynet), apply on top of the local ones. In short:

• Register as a drone operator. If you’re registered in an EU or EASA country, that’s enough. If not, register in the first EASA country you’ll fly in; for Norway, that’s at flydrone.no.
• Mark the drone with your operator number, or a QR code containing it.
• Hold the right certificate for the subcategory you fly in (A1/A3 or A2). The A1/A3 course and exam are available online in English at flydrone.no.
• Have liability insurance. Check the exact requirement for your drone with Luftfartstilsynet.
• Fly no higher than 120 metres, and always keep the drone in sight.
• Register the use of cameras and sensors with the Norwegian National Security Authority before you film.
• Check the map at dronesoner.no to see where flying is restricted.