All Drone Laws in Norway for 2023 (Complete Guide)

Recreational drone rules

If you are a recreational drone pilot then there is a specific set of rules that you will need to follow while flying your drone in Norway. These rules are as follows:

• You must never fly your drone above 120 m height
• Make sure to keep your drone at least 5km away from the aerodromes or airports
• Never fly your drone beyond a line of sight range
• Insurance for the drone is mandatory before the flight 
• Never fly your drone directly above a crowd of people or near military zones
• Do not fly your drone near natural disaster areas
• Make sure your drone is not interfering with any law enforcement activities 

Commercial drone Rules

If you are a commercial drone pilot and want to fly your drone for any commercial purposes then you need to have permission from the CAA. Most of the rules and regulations for commercial drones are similar to recreational drones.

But the only difference is that you need to have permission from the CAA before flying your drone for commercial purposes.

Here are the rules for commercial drone pilots to follow in Norway:

• You should never fly your drone above 120 meters.
• It is important that your drone is at least 5 kilometers from aerodromes or airports.
• Don't fly your drone outside of a line-of-sight range.
• Before you fly, you'll need to have insurance.
• Never fly your drone over a crowd of people or in close proximity to one.
• Always give way to manned aircraft by landing your drone immediately

Classification of commercial drones

Based on their weight, commercial drones are classified into different categories by the Norwegian CAA. Here are those different categories:

• Drones weighing less than 2.5 Kg (RO1)
• Drones between 2.5 Kg and 25 Kg (RO2)
• Drones above 25 Kg (RO3)

Where can I get a drone flight permit in Norway?

As mentioned earlier, you will need a flight permit to fly your commercial drone in Norway. In order to get a flight permit you will need to follow the below-given steps:

Note: The following is the permit application process for the RO1 and RO2 category drones.

The first thing that you will need to mention in the application for the permit is to describe your drone. This is the part where you will need to mention the drone's manufacturer, model, and serial number.

After that, you need to give a description of the project for which you will be using the drone. This is the part where you will need to mention the purpose of your project, flight Details, and other information related to your project.

Then you will need to fill out the operator's information. In this section, you need to give information about the person who will be operating the drone and his/her qualifications.

After that, you will need to get the approval of the N-CAA. You can get this approval by sending an email to postmottak@caa.no. The approval should include your name, address, and phone number.

When all checkout you can process further to get the permit.

Is there an application fee required?

Absolutely, for category RO2 650€ alongside a +430€ (annual fee). RO3 1200€ fee to be paid annually. Application for special permits on restricted zones is 250€. 

Where can I or can’t I fly a drone in Norway

You can check out the areas that are demarcated for flying using the Norwegian recognized app.

Application for flying over Central Oslo can be done here.

Can I be penalized for flying a drone in Norway?

The Norwegian Aviation Act § 14-29, indicates a potential fine or three-month imprisonment for anyone who breaches the laws concerned.

In case of endangering the life or property of another person, a fine of up to one year in prison can be imposed.

The police can seize the drone in case of a rule violation.

Pilot requirements for commercial drone pilots

All commercial drone pilots in Norway must have a valid pilot certificate. There are different types of pilot certificates offered by the Norwegian CAA. The type of certificate you will need depends on the weight and class of your drone.

Here are the requirements for operating commercial drones of different categories:

Requirements for RO1:

RO1 drones are drones that weigh less than 2.5 Kg. The pilots flying these drones don't need any specific pilot certificate. But they will need to follow the general rules and regulations for flying drones in Norway.

The maximum allowed speed for the RO1 drones is 60 knots and the drone should be operated within the line of sight range and that too during the daylight hours only.

In order to fly an RO1 category drone, the operator must declare that they will operate their drone by following all the rules and regulations and notify N-CAA about their flight before taking off. 

Moreover, the drone pilot needs to be at least 16 years old along with having an operations manual in place.

Apart from that, keeping a flight log is also one of the requirements for the RO1 category drone and the drone needs to be maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Lastly, the drone needs to be marked with the operator's name and contact information. 

Requirements for RO2:

Drones in the RO2 category have sizes up to 25 Kg and their max speed is around80 knots. These types of drones are allowed to be used within VLOS and EVLOS operations during daylight hours.

In order to fly a drone of the RO2 category, the operator must obtain a license from the N-CAA first before starting an undertaking. The application for the flight needs to be accompanied by the risk analysis and operator's manual.

Moreover, the drone pilot must pass an online course for the drone operator. It is currently available only in Norwegian and the fee for this course is around 1010 NOK.

Furthermore, the requirements of the RO2 operations also include that the pilot needs to be 18 years old at least and have knowledge about air safety. The drone should be maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions.