Flying a Drone in Tromso Can Get You Deported

Recent NRK article about tourist deported from the country for illegal drone flying in Tromsø

Temporary Drone Ban In Tromsø

In addition to the unchanging drone rules, you also need to pay attention to temporary drone bans. Currently, there is an ongoing military exercise “Nordic Response,” which results in restrictions for civilian air traffic, including drones.

The restrictions on drones apply to parts of Northern Troms and Finnmark counties and will be in effect from March 4 to 15, 2024. Note that there are also restrictions in Finnish and Swedish airspace for the same reason.

Read more about the restrictions for drones and civilian flights during Nordic Response.

Where specifically are you not allowed to fly drones in Tromsø?

The entire island of Tromsø, along with parts of Kvaløya and Håkøya islands, falls within the drone flight restriction areas due to its proximity to Tromsø Airport. In addition to that, you are not allowed to fly a drone in Tromsdalen Valley on the mainland.

To be more specific, do not expect to capture any aerial footage of:

❌ The Arctic cathedral

❌ Fjellheisen cable car

❌ Tromsø city center

❌ The harbour area

❌ Tromsø bridge (Tromsøbrua)

❌ Sandnessund Bridge (The bridge between Tromsø and Kvaløya Island)

AVINOR map showing the 5 km radius around Tromsø Airport where flying a drone is illegal.

“But I’ve seen pictures of these places on social media! How could they take them, and I cannot?” 

Well, either the pictures were taken illegally, and the author was lucky not to get caught, or it’s possible that the pictures were taken by a commercial drone operator who had permission to fly within 5 km of the airport.

Tromsolove is an amazing page filled with stunning pictures from Tromsø and its surroundings. However, we wish it were made clearer that some of the pictures are taken within the restricted fly zone, and the drone pilot must have special permission to capture them.

Tourists Face Deportation For Illegal Drone Flying in Tromsø

Here’s a recent experience shared on Reddit by a tourist who not only had their drone confiscated for briefly flying it in Telegrafbukta at the southern tip of Tromsø Island but also faced the threat of deportation from Norway.

“We had quite an unsettling experience when we inadvertently flew our drone (DJI Mini 2) within 5km of Tromsø airport, which is illegal and can lead to significant trouble. Unfortunately, our DJI Fly app did not issue a ‘NO FLY’ or restricted area warning. We were flying in Telegrafbukta, which, according to Google Maps, is more than 5km from the airport. However, the distance from the airport is measured from a point beyond the start of the runway. 

The island hardly has any drone signage, and without thorough research, which we admit we should have done, you’re vulnerable. We flew the drone about 10 meters before us for 3 minutes. The police arrived within 5 minutes of us packing the drone away.

The police informed us that any drone flight within 5km of the airport notifies the air tower, requiring them to halt airport air traffic, regardless of the drone’s weight and class. This issue is regular and well-known, with the police handling similar cases multiple times a week. Despite the frequency of offenses and the severity of the situation, there seems to be no effort to improve awareness.

It was difficult to accept, especially given the misleading information we relied on. However, the authorities do not budge on breaches of regulations.

Here’s the kicker:

Norwegians, EU, and Schengen area citizens would face a fine and have their drones confiscated. The fine stands at 12,000 NOK (about 1000 EUR). Suppose you’re not a Norwegian, EU, or Schengen citizen. In that case, they will additionally refer the case to their Department of Immigration and deport you with a two-year expulsion period from Norway, which could potentially extend to the entire Schengen area.

This process occurs almost automatically, with the police having very little discretion. The arresting officers had only basic knowledge of the regulations. When my passport was seized, and we were handed formal charge documents the next day, we fully grasped the seriousness of our situation. The police concurred that the penalties for these offenses were exceedingly harsh and the rules unclear, yet their hands were tied.

Only after we managed to speak with the city prosecutor and clarify that the drone operator was actually an EU citizen were the charges adjusted, and no one was deported.”

Excuse the automatic translation from Norwegian to English. However, local newspapers are full of reports about tourists being caught flying too close to Tromsø Airport.

Illegal drone flying in Tromso frequently disrupts air traffic

Flying a drone within 5 km of an airport is illegal due to the significant safety risks it poses to both incoming and outgoing flights. Drones can interfere with air traffic control’s ability to manage the airspace, potentially leading to dangerous situations.

In Tromsø, this rule is especially important because the city’s airport serves as a gateway to the Arctic and sees a lot of air traffic. The frequency of illegal drone flights in Tromsø has led to numerous instances where air traffic had to be halted temporarily.

So, if you’re traveling with your drone, take the time to familiarize yourself with local no-fly zones and steer clear of the 5 km radius around the airport.