What do the drone regulations in Norway actually say? (Complete guide 2025)

The Civil Aviation Authority's data: 58.4% fly illegally – often without knowing it. Here’s everything you need from purchase to certification. It's much easier than many think.

You just bought a drone. What now?

You just bought a drone for the same reason as me and 64% of other drone buyers – you want to take great photos and videos. As a tool, drones are completely unique, with perspectives and angles that surpass any other equipment.

But then you encounter reality: laws, regulations, terms like "VLOS", "open category", "operator number". Things that feel very foreign to many at first and not from the photo/video world.

The Civil Aviation Authority's data shows that 58.4% fly illegally (read more about the survey here). I don’t think people just don’t care, but the encounter with the "aviation world" is discouraging for many. The problem is not the user – the problem is the system.

When I tried to find answers, even very basic information seemed almost impossible to find. A simple Google search on "A2 exam" does not answer the most fundamental questions: What do I really need to fly my drone?, How many questions are on the A2 exam? What does it cost?, Does getting a drone certificate require a lot of work? Partial information is spread across four or five different websites, often without clear answers.

We are used to Vipps, Instagram, and Netflix. Systems designed to be intuitive. The first encounter with the "drone" world can be anything but intuitive and therefore this blog is made to make it easier for new drone buyers to know what they need.

In this guide, I want to give you the information you need after purchasing a drone, for your first flight with a drone certificate.

"Drone" certificate

A drone certificate gives you the right to fly within a given drone regulation framework called A1, A3, and A2 in the "open category". This "open category" is a category with relatively low risk. In simple terms, it means that it has been assessed that flights within this category carry low risk. You fly at low altitudes with relatively light drones that should be visible at all times. The courses you take are straightforward, but also necessary because it is not without risks.

PART 1: The RULES that EVERYONE with a drone must follow

No matter what drone you have or what certificate you take – these rules always apply.

1. Register your drone (mandatory)

All drones with cameras must be registered at flydrone.no. This also applies to drones under 250 grams if they have a camera – for example, DJI Mini 4 Pro, DJI Mini 3 Pro, and all other drones in the Mini series. It is the camera that triggers the registration requirement.

Exceptions: Drones under 250g without a camera or CE marked as toys do not need registration.

The process takes about 10 minutes:

• Log in at flydrone.no with BankID

• Fill in information about you and the drone

• Pay 230 NOK (annual fee)

• Receive an operator number (e.g., NOR87astrdge12k-xyz)

• Mark the drone with the operator number (label or QR code)

Important: The last digits of the operator number (after the hyphen) are confidential and should NOT be marked on the drone.

Screenshot from the "Pilot Competence" tab on "Flydrone.no"

2. Insurance – when is it required?

Drones over 250 grams must be insured (liability insurance). This applies to both hobby and commercial use. The regulations do not distinguish between "commercial", "private", etc. What sets the limits for how you can fly is the weight of your drone and your certificates.

Exceptions: Drones under 250g (like the DJI Mini series) do not need insurance in the open category. But be aware here because if you equip your drone with an (Intelligent Flight Battery Plus) the drone weighs over 250g, which means you must fly in the A1 category.

Many home insurance policies cover your drone, but there is a big difference in whether the insurance covers damage to third parties. That is, whether your insurance also covers damage caused by the drone and not just the drone itself.

Call your insurance company and ask:

• Does my home insurance cover drones over 250g?

• Does it cover liability damages?

• Do I need to upgrade?

3. Maximum flight height: 120 meters

You should not fly higher than 120 meters above the ground. This applies to all drones, everywhere, with all certificates in the "open category".

Why 120 meters? Because above this height, piloted aviation (helicopters, small planes, etc.) can pose a safety risk.

4. VLOS – You must SEE the drone at all times

VLOS stands for "Visual Line of Sight" – you must be able to see the drone with your eyes at all times. Not through a screen or binoculars, but it must be visible to you at all times.

5. 5 kilometer rule near airports

You cannot fly within 5 kilometers of airports without prior permission. This applies to all airports.

Here’s how to check:

• Use the Ninox Drone app (soon to be changed to avidrone)

• Or search for IPPC.no for official airspace maps

6. Check restricted areas before flying

There are areas in Norway where drone flying is restricted or prohibited:

• Restricted areas (R-zones): Oslo city center (R-102) and certain other areas require an application and permission

• Sensor prohibition areas: Prohibited to photograph/film certain military and security-critical installations

• Protected areas: Many national parks have prohibitions against drones

Here’s how to check:

• IPPC.no for airspace restrictions

• NSM's drone map for prohibited areas

• Ninox Drone app for airports

7. Checklist before flying (especially important in new areas):

Before you take off:

• Check the weather (wind, precipitation, visibility)

• Check IPPC.no for NOTAM (temporary restrictions – firefighting, helicopter operations, etc.)

• Check the Ninox Drone app

• Check NSM’s map for prohibited zones and restricted areas

PART 2: A1/A3 competence certificate

Now that you know the basic rules and have registered your drone, you need a competence certificate to fly legally. But first – let’s look at something that may seem confusing.

C-class vs. A-category – two different things

Many confuse these terms, so what I found out is:

C-class (C0, C1, C2, C3) is marked on your drone. It tells you what kind of drone you have, based on weight and characteristics.

A-category (A1, A2, A3) refers to operational levels. They tell you how close to people and buildings you are allowed to fly.

The C-class on your drone determines which A-categories you can operate in:

Who needs an A1/A3 competence certificate?

You need an A1/A3 competence certificate if you are going to fly a drone with C1 marking (250g-900g). For C0 drones under 250g, it is not required, but I recommend the course anyway – it provides a good and simple introduction to safe drone flying.

How to get an A1/A3 competence certificate

You can take the course for free at flydrone.no after you have registered as a drone operator.

The course includes:

• Videos and text about airspace, safety, VLOS, and technical knowledge

• 40 questions on the exam (you can use from 30 minutes to 12 hours)

• Must have 75% correct (30 out of 40) to pass

• Can be retaken for free if you fail

Time investment: 2-3 hours total (course + exam).

What does the A1/A3 competence certificate allow you to do?

With an A1/A3 competence certificate, you can:

In A1 category (near people):

• Fly C0 drones over people (but not over crowds)

• Fly C1 drones near people, but not intentionally over them

In A3 category (open areas):

• Fly all C-marked drones at least 150 meters away from residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational areas

For most hobby pilots with a DJI Mini or Air series, the A1/A3 competence certificate is all you need. If you are one of those who think you might want to make some money with your drone, then read this blog post: 4 reasons why the A2 license pays off.

A2 certificate: The solution for those of us with drones over 900g

About 13.6% of Norwegian drone pilots take the A2 exam. Because they need 5m/30m instead of being limited to 150 meters. This makes a significant difference regarding opportunities for better photos or videos when flying the "Dji Mavic" series.

With an A2 certificate, you can:

• Fly 30 meters from people (normal mode)

• Fly 5 meters from people (in slow mode – "low-speed mode")

• Fly in areas where people actually gather

• Document events and activities

• Greater opportunity to earn some money with your drone (many clients expect A2)

What is the A2 certificate?

A2 is a step up from A1/A3. It requires a bit more knowledge but offers dramatically more freedom for those of us with slightly heavier drones. The A2 certificate allows you to fly 5m from people with C2 marked drones (in slow mode) and 30m from people without slow mode. Since these drones (e.g., Dji Mavic Pro series) have better video and photo capabilities, this opens up opportunities and a market that, for me, was a big surprise. I have recouped this investment many times, and the drone was originally purchased to take photos and videos for my own use (hobby).

When you take the A2 certificate:

• Meteorology (weather and wind)

• Airspace (better understanding)

• Technical knowledge (how the drone works)

• Risk assessment (safety before, during, and after flying)

The process for the A2 certificate:

1. Take the mandatory A2 online course (flydrone.no) – free

2. Prepare for the exam (1 week) – use the DroneKlar app or self-study

3. Book the exam at the traffic station – 30 questions, 60 min, 23 correct to pass (read more about the A2 theory exam)

4. Practical self-training – you train alone, no examiner (free checklist here)

5. Download the certificate from flydrone.no

Cost:

• Exam: ~1,400 NOK

• Preparation: 0-599 NOK

• Total: under 2,500 NOK

→ Read more about what the A2 certificate costs

Read the complete A2 guide → How to pass the A2 drone exam (2025)

Who should take the A2?

If you answer yes to any of these:

• You do not exclude taking payment for drone work (real estate, events, tourism)

• You often fly where people gather

• 150 meters feels too limiting when you have invested in a good drone over 900g

For me, the choice was easy – 150 meters did not work in practice. A2 opened the doors to the kind of photos and videos I actually wanted to create, and many commercial operators expect you to have an A2 certificate. The "Dji Mini" series are very good drones, but the difference up to the "Mavic Pro" series is significantly greater than many think when it comes to photo and video quality.

Good luck with drone flying. You can do this.

Updated: November 2025