Flying drones in the Faroe Islands can be a stunning yet fragile venture. This small and remote archipelago is inhabited by 54,000 people scattered around the 18 islands. Privacy and safety must be the highest priority when flying drones near wildlife and villages. Therefore, before your visit, we kindly ask that you familiarise yourself with the conditions below in which drone flying is permitted.

Thank you for respecting local nature and communities.

The European drone rules apply in the Faroe Islands, meaning you can fly your drone here like within the EU. However, you must know a few exceptions and special requirements for the Faroe Islands.

Certification & Operator Requirements

• All drone operators (private or organisational) must register as operators with Trafikstyrelsen
• Pilot competency depends on weight category:
  • 0–249 g (non-C0 toys): no certificate needed, but registration and operator ID are required if sensors/cameras are installed.
  • 250 g–25 kg (legacy drones): require A1/A3 certificate, registration, and adherence to A3 rules
  • For flights in populated areas or specific category flights, an A2 or A1/A3 certificate is needed, depending on density, plus operator registration.
• Visual line-of-sight is mandatory always.

Geographic “Drone Zones” & Permissions

You can see the drone zones for the Faroe Islands on the webpage www.dronusonur.fo

• Within 5 km of Vágar Airport, you need permission from Trafikstyrelsen and police if flying closer.
• Permission is required for drones closer than 300 m to police properties, over public roads (speed >70 km/h), or within 5 m of power lines.
• Unless certified and permitted, flying within 150 m of helipads used by air ambulances (HEMS) or over sensitive sites (embassies, military, prisons) is prohibited.
• Military zones: no drone flights within 300–1,000 m unless the Faroese Defence Command authorises.
• Sensitive natural areas (e.g. Ramsar sites) are off-limits from April 15 to August 30, except for essential official operations.
• Festivals, grindadráp (whale hunting), or fishery-inspection areas: Unless granted permission, flights may not be within 150 m during these events.

Operational Rules

• Distance from people/buildings/nature
  • Maintain 150 m from residential, recreational, or industrial areas
  • Keep 30 m from people (or 5 m if in low-speed mode)
• Maximum altitude: 120 m above ground for legacy drones
• No flying over crowds or gatherings
• C-marking rules:
  o New drones (C0–C4 categories) from Jan 1st 2025, must have a C-mark
  o Legacy drones remain valid if marketed before December 31, 2024

Insurance Requirements

• All drones must be covered by third-party liability insurance of at least 0.75 million SDR (≈ 6.75 million DKK)