Permission to Fly in Restricted Areas

General Information

The Swedish Transport Agency has the authority to impose restrictions or prohibitions on aviation by designating restricted areas. Such measures may be taken for for reasons of military operations, if necessary to maintain public order and safety, to protect outdoor recreational activities, nature or environmental conservation, or to prevent disturbances during large-scale public gatherings or events. The Agency may also issue regulations governing activities within restricted areas.

Flying within a restricted area is prohibited without prior permission from the competent authority or air traffic services (ATS) unit, as specified in Column 3 of the restricted areas list in AIP Sweden ENR 5.1. 

Important Information Before Applying

When assessing applications for flight permission in restricted areas, the Swedish Transport Agency considers whether the operation:

• Serves a societal need, or
• Provides significant public benefit

This assessment is made in accordance with:

• The Civil Aviation Act (2010:500)
• The Civil Aviation Ordinance (2010:770)
• The Ordinance (2005:801) on Restrictions on Aviation in Certain Areas

Exemptions may be granted if special reasons can be demonstrated.

If an application is assessed to meet these criteria, it is referred to relevant authorities or stakeholders for consultation before a decision is made.

Please note: Permission is granted restrictively and is typically limited to operators performing essential services, including:

• Inspection and monitoring
• Surveying and mapping
• Construction-related activities
• Traffic observation
• Infrastructure inspection (e.g. power lines, roads, railways, ports)

Private individuals are not granted permission for recreational flights or flights conducted solely for commercial purposes (e.g. filming, photography).

Flying Over National Parks

If the restricted area is established over a national park, a separate permit from the relevant County Administrative Board may be required for take-off and landing within the national park, depending on local regulations.

The restricted areas over national parks are: ESR47 Sarek, ESR53 Stora Sjöfallet, ESR57 Padjelanta, ESR61 Sånfjället, ESR114 Djurö, ESR115 Fulufjället, and ESR116 Färnebofjärden

Visit your County Administrative Board’s website for more information on national park regulations and how to apply for a permit to start and land with an aircraft or drone within a national park.

Drone Flights in Restricted Areas

The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 does not govern the use of unmanned aircraft (UAS) in restricted areas.

According to the Swedish Transport Agency's regulation on drones, unmanned aircraft (drones) may not be flown in restricted areas without permission.

Application Fee

The Swedish Transport Agency charges a fee for processing applications to fly in restricted areas, as regulated under Chapter 17, Section 11 of the Agency’s Fee Regulations (TSFS 2024:78) (available in Swedish only).

The fee applies regardless of whether the application is approved or rejected.

Application Requirements

Your application must include the following information:

Company Details (if applicable)

• Name of the organisation
• Organisation number
• Address, telephone number, and email
• Billing address and designated contact person

Operator Details

For UAS operations

• Operator details, including name and contact information of the remote pilot
• Copy of the remote pilot’s certificate (drone licence)
• Clearly specify the UAS model, weight, and classification (if applicable)
• Include a photograph of the drone

For other aircraft

• Operator name
• Aircraft model
• Registration number
• Include a photograph of the aircraft

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Description of the Intended Operation and Purpose

• A detailed description of the planned activity
• Background, objectives, and purpose of the flight
• An order confirmation or similar documentation from the client confirming the purpose of the flight. Note: The order confirmation must not contain personal data or pricing information.

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Flight Area

• A map in an appropriate scale with coordinates provided in:
  • WGS84 format as DDMMSSN/E (e.g. 575402.27N 0155035.48E, max two decimals), or
  • Decimal degrees (e.g. 57.900621, 15.843012)
• The LFV Drone Map is recommended for marking the relevant flight area within the applicable restricted zone
• Include a description of any densely populated areas within the operation zone and explain how relevant regulations will be followed

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Time Period

• Date and time of the planned flight
• The validity period of the permit should be limited to the specific operation, but may be flexible to accommodate external factors such as weather conditions

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Altitude

• State the maximum intended operational altitude in:
  • Feet or metres Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL), or
  • Above Ground Level (AGL)

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Coordination

• Provide details of any consultation with other authorities
• Describe the outcome of such coordination

Submission of the application

Applications must be submitted no later than five weeks prior to the intended flight date.

Applications should be sent in PDF- or Word-format to: luftfart@transportstyrelsen.se. 

Contact Information

Swedish Transport Agency
Maritime and Aviation Department
601 73 Norrköping

Phone: 0771-503 503
Email: asm@transportstyrelsen.se