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Drone licence in Norway: how to get your A1/A3 certificate step by step
In short
- To fly a drone with a camera in Norway you need the A1/A3 certificate, valid in all 31 EASA countries.
- The exam is online and free on flydrone.no, and available in English.
- The A2 needs a second exam in person at a Statens vegvesen traffic station, for 970 NOK.
- Before you fly: register on flydrone.no and take out insurance for drones of 250 g or more.
- Check dronesoner.no before every flight.
To fly a drone in Norway you almost always need the A1/A3 certificate, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway (Luftfartstilsynet) after an online exam on flydrone.no. This guide covers the steps, the A2 certificate, registration, insurance and the airport zones, plus the option of sitting the exam in another EASA country.
The certificate is European: once you have it, it is valid in all 31 EASA countries, Norway included.
Who needs a drone licence in Norway
You need the A1/A3 certificate to fly any drone with a camera, even one under 250 grams. Only toy drones without a camera are exempt.
The A1/A3 certificate lets you fly in the Open category:
- A1: with light drones (under 250 g, or class C0 and C1), near uninvolved people but never over crowds.
- A3: with drones up to 25 kg, at least 150 metres from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas.
If you want to fly a class C2 drone closer to people, you will also need the A2 certificate after your A1/A3.
The Luftfartstilsynet A1/A3 exam step by step
The A1/A3 exam is taken online on flydrone.no, and it is free.
- Log in to flydrone.no with ID-porten. Without a Norwegian ID number, you verify your identity by uploading a passport photo and a selfie.
- Sit the exam online. It is available in English.
- Download your proof of competency from “My page” on flydrone.no.
The minimum age to fly alone is 16. Source: Luftfartstilsynet, registration.
The alternative: sit the exam in another EASA country
You do not have to take the A1/A3 exam in Norway. Any aviation authority in the 31 EASA countries can issue it, and it is valid in all of them, Norway included.
In Spain, for example, the A1/A3 exam run by AESA is free, online and open to any nationality. Your browser’s translator is enough to get through it.
Our course includes links to the official exam in every EASA country, with instructions on how to register.
The A2 certificate in Norway
The A2 builds on your A1/A3 and adds practical self-training and a second theory exam.
| A1/A3 certificate | Required, plus practical self-training |
|---|---|
| Exam | In person at a Statens vegvesen traffic station, booked in advance, with valid ID |
| Language | Norwegian or English |
| Fee | 970 NOK, paid on the day |
Source: Statens vegvesen, drone operator test.
Registration, insurance and airport zones
As well as your certificate, you need to register and, for most drones, insure them.
- Operator registration: on flydrone.no, for 230 NOK per year for private individuals. Display your operator number, without its secret digits, or the QR code on the drone. If you are already registered in another EASA country, you do not register again.
- Insurance: third-party liability cover of at least 750,000 SDR is mandatory. Drones under 250 g in the Open category and toys are exempt. Source: Luftfartstilsynet, insurance.
- Airport zones: check dronesoner.no before every flight. Inside the 5 km zones around Avinor airports you need permission through the NinoxDrone app.
Your certificate and your registration are two different things: the certificate is about you as a pilot, the registration is about you as the drone’s operator.
How to prepare for the exam
The quickest route is an online course that takes you straight to the official exam.
The EU Drone Port A1/A3 course is built for exactly that:
- Video lessons online, whenever you like.
- 5 mock exams and a final exam.
- Links to the official exam in every EASA country.
- Lifetime access, handy for renewal after 5 years.
EU Drone Port is an Official Designated Training Entity. The course prepares you for the exam: the certificate is issued by the authority where you sit it.
Want to test yourself first? Download our free 25 practice questions for A1/A3 and A2.
For the A2, there is the A2 course, with mock exams and a guide to practical self-training.
Online course
Prepare for your A1/A3 exam
Video lessons online at your own pace, 5 mock exams and links to the official exam in every EASA country. A course by an Official Designated Training Entity.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners take the Norwegian drone exam?
Yes. Without a Norwegian ID number, you verify your identity on flydrone.no with a passport photo and a selfie.
How much does a drone licence cost in Norway?
The A1/A3 exam is free. The A2 test costs 970 NOK, and operator registration 230 NOK per year.
Is a drone certificate from another country valid in Norway?
Yes. A certificate issued by any EASA authority is valid in all 31 EASA countries, Norway included.
Do I need a licence for a drone under 250 grams?
Yes, if it has a camera. Only toy drones without a camera are exempt.
Is drone insurance mandatory in Norway?
Yes, for drones of 250 g or more, with cover of at least 750,000 SDR.
Can I fly near airports in Norway?
Inside the 5 km zones around Avinor airports you need permission through the NinoxDrone app.
How long does it take to prepare?
With a structured online course, a few hours is enough: our A1/A3 course takes about three and a half hours, mock exams included.