Permission to fly in restricted areas

General Information

The Swedish Transport Agency imposes restrictions or bans on aviation in certain areas, known as restricted areas (R-areas). These areas may be established for military purposes, public order and security, or environmental and nature protection. Flying in a restricted area is prohibited without permission from the relevant authority or the ATS unit, as specified in column 4 of the restricted areas list in AIP ENR 5.1.

Important information before applying

When reviewing applications for permission to fly in restricted areas, the Swedish Transport Agency primarily assesses whether the flight serves a societal purpose or provides significant public benefit. The legal basis for these assessments is found in the Civil Aviation Act (2010:500), the Civil Aviation Ordinance (2010:770), and the Ordinance (2005:801) on Restrictions on Aviation in Certain Areas. The Swedish Transport Agency may grant exemptions if there are special reasons to do so.

If an application is deemed to meet societal benefit requirements or demonstrates special reasons, it will be sent to relevant referral bodies for review before a decision is made. Permission to fly is granted restrictively and is primarily issued to businesses engaged in activities such as:

• Inspection work
• Surveying and mapping
• Construction operations
• Traffic monitoring
• Inspection of critical infrastructure (e.g., power lines, roads, ports, railways) 

Permissions are not granted to private individuals for recreational flights or for flights conducted strictly for commercial purposes.

Flying over national parks

For flights in restricted areas established over a national park, a separate exemption permit from the relevant County Administrative Board is required for takeoff and landing within the area if such regulation applies. Examples of restricted areas over national parks include ESR47 Sarek and ESR53 Stora Sjöfallet.

For more information on national park regulations, visit the County Administrative Board's website.

Flying drones in restricted areas

The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft does not regulate the operation or use of unmanned aircraft in restricted areas. Unmanned aircraft 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. The fee is regulated in Chapter 17, Section 11 of the Swedish Transport Agency's Fee Regulations (TSFS 2024:78) (in Swedish only).

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

Application for permission to fly in a restricted area

Your application must include the following information:

Company Details (as applicable):

• Name, organization number, address, phone number, and email.
• Billing address and responsible contact person.

Operator Details:

• For UAS: Operator details, remote pilot’s name, contact information, and remote pilot certificate of competence.
• Clearly specify the model, weight, and classification (if applicable). Include a photo of the drone.
• For other aircraft: Operator details, aircraft model, and registration number.

Description of the Operation:

• Objectives and purpose of the flight.
• Order confirmation or similar documentation from the client to verify the purpose of the flight.

Flight Area:

• A map with coordinates in WGS84 format. It is recommended to use LFV’s Drone Chart to mark the relevant flight area within the restricted zone.
• Description of densely built-up areas and how applicable regulations will be followed.

Time Period:

• Date and time of the flight. The validity period of a permit must be limited to the intended operation but may be flexible to account for factors such as weather conditions.

Flight Altitude:

• The maximum intended operational altitude, specified in feet or meters above ground level (AGL).

Coordination:

• Description of any consultation with other authorities and the outcome of such discussions.

Submission deadline

The complete application must be submitted at least five weeks before the intended flight date.

Submission of the application

Applications should be sent in PDF- or Word-format to: luftfart@transportstyrelsen.se or to: Swedish Transport Agency, Maritime and Aviation Department, 601 73 Norrköping Sweden.

Contact Information

Swedish Transport Agency
Maritime and Aviation Department
601 73 Norrköping

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