The Faroe Islands are a spectacular place to fly a drone, but also a fragile one. Please fly responsibly, respect people and wildlife, and check the official rules and drone map before every flight.

Flying drones in the Faroe Islands can be a stunning experience, but it must be done with great care. Our small and remote archipelago is home to 54,000 people across 18 islands, with vulnerable nature, rich wildlife, villages, private homes, roads, sheep, birds, and helicopter traffic often close to one another. Privacy, safety, and respect for nature and wildlife must always be the highest priority. This page gives you the most important rules to know before flying. It is a simple guide for visitors — not a full legal document. Drone pilots are responsible for checking the official rules and the official drone map before every flight.

Thank you for respecting local nature and communities.

Rules for all drones

These rules apply to all drones, including drones under 250 g.

Check the drone map

Before every flight, check the official drone-zone map for the Faroe Islands.

The map shows many restricted areas, but it may not show every place where flying is prohibited or unsuitable. You are still responsible for knowing and following the rules. (en.droneregler.dk)

Maximum height: 120 metres

In the open category, the maximum flying height is 120 metres above ground level. The height is measured from the terrain directly below the drone. (en.droneregler.dk)

Keep the drone in sight

You must always keep your drone within visual line of sight. Do not rely only on the screen or camera view. (en.droneregler.dk)

Do not fly over crowds

Do not fly over assemblies of people, crowds, festivals, events, or groups of people gathered in one place. Even small drones under 250 g must not fly over assemblies of people. (en.droneregler.dk)

Respect private homes and property

Do not fly over residential buildings or enclosed private property without the owner’s permission.

If a property is enclosed by a fence, hedge, wall, or similar boundary, you must get permission before flying over it. You must also not fly within 5 metres of residential buildings without permission. (en.droneregler.dk)

Please also respect privacy. Do not film into homes, gardens, windows, farms, or private areas.

Stay away from airports and helicopter landing sites

There are strict restrictions around Vágar Airport and helicopter landing sites.

As a general rule, drone pilots without the required competencies must keep at least:

• 5 km from Vágar Airport
• 2 km from helicopter landing sites

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)