Drone Laws in Sweden

Last updated on April 26th, 2023 at 09:22 pm

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Kingdom of Sweden

Drone Regulator in Sweden: Swedish Transport Agency (STA)

EU Nations Drone Regulator and Regulations: European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

For a full explanation of EASA regulations simplified, please read our explainer: The rules for drone flyers in the European Union (Europe Drone Laws Simplified)

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UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Sweden

The Swedish agency responsible for drone safety, STA, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying drones for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details, go to the links above.

Flying and operating drones in Sweden are subject to European Union Regulation 2019/947. The Swedish Transport Agency (STA) supervises and implements the Regulation in Sweden. This reform aims to create a truly harmonized drone market in Europe with the highest level of safety. In practice, it means that once a drone Οperator has received authorization from its state of registry, they will be allowed to circulate in the European Union freely. According to the level of risk involved, this new legal framework will introduce three categories of drone operations: Open, Specific and Certified

Drone operations are to be conducted according to the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (as amended).

Are drones allowed in Sweden?

According to STA, drones are allowed in Sweden, subject to STA and EASA regulations. Read on for more details.

Sweden Drone Laws Summarized:

• Compulsory registration for operators of almost all drone types. Registered operators get an operator ID that their drones must be labeled with. Identifying the drone from a distance must be possible using the operator ID. Determining the drone’s geographical position, altitude, speed, and flight path must also be possible. New drones shall be programmed with the operator ID.
• Open-category remote pilots must undergo training and take a test. Having passed the test, the pilot will get a drone license, which allows him or her to fly a drone. The drone license is valid for five years. In association with the drone license, there are a few things you need to be aware of:
  • You can pay via Swish (Swedish e-payment) or invoice only. They cannot accept payment by credit card, Apple pay, or Line pay. 
  • If an invoice is selected, it will be sent to you by regular post, so receiving it will probably take some time.
  • The test is in Swedish only and will be sent by e-mail. It has to be completed within 24 hours, including returning it to us by e-mail.
  • One test is included when you have paid the fee, 390 SEK.
  • The test can be sent out once everything is registered in our systems.
  • When you pass the test, a drone license is issued. Please be aware that the process from application to the issue of a drone license may take up to 90 days.
• For drones weighing up to 25 kilos, no special permits from the Swedish Transport Agency are required. All you are required to have is a drone license and an operator ID, as long as you follow the three basic rules of drone flying: fly within your visual line of sight, no more than 120 meters above the ground, and always in a way that does not put others in danger. Drones weighing up to 25 kilos are included in the open category. However, other permits may be required, such as a dissemination permit for images and video, from the Swedish mapping, cadastral, and land registration authority (Lantmäteriet), or a permit from the nearest airport to fly within its control zone.
• If the flight exceeds any of the limitations for the open category, you have to follow the rules for either the specific category or the certified category. This applies to several situations, e.g. if you wish to fly beyond your visual line of sight or higher than 120 meters, but also if you wish to fly close to people without their permission or over a crowd.

Find out more about the regulations, register as an operator, and take the drone license (Swedish language only). More detailed information in English about the regulations can be found on the European Union Aviation Safety Agency – EASA – website.

Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Sweden:

Drone operators must register all drones in Sweden. Following registration, you must adhere to the following rules.

• Drones may fly up to 50 meters (170 feet) above ground or sea level in the Open category and up to 120 meters (400 feet) in the Specific category. (The STA may grant exemptions to operators of specific category drones.) 
• Direct visual contact with the drone is required, and the operating distance should not exceed 500 meters. 
• Avoid flying too close to residential areas or populated areas. 
• Maintain a safety buffer zone of one kilometer around residential areas. 
• Unless the owner/person consents, a safety distance of 500 meters from isolated buildings, people, vehicles, animals, and structures is required. 
• Avoid flying near airports and heliports. Stay a minimum of eight (8) kilometers away from airports and three (3) kilometers from heliports for safety. 
• At no time is it permissible to fly a drone at night. 
• There shall be no flying over, within, or near military installations, public utility installations, archaeological sites, or public or private facilities.

Open Category

Given the low level of risk, neither prior authorization by the competent authority nor a declaration by the drone operator is required. The drone’s total takeoff mass must be less than 25kg, and operate within a visual line of sight at a maximum altitude of 120m.

Specific Category

Considering the moderate level of risk involved, flights in this category require authorization before the operation. The permission is given considering the mitigation measures identified in an operational risk assessment, except in specific standard scenarios where an operator declaration is sufficient.

Certified Category

Given the inherent dangers, certification of the drone and a licensed remote pilot are required. If your drone can carry people, you fall under the Certified category!

EASA Summary of Drone Flight Operation Requirements

Note for foreign operators

Operator Registration (Non-EU Residents)

• If you are coming from a non-EU country and this is the first time you will fly your drone in an EU country, you MUST register as an Operator.
• Upon registration, you will receive a unique Operator Registration number which you MUST attach to your drone. If you have several drones, the same number must be attached to them.
• You are not allowed to fly in NO FLY ZONES, and you must keep a minimum of 8km distance from airports/heliports.
• If you have already conducted operations in another EU country before going to Sweden, you must not register again. You always register to the first non-EU country you have conducted flights.

Remote Pilot Certificate (Non-EU Residents)

• If you want to fly your drone in Sweden and live in a non-EU country, you must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate from an EU country.
• You can get the A1/A3 Certificate by registering with the online Remote Pilot School.
• The online training and exam are required for those who want to fly a drone in the ‘Open’ category in subcategories A1/A3.
• The pass mark is 75%, and you have three tries to pass.
• Once you pass your exam, you will receive your remote pilot certificate. Its validity will be five years.
• You must have your Remote Pilot Certificate when you plan to perform drone operations in Sweden and present it when the authorities ask.

How to register as a drone pilot or operator in Sweden?

According to European Regulation (EU) 2019/947, registration is mandatory for UAS operators (not for UAS themselves).

The UAS Pilot, also known as the Remote Pilot (RP), is the person physically behind the UAS flight controls. They are fully responsible for the safety of the flight throughout operations.

The UAS Operator is the person or company who oversees operations and gives flight instructions. This person or legal entity bears all responsibility for the operations of the drone (s) on their behalf. Very often, in the OPEN category and as individuals, the Pilot and the Operator are the same person.

Who should register?

As part of the OPEN category, registration is compulsory for operators:

• UAS that has a mass of 250 g or more; 
• UAS that has a mass of less than 250 g but:
  • can operate at speeds greater than 90km / h 
  • are equipped with a camera or a microphone, if these UAS are NOT toys * 

* A UAS is a toy when a manufacturer intends it for children under 14 and meets the minimum safety criteria required to be so named. Compliance with these standards naturally limits the capabilities of the UAS (size, weight, non-dangerous spare parts, no powerful motor, etc.): see Directive 2009/48 / EC of 18 June 2009 on the safety of toys

Under the SPECIFIC category, registration is compulsory for all operators.

Natural persons can only register in the country where they reside.

Legal persons must register in the country where their principal place of business is located.

Registration can only be done in one Member State at a time.

How do you register in Sweden for drone operations?

The operator registration procedure begins at the online STA registration link.

This UAS operator registration number is valid for one year and must be renewed periodically following the same procedure. The operator, therefore, always uses the same number unless the latter is permanently deregistered from the register.

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Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Sweden

See the general rules above.

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Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Sweden

In Sweden, all commercial users of drones must obtain a permit to conduct aerial work.

To obtain a drone permit, applicants must pass a theoretical and practical examination. 

To pass the theoretical exam, at least 75% of the questions in each subject must be answered correctly.

Additional requirements vary according to the nature of your intended operations.

See the general rules above.

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What you must know about Sweden No Fly Zones or No Drone Zones

You need to know if you can operate your drone, under what limitations, whether authorizations are required, and how to get those authorizations.

We encourage you to read our explainer for more details on this topic here: Explainer – What You Must Know About No Fly Zones or No Drone Zones

Useful published information on flying drones in Sweden

• Where you are allowed to fly a drone in Sweden
• Register as drone operator in Sweden
• Online drone pilot training and tests in Sweden 
• Apply for an authorisation to fly in Sweden 

Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in Sweden…

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NOTE: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), Small UAS, Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and drone are interchangeable terms unless specified. Model Aircraft, toy, remote-controlled, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.

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Traveling with a Drone?

Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.

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