Motor traffic in Svalbard
Motor traffic outside of established roads or spaces is basically prohibited under the Svalbard Environmental Act, unless exceptions are made by the Act or regulations based on the Act, or a permit has been granted.
Below you will find the regulations that apply to different types of motorized traffic in Svalbard.
The Motor Traffic Regulations allow snowmobiles to be driven on Svalbard. They distinguish between where permanent residents and visitors can drive snowmobiles. The aim is to limit motor traffic, but also to ensure that permanent residents have more extensive access to motor traffic in the terrain of Svalbard than visitors.
The areas where snowmobile driving is permitted are described in the Motor Traffic Regulations and are also shown in maps in the appendix to the regulations. Note that there is a difference between where permanent residents can drive (§§ 8 and 8a) and where visitors can drive (§§ 8b and 8c).
The Svalbard map has the same maps as in the regulations, but in a map where you can zoom in and out.
You must familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to boating in Svalbard. For example, a minimum distance of 150 meters must be maintained to walrus haul-sites and if you are closer than 300 meters, it is prohibited to drive faster than five knots. There is also a speed limit within 500 meters of selected bird cliffs in the period from 1 April to 31 August. These bird cliffs can be found in Appendix No. 3 to the Regulations on Motor Traffic in Svalbard. Alternatively, these are also included as a layer in the Svalbard map.
There is also a ban on icebreaking in Svalbard. The ban applies to breaking fast ice, i.e. all sea ice that is connected to land.
In the national parks, no more than 200 passengers are allowed on board boats.
It is prohibited to use aircraft for tourist purposes in Svalbard. The use is regulated by the Svalbard Environmental Act and the Regulations on Motor Traffic in Svalbard. In addition, there are separate provisions on the use of aircraft in protected areas. The governor may, upon application, grant permission for landing with aircraft. However, the practice for this is very strict due to the high environmental objectives of the Svalbard Environmental Act. In assessing whether a permit should be granted, the purpose of the application, the risk of environmental disadvantages resulting from the traffic, and the goal of limited motorized traffic in Svalbard will be important elements.
It is prohibited to fly closer than one nautical mile from larger, known occurrences of mammals and birds. These occurrences are not mapped, but the ban will in practice apply to all known bird cliffs. Many bird cliffs with nesting birds can be found on the Svalbard map. Low-level flying is prohibited in protected areas. If you are going to fly in a protected area, you must check what low-level flying altitude applies in the area in question.
Drone flying in Svalbard is also regulated. Read more about this on our website Drones in Svalbard.