Before you apply
Before submitting an expedition application, please review all requirements and guidance available.
To carefully understand which activities, require an expedition permit, what each part of the process includes, and which documents must be submitted at each stage.
This supports an efficient process for both applicants and the Expedition Office.
If you have questions after reviewing the online resources, the Expedition Office remains available for clarification.
Application Fee and payment requirements
Application Fee and payment requirements
With reference to the Executive Order on Access to and Conditions for Travelling in Certain Parts of Greenland, an application fee payment is required for processing the expedition application.
The application fee covers exclusively administrative costs associated with processing the expedition application and is non-refundable, even if an expedition application is rejected/cancelled.
Payment must be made in accordance with the instructions provided in the invoice you receive via e-mail after submitting Part 1 of the expedition application.
To continue the expedition application process, proof of payment (payment receipt) must be submitted with Part 2 of the expedition application.
Fixed application fees
Category | Description | Fee |
A, B & C | All applicants except Research Stations | DKK 4,000 |
D | Research Stations | DKK 25,000 |
For more information regarding expedition categories, see the section Permit types on the website.
Visit Regulated Areas section and accompanying maps to verify whether your planned activities require an expedition permit (these sections on the website will be updated with more details going forward).
- Use NatureMap to identify protected nature and wildlife areas, including seasonal restrictions.
- Refer to Nunniffiit for information on sensitive cultural heritage sites.
- Ensure your itinerary does not overlap with prohibited or restricted zones.
- Crossing the Greenland Ice Sheet is permitted only between 1 April and 15 September.
Expedition permits are required for travel in areas regulated under Executive Order no. 138 of 8 February 2010 on Access to and Conditions for Travelling in Certain Parts of Greenland.
Review the information carefully to ensure that the expeditions planned route and operations fall within the designated regulated zones.
Visit the section Permit types to determine which type of expedition best fits your planned activities:
- Tourism / Logistics expeditions (A)
- Crossing the Greenland Ice Sheet is permitted only between 1 April and 15 September.
- Cruises (B)
- In the National Park in North and East Greenland (sailing in the adjoining sea territory to the national park is termed a cruise regardless of vessel size).
- Scientific expeditions (C)
- Research Stations (D)
- If your upcoming activity is on behalf of government and/or municipal authorities read more about the § 14 exception.
Each type has its own conditions and documentation requirements.
Visit the section Permit types to determine which type of expedition best fits your planned activities:
- Tourism / Logistics expeditions (A)
- Crossing the Greenland Ice Sheet is permitted only between 1 April and 15 September.
- Cruises (B)
- In the National Park in North and East Greenland (sailing in the adjoining sea territory to the national park is termed a cruise regardless of vessel size).
- Scientific expeditions (C)
- Research Stations (D)
- If your upcoming activity is on behalf of government and/or municipal authorities read more about the § 14 exception.
Each type has its own conditions and documentation requirements.
Visit the section Deadlines for a full overview of all required documents, deadlines, and procedural steps.
Reviewing this section will help you:
- Understand which materials are required for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.
- Avoid delays or rejection due to missing or late submissions.
Familiarizing yourself with these requirements will help ensure that your application is complete, compliant, and processed on time.
The activity determines the expedition permit – one group may need more than one type of permit
The type of activity always determines the type of expedition permit.
If different types of activities are conducted by members of the expedition, they will need to apply for separate expedition permits, covering their activities.
• The activity determines the expedition permit – one group may need more than one type of permit
An expedition permits for each trip – and for each group
Each trip is considered an individual expedition and needs its own permit. Similarly, if an expedition covers more than one group, each group is considered an expedition and must have its own permit.
• An expedition permit for each trip – and for each group
Regarding the leader of the expedition
The Expedition Leader (permit holder) is responsible for ensuring full compliance with the permit conditions, preventing any unapproved activities, and ensuring that all necessary additional permits have been obtained for the planned expedition activities — including any permits held by external partners or logistics providers.
• Project owner vs. Logistics provider
The Expedition Leader (permit holder) is responsible for ensuring full compliance with the permit conditions, preventing any unapproved activities, and ensuring that all necessary additional permits have been obtained for the planned expedition activities — including any permits held by external partners or logistics providers. Read more about Project owner vs. Logistics provider.
Alternate expedition leader and in case of change of expedition leader, see below.
It is not possible to change the Expedition Leader later than 8 weeks before the start of the expedition, unless an exception is assessed as possible. To reduce the risk of delays or complications caused by unforeseen circumstances, it is now possible to designate an Alternate Expedition Leader in the application.
This is not a requirement, but it can be helpful if the primary Expedition Leader becomes unavailable, withdraws from the project, or is unable to fulfil the responsibilities associated with the role.
Having an alternate listed from the beginning can ensure continuity in the application process and support the overall safety and coordination of the expedition.
Coming soon
The activity determines the expedition permit – one group may need more than one type of permit
The activity determines the expedition permit – one group may need more than one type of permit
- The type of activity always determines the type of expedition permit.
- If different types of activities are conducted by members of the expedition, they will need to apply for separate expedition permits, covering their activities.
- A Tourism / Logistics (A) or Cruise ship (B) permit can only be used for tourism, adventure, logistics support and cruise purposes and activities, not for research / scientific purposes and activities.
- A Scientific expedition (C) or Research Station permit (D) can only be used for research / scientific purposes and activities, and must be affiliated with a research institution, university or similar. The activities and expedition members must hold a letter of endorsement from the relevant institution. The scientific activities must be described in detail. Alternatively, the expedition must be categorized as a Tourism / Logistics (A) or Cruise ship (B) expedition.
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Example 1: A group consisting of four tourists and two scientists join up and travel together. This results in 1 tourism/logistics permit (A) and 1 scientific permit (C) for the same trip.
Example 2: A research institution is conducting an assignment on behalf of the Government of Greenland. This assignment does not require an expedition permit (see section on § 14 for information about other requirements to § 14 activities). However, the same institution also carries out other (perhaps commercial) activities on behalf of other project owners – the latter activities must be covered by one or more expedition permits (A or C).
An expedition permit for each trip – and for each group
An expedition permit for each trip – and for each group
Each trip is considered an individual expedition and needs its own permit. Similarly, if an expedition covers more than one group, each group is considered an expedition and must have its own permit.
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Example 1: An expedition leader takes a group of people on a 3-day dog sled trip in the National Park in North and East Greenland. Most of the group then head home while at the same time new people join the expedition leader on another dog sled trip in the national park. Each trip / group needs its own separate expedition permit, even though the expedition leader and perhaps some of the participants are repeaters from the first or one of the previous activities.
Example 2: A family sails on a yacht into the national park. They have planned to spend a week in the national park and then head to a location outside the national park for provisions before coming back again for an additional week’s visit in the national park. Each separate visit to the national park is considered an individual expedition and must have its own permit.