Guide Application Portal Opening Delayed

The application portal for guide certification under the transitional arrangement in Svalbard has been delayed and is now tentatively expected to open in early December 2026.

The portal was originally scheduled to open in early October 2026. The current application deadline remains December 31, 2026.

The Governor of Svalbard has indicated that the application process is expected to be relatively straightforward.

To facilitate a smooth application process once the portal becomes available, guides intending to apply under the transitional arrangement are encouraged to prepare the required documentation in advance. This includes gathering evidence of the 1,500 hours of relevant guiding experience accumulated during the previous three years, as required under the transitional provisions.

AECO, together with partners in Svalbard, continues to advocate for a postponement of both the entry-into-force date of the certification requirement and the associated application deadline. However, until any potential changes are formally confirmed, we strongly encourage all affected guides and operators to plan on the basis of the current deadline of December 31, 2026.

Please note that this update relates only to the transitional arrangement. For information on the overall guide certification requirements, see our other updates on the Svalbard page.

Further information regarding the application portal and the next steps in the certification process will be shared as it becomes available.