A new regulation on security checks on Svalbard came into force in May, then as one of the government's measures to strengthen security in the North after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The regulation gives the Governor of Svalbard responsibility for carrying out identity and identification control of people who travel to or from Svalbard by plane or boat. Firstly, this control is aimed to be sporadic, and particularly aimed at charter flights that come directly to Svalbard from abroad, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security informed.

However, Svalbard Airport reported that it does not have available space for carrying out such security checks.

An extension for security checks at the airport is now under construction, writes Svalbardposten.

"Until now, there have not been any suitable premises at the airport to be able to carry out identity checks, so since this summer, there has been a process to put in place locations for proper security checks," says the Police Chief at the Governor, Stein Olav Bredli, to the newspaper.

The building will have a usable area of 136 square meters and will be put into use in February. This is intended as a temporary space for carrying out identity checks. Svalbard Airport has previously indicated a need for expansion of the terminal.