The Arctic Refuge is open to the public year-round. If you are visiting the Refuge on your own or as a member of a recreational group, no permit is required. If, however, you conduct a commercial activity such as guiding, film-making, or providing commercial transportation; or if you propose to conduct scientific or geological research or other non-recreational activities, a Special Use Permit is required.

If you are a nonresident hoping to hunt for Dall sheep or grizzly bear, you are required to use an authorized hunting guide.

If you are interested in applying for a commercial permit, which includes videography and/or photography, recreational guiding, and air taxi services (FAA certified, point to point aircraft transportation on Refuge lands and waters), you must apply during one of two application periods: January 1 to April 15, or October 1 to November 30. Complete applications received during these time periods will be processed within 45 days of receipt. Incomplete applications will be returned to you after the closing date. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application is complete and all fees are paid by the closing date. Applications received outside of these periods will be processed during the next open period.

If you are interested in applying for a research permit, you must apply during the October 1 to November 30 application period.

Applications for other proposed Refuge activities may be submitted at any time.

NOTICE TO COMMERCIAL POLAR BEAR VIEWING GUIDES: Due to dramatic increases in visitors to view polar bears at Kaktovik, Refuge staff are conducting an Environmental Assessment of the effects of recreational polar bear viewing on physical, biological, social, cultural, and managerial resources; developing a Compatibility Determination to ensure the activity continues consistent with Refuge purposes; and minimizing interruptions to the ecotourism industry during the planning effort by allowing current (2016) polar bear viewing guide permit holders to renew their existing permits if their operation plans remain essentially unchanged. The Refuge is SUSPENDING THE ISSUANCE OF NEW PERMITS for the activity during the 2017 and 2018 viewing seasons. Current permittees may renew existing permits as indicated on the standard Special Use Permit Application Form FWS 3-1383-C. Renewing polar bear viewing guide businesses seeking to operate om 2017 must submit permit renewals from January 2 to April 17, 2017. Only permit applications postmarked by Monday, April 17, 2017 will be accepted.

1) Read through this "Permits" page to see if a permit is required for your desired activity. If one is, determine which type of permit you should apply for.

2) Before you request a permit, please become familiar with the wildlife, wilderness, and recreational values for which the Arctic Refuge was established and which must be protected. Additional information about the Refuge is available on this web site in the "About the Refuge," "Wildlife & Habitat," "Rules and Regulations," and "Visitors Activities" sections. Read these sections to gain further insights about what activities might be allowed on the Refuge.

3) To apply for a Special Use Permit, fill out the necessary application and contact Alfredo Soto, Wildlife Refuge Specialist.

Once we receive your completed permit application the process can take up to 45 days so a request for a Special Use Permit should be submitted as early as possible. In order to protect Refuge values, we may require revision of schedules, location, means of access, party size, and/or methods.

Refuge staff members take into consideration Refuge management plans and policies as well as a number of federal and state laws when considering each permit application. Among them are the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), the Refuge Administration Act, the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997, the Wilderness Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Marine Mammals Protection Act, and the Arctic Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. These mandates and guidelines require particularly careful scrutiny of any Refuge use not allowed to the general public. Some issues given special attention are:

1) Motorized equipment - All requests for motorized access not specifically allowed by ANILCA (e.g., helicopters, all-terrain vehicles, airboats) are carefully scrutinized and may be prohibited.

2) Installations - Placement of installations (e.g., data collection stations, weather stations, remote video, and rock bolts) are carefully scrutinized and may be prohibited.

3) Areas of special designation - Areas with special designation, including designated Wilderness, three Wild River corridors, two Research Natural Areas, and nine recommended National Natural Landmarks, may have special considerations and regulatory requirements.

4) Wildlife - The potential for the proposed activity to interfere with or attract wildlife, or its potential for causing dangerous interactions between wildlife and humans, will be carefully examined and may result in modification or denial of the proposed activity.

5) Group size - Total group size for permitted commercial recreational activities is limited to seven people for groups on foot and ten people for float trips. These numbers include guides. For float trips, each company is limited to one group on an individual river at a time. Other Special Use Permit holders such as scientific groups are limited to personnel directly involved in program activities.

Commercial Permits:
Recreational Guiding and Educational Group Guiding
Polar Bear Viewing Guides and/or Water Taxi Operators
Air Transporter/Taxi Operators
Videography/Photography

Scientific Research

Alfredo Soto, Wildlife Refuge Specialist
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
101 12th Avenue, Room 236
Fairbanks, AK 99701

phone: 907/456-0303 (direct line) or 800/362-4546
fax: 907/456-0428
Email: alfredo_soto@fws.gov

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