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Drone licence in Malta: how to get your A1/A3 certificate step by step
In short
- To fly a drone with a camera in Malta you need the A1/A3 certificate, valid in all 31 EASA countries.
- In Malta the exam is not online: you book it on iDronect and sit it in person at Transport Malta in Lija.
- You can sit the exam online with another EASA authority instead, for example in Spain, where it is free.
- Before you fly: register on iDronect, have third-party insurance and get flight approval, since all Maltese airspace is controlled.
To fly a drone in Malta you almost always need the A1/A3 certificate, issued by the Civil Aviation Directorate of Transport Malta. Unlike most EASA countries, Malta does not offer a remote online exam: you sit it at Transport Malta’s offices in Lija. This guide covers the steps, the A2 certificate, registration, insurance and flight approval, and how to take the exam online with another EASA authority instead.
The certificate is European: once you have it, it is valid in all 31 EASA countries, Malta included.
Who needs a drone licence in Malta
You need the A1/A3 certificate to fly any drone with a camera, even one under 250 grams. Only toy drones without a camera are exempt.
The A1/A3 certificate lets you fly in the Open category:
- A1: with light drones (under 250 g, or class C0 and C1), near uninvolved people but never over crowds.
- A3: with drones up to 25 kg, at least 150 metres from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas.
If you want to fly a class C2 drone closer to people, you will also need the A2 certificate after your A1/A3.
The Transport Malta A1/A3 exam step by step
- Book your exam on Transport Malta’s iDronect portal.
- Sit the exam in person at Transport Malta in Lija, in a monitored exam room: 40 multiple-choice questions in up to 1 hour.
- Pass with at least 75%. Results come at least 5 working days after the exam.
- Receive your proof of completion with your pilot number. It is valid for 5 years.
To renew, you sit a shorter exam (20 questions, 30 minutes) before your certificate expires. Otherwise, you have to sit the full exam again. Sources: Transport Malta, Training and Licence renewals.
The alternative: sit the exam online in another EASA country
You do not have to take the A1/A3 exam in Malta. Under EU rules, any aviation authority in the 31 EASA countries can issue the certificate, and it is valid in all of them.
In Spain, for example, the A1/A3 exam run by AESA is free, fully online and open to any nationality. You save the trip to Lija and can do it from home, and your browser’s translator is enough to get through it. This is especially useful if you are visiting Malta and want your certificate before you arrive.
Our course includes links to the official exam in every EASA country, with instructions on how to register.
The A2 certificate in Malta
The A2 builds on your A1/A3 and adds practical self-training and a second theory exam.
| A1/A3 certificate | Must be in place before the A2 exam |
|---|---|
| Practical training | Self-training, which you declare yourself: there is no practical exam |
| Exam | In person at Transport Malta in Lija: 30 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes |
| Pass mark | 75% |
| Validity | 5 years |
The A2 renewal exam also renews your A1/A3. Source: Transport Malta, Training.
Registration, insurance and flight approval
Malta has some of the strictest operating rules in the EASA area, because all of its airspace is controlled.
- Operator registration: on iDronect. It costs 25 euros and is renewed every year. Print your registration number or QR code and stick it on every drone. Visitors who already hold an operator number from another EASA country can take a 3-month registration for 10 euros. Sources: Information and help and Tourists visiting Malta.
- Insurance: mandatory for every drone operator in Malta. Any valid third-party policy is accepted, and you upload it when you register.
- Flight approval: every flight needs authorisation from Transport Malta through iDronect. Flights in the Open category, within sight and outside restricted zones, are usually approved within minutes. Source: Open category operations.
- Restricted zones: airports and heliports, embassies, hospitals, power stations, prisons and nature reserves, among others. Check the iDronect map before every flight. Valletta has its own special permit policy.
Your certificate and your registration are two different things: the certificate is about you as a pilot, the registration is about you as the drone’s operator.
How to prepare for the exam
The quickest route is an online course that takes you straight to the official exam.
The EU Drone Port A1/A3 course is built for exactly that:
- Video lessons online, whenever you like.
- 5 mock exams and a final exam.
- Links to the official exam in every EASA country.
- Lifetime access, handy for renewal after 5 years.
EU Drone Port is an Official Designated Training Entity. The course prepares you for the exam: the certificate is issued by the authority where you sit it.
Want to test yourself first? Download our free 25 practice questions for A1/A3 and A2.
For the A2, there is the A2 course, with mock exams and a guide to practical self-training.
Online course
Prepare for your A1/A3 exam
Video lessons online at your own pace, 5 mock exams and links to the official exam in every EASA country. A course by an Official Designated Training Entity.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the Maltese drone exam online?
No. Transport Malta runs both the A1/A3 and A2 exams in person at its offices in Lija. If you prefer to do it online, you can sit the A1/A3 exam with another EASA authority, such as Spain’s.
Is a drone certificate from another country valid in Malta?
Yes. Under EU rules, a certificate issued by any EASA authority is valid in all 31 EASA countries, Malta included.
Do I need permission for every drone flight in Malta?
Yes. All Maltese airspace is controlled, so each flight needs approval through iDronect. Simple Open-category flights are usually approved within minutes.
Is drone insurance mandatory in Malta?
Yes, for every drone operator. Any valid third-party insurance is accepted.
Do I need a licence for a drone under 250 grams?
Yes, if it has a camera. Only toy drones without a camera are exempt.
How long is the drone certificate valid?
The A1/A3 and A2 certificates are valid for 5 years.
How long does it take to prepare?
With a structured online course, a few hours is enough: our A1/A3 course takes about three and a half hours, mock exams included.