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Drone licence in the Czech Republic: how to get your A1/A3 certificate step by step
In short
- To fly a drone with a camera in the Czech Republic you need the A1/A3 certificate, valid in all 31 EASA countries.
- The ÚCL exam is online: 40 questions in 60 minutes, pass mark 75%.
- You can also sit it with another EASA authority, for example in Spain, where it is free and online.
- The A2 certificate needs a second exam at the ÚCL or online.
- Before you fly: register on dron.caa.gov.cz and check DronView.
To fly a drone in the Czech Republic you almost always need the A1/A3 certificate, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ÚCL) after an online exam. This guide covers the steps, the A2 certificate, registration and insurance, and the option of sitting the exam in another EASA country.
The certificate is European: once you have it, it is valid in all 31 EASA countries, the Czech Republic included.
Who needs a drone licence in the Czech Republic
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 ÚCL A1/A3 exam step by step
The ÚCL runs the A1/A3 exam online on its drone portal.
- Register as a pilot on dron.caa.gov.cz.
- Sit the exam: 40 multiple-choice questions, each with 4 options, in 60 minutes. The test is submitted automatically when time runs out.
- Pass with at least 75%. If you fail, you can retake it; after a second failed attempt you need to register again.
- Receive your certificate by email. It is valid for 5 years, and you can renew it from 180 days before expiry.
The minimum age is 16. Source: ÚCL, remote pilot registration.
The alternative: sit the exam in another EASA country
You do not have to take the A1/A3 exam in the Czech Republic. Any aviation authority in the 31 EASA countries can issue it, and it is valid in all of them, the Czech Republic included.
In Spain, for example, the A1/A3 exam run by AESA is free, online and open to any nationality. Your browser’s translator is enough to get through it.
Our course includes links to the official exam in every EASA country, with instructions on how to register.
The A2 certificate in the Czech Republic
The A2 builds on your A1/A3 and adds practical self-training and a second theory exam.
| A1/A3 certificate | Required before the A2 exam |
|---|---|
| Practical training | Self-training in A3 conditions, declared at the exam |
| Booking | In your pilot profile on dron.caa.gov.cz |
| Exam | At the ÚCL premises, or online on request: 30 multiple-choice questions |
| Pass mark | 75% |
| Validity | 5 years |
Source: ÚCL, A2 subcategory.
Registration, insurance and where you can fly
As well as your certificate, you need to register as an operator before your first flight.
- Operator registration: on dron.caa.gov.cz, for drones of 250 g or more or with a camera. You receive your registration number by email and must mark every drone with it. If you live in another EU country, register there instead.
- Insurance: under Czech law, third-party liability insurance is required for A2 flights and for A3 flights with drones over 4 kg, with minimum cover of 1,000,000 CZK per event. Source: ÚCL, liability insurance.
- Where you can fly: check the ŘLP DronView map before every flight, and the ÚCL geographical zones.
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
How long is the Czech A1/A3 exam?
40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, with a pass mark of 75%.
Is a drone certificate from another country valid in the Czech Republic?
Yes. A certificate issued by any EASA authority is valid in all 31 EASA countries, the Czech Republic included.
How long is the drone certificate valid?
5 years. In the Czech Republic you can renew it from 180 days before it expires.
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.
Is drone insurance mandatory in the Czech Republic?
For A2 flights and for A3 flights with drones over 4 kg, with minimum cover of 1,000,000 CZK.
Where do I take the A2 exam in the Czech Republic?
At the ÚCL premises, or online on request, booked through your pilot profile on dron.caa.gov.cz.
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.