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Drone licence in Sweden: how to get your A1/A3 certificate step by step
In short
- To fly a drone with a camera in Sweden you need the A1/A3 certificate, valid in all 31 EASA countries.
- Transportstyrelsen’s exam is online: 40 questions, 75% to pass, 600 SEK.
- You can also sit it with another EASA authority, for example in Spain, where it is free and online.
- The A2 needs a second, supervised exam.
- Before you fly: register on Drönarsidan and check Dronechart.
To fly a drone in Sweden you almost always need the A1/A3 certificate, known as the drönarkort, issued by the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) after an online exam. This guide covers the steps, the fees, the A2 certificate, registration, insurance and the rules on sharing aerial images, plus 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, Sweden included.
Who needs a drone licence in Sweden
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 Transportstyrelsen A1/A3 exam step by step
The A1/A3 exam is taken online on Transportstyrelsen’s drone website, Drönarsidan.
- Log in to Drönarsidan and pay the fee of 600 SEK before the test.
- Sit the exam: 40 multiple-choice questions.
- Pass with at least 75%. A retake costs 600 SEK again.
- Receive your digital drone card (drönarkort). It is valid for 5 years and can be renewed from 3 months before expiry, for 550 SEK.
The minimum age is 15. Sources: Transportstyrelsen, drone card and Transportstyrelsen, fees.
The alternative: sit the exam in another EASA country
You do not have to take the A1/A3 exam in Sweden. Any aviation authority in the 31 EASA countries can issue it, and it is valid in all of them, Sweden included.
In Spain, for example, the A1/A3 exam run by AESA is free, online and open to any nationality. Transportstyrelsen also offers a manual route by email, but that test is in Swedish only and processing can take up to 90 days. 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 Sweden
The A2 builds on your A1/A3 and adds a second theory exam and practical self-training.
| A1/A3 certificate | Required before the A2 |
|---|---|
| Exam | 30 multiple-choice questions, sat under supervision at an authorised venue |
| Pass mark | 75% |
| Practical training | Self-training after the exam, declared on Drönarsidan |
| Fee | 850 SEK, or 600 SEK if you have already paid the A1/A3 fee |
| Validity | 5 years |
Source: Transportstyrelsen, drone card.
Registration, insurance and aerial images
As well as your certificate, check these points before your first flight.
- Operator registration: on Drönarsidan, for drones of 250 g or more or with a camera. It costs 190 SEK plus an annual fee of 250 SEK. You must be 18 and resident in Sweden; if you live in another EU or EEA country, register there. Mark the drone with your operator number, readable from the ground.
- Insurance: not required for drones under 20 kg flown only for leisure. Other operations need insurance under EU rules.
- Where you can fly: check LFV Dronechart and any NOTAMs before every flight.
- Aerial images: to share, publish or sell aerial photos or video you may need a dissemination permit (spridningstillstånd) from Lantmäteriet.
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 much does a drone licence cost in Sweden?
600 SEK for the A1/A3 exam and 850 SEK for the A2. In Spain the A1/A3 exam is free.
Is a drone certificate from another country valid in Sweden?
Yes. A certificate issued by any EASA authority is valid in all 31 EASA countries, Sweden included.
What is the minimum age for a drone licence in Sweden?
15. Younger pilots can fly under the supervision of a certificate holder aged 16 or over.
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 Sweden?
Not for drones under 20 kg flown only for leisure. Other operations need insurance.
Do I need a permit to publish drone photos in Sweden?
You may need a dissemination permit from Lantmäteriet to share, publish or sell aerial images.
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.