BLOG POSTS
Drone licence in Croatia: how to get your A1/A3 certificate step by step
In short
- To fly a drone with a camera in Croatia you need the A1/A3 certificate, valid in all 31 EASA countries.
- The CCAA exam is online on the KATA platform; without a Croatian OIB, you create a username account.
- The CCAA itself points English speakers to another EU country’s exam, for example in Spain, where it is free and online.
- Every flight must be notified through the AMC Portal.
- Aerial photography may need a DGU permit.
To fly a drone in Croatia you almost always need the A1/A3 certificate, issued by the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA) after an online exam. This guide covers the steps, the A2 certificate, registration, insurance and where you can fly, 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, Croatia included.
Who needs a drone licence in Croatia
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 CCAA A1/A3 exam step by step
- Log in to KATA, the CCAA exam platform: with e-Građani if you have a Croatian OIB, or by creating a username account with your name, phone and email.
- Sit the online exam.
- Receive your certificate. You can check it on the CCAA’s verification page.
The minimum age is 16, unless you fly under supervision. Source: CCAA, remote pilots.
The alternative: sit the exam in another EASA country
You do not have to take the A1/A3 exam in Croatia. A certificate from any EU member state is valid in Croatia, and the CCAA’s own English page points English speakers to the exam of another EU country.
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 Croatia
The A2 builds on your A1/A3 and adds practical self-training and a second theory exam.
| A1/A3 certificate | Required, plus self-training on form UAS-FRM-002, declared with your drone’s manufacturer, type and serial number |
|---|---|
| Booking | Through your KATA profile, at least 2 working days before the session |
| Exam | In person at a CCAA exam session; bring the ID you registered with |
Source: CCAA, remote pilots.
Registration, flight notification and aerial photography
As well as your certificate, Croatia has a few extra steps before you fly.
- Operator registration: on the CCAA’s FAUST portal, for drones of 250 g or more or with a camera or microphone. Show the operator number on the drone, without the characters after the dash. If you live in another EU country, register there instead.
- Insurance: the CCAA requires third-party liability insurance, except for drones up to 20 kg flown purely for recreation. Filming or photography counts as aerial work, even when unpaid.
- Flight notification: every flight must be notified through the AMC Portal Mobile app, or with a paper request 7 days ahead. Source: Crocontrol AMC.
- Aerial photography: a permit from the State Geodetic Administration (DGU) is generally required, except for targeted imaging of isolated sites or buildings for their owners or users. Source: gov.hr, aerial imaging.
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 foreigners take the Croatian drone exam?
Yes. Without a Croatian OIB, you create a username account on KATA. The CCAA also points English speakers to the exam of another EU country.
Do I need to notify every drone flight in Croatia?
Yes, through the AMC Portal Mobile app, or with a paper request 7 days ahead.
Do I need a permit for aerial photos in Croatia?
Generally yes, from the State Geodetic Administration (DGU), except for targeted imaging of isolated sites for their owners or users.
Is a drone certificate from another country valid in Croatia?
Yes. A certificate issued by any EASA authority is valid in all 31 EASA countries, Croatia included.
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 Croatia?
Yes, except for drones up to 20 kg flown purely for recreation. Filming counts as aerial work.
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.