BLOG POSTS
Drone licence in Bulgaria: how to get your A1/A3 certificate step by step
In short
- To fly a drone with a camera in Bulgaria you need the A1/A3 certificate, valid in all 31 EASA countries.
- The DG CAA exam is online on the X-TESLA platform: 40 questions.
- You can also sit it with another EASA authority, for example in Spain, where it is free and online.
- The A2 needs a second exam in person.
- Before every flight: load the official geo-zones data and check BULATSA B-FLIP.
To fly a drone in Bulgaria you almost always need the A1/A3 certificate, issued by the Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration (DG CAA) 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, Bulgaria included.
Who needs a drone licence in Bulgaria
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 DG CAA A1/A3 exam step by step
- Pay the state fee and apply on the DG CAA exam platform, X-TESLA.
- Sit the online exam: 40 questions.
- Receive your certificate within 5 working days of passing. It is valid for 5 years; to renew it, you retake the exam.
The minimum age is 16. Source: DG CAA, drones.
The alternative: sit the exam in another EASA country
You do not have to take the A1/A3 exam in Bulgaria: the Bulgarian rules themselves allow you to sit it with another EU member state’s authority, and the certificate is valid in all 31 EASA countries.
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 Bulgaria
The A2 builds on your A1/A3 and adds practical self-training and a second theory exam.
| A1/A3 certificate | Required before the A2 |
|---|---|
| Practical training | Self-study course with a signed declaration, shown at the exam |
| Exam | Additional theory exam in person, at the DG CAA or a recognised body |
| Validity | 5 years |
Registration, insurance and geo-zones
As well as your certificate, you need to register and check the zones before every flight.
- Operator registration: on the DG CAA drone portal. Operators must be 18 or over. You receive a unique number to mark on every drone, and changes must be reported within 10 days. If you live in another EU country, register there instead.
- Insurance: third-party liability insurance is mandatory above 20 kg and for any commercial activity, whatever the weight.
- Geo-zones: use the DG CAA interactive map and data file, loaded into the drone before each flight, rather than the manufacturer’s data. Check activated zones on BULATSA B-FLIP. Flights in prohibited or restricted zones need an application to the DG CAA at least 7 days ahead.
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 Bulgarian drone exam in another country?
Yes. The Bulgarian rules allow you to sit it with another EU member state’s authority, for example in Spain, where it is free and online.
Is a drone certificate from another country valid in Bulgaria?
Yes. A certificate issued by any EASA authority is valid in all 31 EASA countries, Bulgaria included.
How do I renew a Bulgarian drone certificate?
It is valid for 5 years; to renew it, you retake the exam.
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 Bulgaria?
Above 20 kg, and for any commercial activity whatever the weight.
Which drone map should I use in Bulgaria?
The official DG CAA geo-zones data, loaded into the drone before each flight, and BULATSA B-FLIP for activated zones.
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.