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Drone licence in Poland: how to get your A1/A3 certificate step by step
In short
- To fly a drone with a camera in Poland you need the A1/A3 certificate, valid in all 31 EASA countries.
- The exam is online and free on drony.gov.pl, with a Profil Zaufany login.
- The A2 certificate needs a second exam at a designated examining entity.
- Since November 2025, insurance is mandatory for drones from 250 g to 20 kg.
- Before every flight: check in with PAŻP.
To fly a drone in Poland you almost always need the A1/A3 certificate, issued after an online exam on the official Polish drone portal. This guide covers the steps, the A2 certificate, the new mandatory insurance, registration and the flight check-in that Poland requires before every flight, 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, Poland included.
Who needs a drone licence in Poland
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 ULC A1/A3 exam step by step
The A1/A3 exam is taken online on drony.gov.pl, the portal run by the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PAŻP) for the Civil Aviation Authority (ULC). It is free.
- Log in to drony.gov.pl with your Profil Zaufany, the Polish trusted e-ID.
- Sit the exam: 40 multiple-choice questions.
- Pass with at least 75%.
- Download your certificate. It is valid for 5 years.
The minimum age is 14. Source: ULC, Open category.
The alternative: sit the exam in another EASA country
You do not have to take the A1/A3 exam in Poland. Any aviation authority in the 31 EASA countries can issue it, and it is valid in all of them, Poland included.
In Spain, for example, the A1/A3 exam run by AESA is free, online and open to any nationality. This is the practical route if you do not have a Profil Zaufany. 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 Poland
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 |
| Exam | At an examining entity designated by the ULC, in person or online with two cameras, an open microphone and a shared screen |
| Format | At least 30 multiple-choice questions, pass mark 75% |
| Fee | Set by each examining entity |
| Validity | 5 years |
Source: ULC, theory exams by designated entities.
Registration, insurance and flight check-in
As well as your certificate, Poland has three practical requirements before you fly.
- Operator registration: on drony.gov.pl. Display your operator number on every drone, legible and durable. If you live in another EU country, register there instead.
- Insurance: since 13 November 2025, third-party liability insurance is mandatory for drones from 250 g to 20 kg, with minimum cover of 50,000 SDR. Flying uninsured can mean a fine of 4,000 PLN.
- Flight check-in: every drone flight in Polish airspace must be notified to PAŻP before take-off through its Check-In app. In a control zone (CTR) you also need clearance from the tower.
- Zones: check the PAŻP geographical zones map before every flight.
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 Poland?
The ULC A1/A3 exam is free. For the A2, the fee is set by the examining entity.
Can I take the Polish exam without a Profil Zaufany?
You need a Profil Zaufany to log in to drony.gov.pl. Without one, you can sit the A1/A3 exam with another EASA authority, for example in Spain.
Is a drone certificate from another country valid in Poland?
Yes. A certificate issued by any EASA authority is valid in all 31 EASA countries, Poland 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 Poland?
Yes. Since 13 November 2025 it is mandatory for drones from 250 g to 20 kg.
Do I need to notify every drone flight in Poland?
Yes. Every flight must be notified to PAŻP before take-off through its Check-In app.
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.