When it comes to drone flying in Croatia, the rules are very simple and logical and we suggest you follow them. We often use the drone during our adventures and when making promo materials for our website or social networks. In this article we are sharing Croatia drone rules with you so you can know what to expect and what to prepare before your drone flight in Croatia.
Croatia drone rules are one of the most liberal ones in Europe and there is an advanced app for drone flying that makes this activity a piece of cake. At least the ‘obeying the laws’ part of it. We’ll talk a bit more about the app later in the article.
We encourage you to take your drone with you if you are coming to Croatia. You’ll have a lot of nice scenes to capture. Don’t be afraid of flying your drone in Croatia, our Croatian Civil Aviation Agency did a great job when it comes to simplifying your drone flying.
In the end, in this text we speak about the most common drone flying in Croatia, meaning you’re just an ordinary person and want to film something for your own purposes. If you are doing some commercial work then Croatia drone rules get a bit more complicated for you. Also, there are additional steps to follow if your drone has a camera (which doesn’t nowadays) and if you wish to publish the photos made during your vacation in Croatia.
Drone Laws and Regulations in Croatia The Croatian Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) regulates using of drones in Croatia, and these rules are similar to the EU-wide rules for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Let’s begin with key rules you need to know:
Drone Registration:
Drones weighing over 250 grams must be registered with the CCAA. The process is easy and we suggest you do it before coming to Croatia.
Registration is mandatory for drones equipped with cameras, regardless of weight.
Operator License:
Drone operators must complete an online training course and pass an exam to obtain a certificate. There are a few categories, depending on where you want to fly (remote areas or near or even above people)
Certificates from other EU countries are valid in Croatia.
Flying Restrictions:
You mustn’t fly your drone higher than 120 meters (394 feet) above ground level. Make it even less if flying near cities such as Dubrovnik
Maintain a distance of at least 5 kilometers from airports. Never ever fly near the airports
Avoid flying over people, crowds, and densely populated areas. You never know when something will go wrong with a piece of technology.
Flying near military zones, government buildings, or other restricted areas is prohibited and please avoid flying even near these zones. They are usually visible in the AMC app
Insurance: Liability insurance is mandatory for commercial drone operators and recommended for recreational pilots.Privacy Concerns: Ensure you respect people’s privacy and avoid filming anyone without consent. Avoid getting near people or flying in a zone with apartments or vacation homes
Where to Fly a Drone in Croatia Still, you can enjoy flying a drone in Croatia, especially if you respect the local laws and regulations and you might end up with some great photo and video material from your vacation in Croatia. Here are the top locations for drone flying in Croatia:
Adriatic Coastline:
Capture aerial views of the crystal-clear waters, coastline cliffs, and beautiful beaches. Still, make sure to respect the privacy of those on the beaches and never come too close, especially if you’re filming near nudist beaches
Popular spots include the Makarska Riviera, Pakleni Islands near Hvar, or any other part of the coastline
Historic Cities:
Dubrovnik’s walls and Split’s Diocletian’s Palace are iconic places everybody wants to fly over, but ensure you follow local restrictions. Film them from a distance and fly as far away from people as possible.
National Parks:
While drone usage is restricted and often forbidden in many national parks, you can obtain special permits for areas like Krka and Plitvice Lakes. Make sure to contact the park authorities in regard to this matter.
Inland Wonders:
Explore the stunning landscapes of the Neretva Valley, Baćina Lakes, Dalmatian hinterland, or the towns on the hills of Istria.
Best Practices for Drone Flying in Croatia Here are some more things to know if you plan to fly a drone in Croatia. Following the next rules will make your flight as smooth as the Adriatic Sea in the summer morning. On a calm summer day.
Check the Weather:
Coastal areas can experience sudden and strong winds, so make sure you check the weather before flying. Maestral wind blows almost every day during the summer months but it’s not as strong as the Bura wind for example. Never fly when Bura is blowing. You might never see your drone again.
Fly During Off-Peak Hours:
Early mornings or late afternoons provide the best light for photography and there are overall fewer people around. At least early in the morning.
Stay Informed:
Use apps like Airmap or Drone Assist to check for no-fly zones and real-time airspace information. In Croati,a we have the AMC Portal app which you have to download and apply for each drone flight through it.
Keep Your Drone in Sight:
Maintain visual line-of-sight (VLOS) at all times. We know you might want to fly a bit further sometimes, but stay safe and always know where your drone is. Even better if you have a friend to track it while you focus on filming and photography.
Respect Nature:
Avoid disturbing wildlife, especially in protected areas. Follow the Leave No Trace Principles. If there are areas that clearly state that drone flying is prohibited, please don’t fly there, there is usually a good reason for the prohibition.
What to Do in Case of an Accident We hope that a drone accident will never happen to you, not in Croatia or anywhere else in the world. Still, accidents happen and they are an inevitable part of our lives. Here’s what to do in case this type of accident happens to you while flying a drone in Croatia.
Assess the Damage:
Check for injuries or property damage. Prioritize safety. If It’s only a drone being lost or damaged, then it’s not a big problem. Especially if it falls into the sea. You polluted the environment, but nobody got hurt and that’s a good thing.
Notify Authorities:
Report accidents involving injuries or any damage to the CCAA. Please do this step to avoid an even larger problem. Even if your drone falls in the forest for example, you might think that it’s not a problem, but a malfunctioning drone deep in a forest might start a fire so make sure you notify authorities whenever needed in the case of a drone accident in Croatia.
Document the Incident:
Take photos, record details, and gather witness information if needed.
Insurance Claims:
If you have liability insurance, contact your provider to file a claim.
Tips for Traveling to Croatia with a Drone We took a drone on quite a few of our travels abroad and these travels always included flying. If you are traveling by car and taking your drone with you, it’s much easier, Still, people travel with drones on airplanes often. Just make sure to follow the airline’s regulations regarding traveling with drones.
Know Airline Rules:
Check with your airline regarding battery transportation and drone-carrying policies. Batteries will usually have to be put in a sealed fireproof bag.
Pack Properly:
Use a good case to protect your drone and accessories during travel.
Prepare Documentation:
Always carry any neccesary documentation regarding the drone and your status as an operator with you.
Legal Consequences of Violating Drone Laws when Flying a drone in Croatia If you are caught breaking the law or flying in a prohibited area, the consequences can be severe. First of all, your drone might get confiscated and you will most likely get a fine. The amount of fine will depend on how serious a violation you have made but local authorities take laws seriously so make sure you abide by them.
Don’t worry if you are flying a drone in Croatia legally and an authority representative comes to you and asks you for documentation. Just land your drone safely and provide them with the necessary information they have asked for.
Some of our tips for flying a drone in Croatia Here is some additional information and some of the already mentioned above are explained even further. We’ll also provide you with a few useful links regarding flying a drone in Croatia where you can find the latest updates. We will do our best to update this article as soon as new drone regulations arise.
AMC portal app – must-have for drone flying in Croatia The first thing you need to know when it comes to drone flying in Croatia is an app that lets you report your every flight to the Airspace Management Cell (AMC) which is responsible for keeping our skies safe. We suggest you download the app on your mobile phone and get familiar with its interface.
The whole flight reporting process is as simple as it could be. You open the app, GPS reads your location, you set the flying radius and maximum altitude and you’re good to go in a few minutes. The app will register your flight and your flight zone, but you must click the tactical activation request a few minutes after the countdown. In the first step, you just reserved your flying spot, and tactical activation means that you’re actually flying in that zone. Still, abide by the rules mentioned above
A good thing about the app is that it will warn you when you are in controlled airspace and it will tell you flying restrictions in that area or won’t even allow you to fly at all.
Croatia drone rules – very useful links Make sure you check the CCAA official website for the newest information about the drone rules. You’ll find a ton of good information regarding drone flying there too. This is a place where you can register your drone for flying in Croatia as well as pass the online exams needed in order to register as a drone operator in Croatia.
If you are already a registered drone operator in an EU country, there is a chance your license is valid in Croatia too. In that case, you just need to download the mentioned AMC Portal app, register there, and apply before each drone flight in Croatia.
Your drone must be marked If you are using a drone below 5 kilograms of weight, your drone must be marked by a non-combustible tile or sticker with your information.
So you have reported your flight, and it has been approved. You have requested tactical activation and you started to fly. So are there any limits now? Yes, for the safety of other air traffic, the upper limit for your drone flying is 120 meters above the point you are currently flying from. If you are flying from a hill that is higher than 120 meters, you can fly 120 meters above it.
Remember, no flying above 120 meters is allowed If you are in controlled airspace, outside of 5 kilometers radius from the airport, your upper limit is 50 meters. You cannot fly inside of the 5 kilometers radius of the airport unless you have special permission. There is a lot of air traffic in Croatia, especially near the airports, and it can appear almost out of nowhere. If you are flying higher than the regulated 120 meters, you are risking a serious accident.
Avoid flying above a group of people Drones are a great thing but anything that flies can potentially fall down. And you don’t want to be responsible for your drone falling onto someone. So when you’re drone flying in Croatia, make sure you stay away from people. To be exact, you are not permitted to fly closer than 50 meters to a group of people. Also, you are not allowed to fly above a group of people at any height.
This part of drone rules in Croatia is very important because people can easily get hurt if you are not using your drone correctly. We advise you to have insurance for your drone which will cover falls and damage your drone might do to third parties.
Flying near the airports is not allowed This one is very important too. We already mentioned that you are not allowed to fly above 120 meters. The reason for that is that other aircraft like helicopters fly above this height and if you go into their zone, things can get complicated.
When it comes to the airports, the rules are simple, no flying near the airports is permitted. There was a guy filming something near the Split airport and the whole airport was shut down and traffic rerouted. He was never discovered, but in the case he was, he would pay a huge fine.
The problem is the extra cost of the aircraft rerouting and all these people in them have their arrival points changed. Imagine how much damage is that only because of one single drone flight. The worst thing that can happen is the drone and airplane collision which would have catastrophic results.
No flying outside of your field of view Drone flying in Croatia must be done within your field of view. Yes, most of the drones have cameras today, but they often tend to lose their signal and that’s when things can get complicated. To avoid that, make sure you see your drone all the time.
Finally, drone flying in Croatia has some other restrictions when it comes to national parks and other protected areas. You need special permits for flying in most of these areas and it’s best to send a mail to the National Park administration and explain to them what you want to do. In most cases, you’re going to get your written permit soon.
Enjoy your drone flying in Croatia and stay responsible!
