European Union Drone License Guide
How to get your EASA Part-UAS — Open / Specific / Certified Categories — issued by European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Cost, exam format, altitude limits, and renewal — all up to date for 2026.
Key data at a glance
| Total cost | A1/A3 free online; A2 €30–€100 by NAA; Specific Category training €500–€2,500 |
| Renewal cycle | 5 years (Open Category certificate of competency) |
| License classes | 5 categories |
| Maximum altitude | 120 m (400 ft) AGL |
| BVLOS allowed (standard) | Yes (under specific approval) |
| Remote ID required | Yes |
| Minimum age | 16 years |
| Exam format | A1/A3: free online theory (40 questions). A2: 30-question in-person exam at NAA. STS-01/02: training + theory + practical at recognised entity. |
EASA drone classes / categories
A1 — Over People (sub-cat)
MTOM < 250 g (C0) / < 900 g (C1)Fly over uninvolved people (not crowds)
A2 — Close to People
MTOM < 4 kg (C2)30 m / 5 m low-speed mode from uninvolved people
A3 — Far from People
MTOM < 25 kg (C3/C4)150 m from residential / commercial / industrial areas
Specific Category
MTOM anySTS-01 (VLOS populated), STS-02 (BVLOS sparse), or custom SORA OA
Certified Category
MTOM anyManned-equivalent ops (passenger transport, dangerous goods)
Operational limits
- Open Category caps at 25 kg MTOM and visual line of sight
- A1: over uninvolved people (C0/C1 only), no crowds
- A2: 30 m horizontal (5 m low-speed) from uninvolved people
- A3: 150 m from residential/commercial areas, no uninvolved persons
- Specific Category required for BVLOS, > 25 kg, urban beyond Open limits
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European Union drone license — frequently asked questions
Is one EASA drone licence valid across all EU states?
Yes — operator registration is in your country of residence, but the certificate is valid throughout the 31 EASA states (EU + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland).
What are C0, C1, C2, C3, C4 class markings?
EU-mandated drone class identifiers. Your drone's class label determines which Open subcategory you can fly in — for example, a C2-class drone unlocks A2 ops with the A2 CofC.
What is the difference between STS-01 and STS-02?
STS-01 = VLOS over a controlled ground area, populated environment. STS-02 = BVLOS over a sparsely populated area with airspace observers. Both follow Predefined Risk Assessment templates.
Do legacy drones (no class marking) still work?
Yes — pre-2024 drones without C-class labels continue to fly in the legacy A1/A3 framework based on weight: < 250g flies A1, 250g–25kg flies A3.
When is BVLOS permitted in EASA?
Only under Specific Category — STS-02 PDRA, OAs (Operational Authorisations) granted by your NAA, or a certified Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC).
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