What are the drone rules in Croatia?
Unfortunately, for a country that receives tens of millions of visitors annually, drone laws in Croatia are only published in the native dialect.
120m max height
30m from industries
Don't fly near airports
Only line of sight
Drone regulations are normal phenomena. Every functional country needs rules at one point or another to foster peaceful coexistence between drone pilots and society. Regulations also help instill a sense of responsibility in the pilots.
Croatia is no exemption and allows the use of drones within its borders. However, with the review of the drone laws in 2018, new parts have been introduced that are not too popular among drone pilots.
So far, I am yet to encounter any reviewer mention of restrictions placed on them as they entered Croatia with their drones. Just remember to inquire with your airline and find out what their drone requirements are.
Who do I contact?
The body mandated with the responsibility of drones is the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency, abbreviated as the CCAA. The contact information is:
Email: cccaa@ccaa.hr
Phone: +385-12369300
Unfortunately, for a country that receives tens of millions of visitors annually, drone laws in Croatia are only published in the native dialect.
Drones that weigh over 150 Kg are regarded as manned aircraft. Similarly, drones that are flown indoors or used in emergency services are exempted. Five weight classes are exempted too:
120 m (50 m within airport zones). Maintain a mandatory distance of 3 to 5 Km away from any aerodrome.
Only fly a distance where you can navigate the drone with your naked eye. Flying during the night requires your drones to have lighting capability.
Drones over 250g must be marked with your contact information
Run a check to ensure you are not in a restricted flying zone
Maintain this distance from animals, roads, railways, industries, powerlines, waterways, etc
The answer depends on your category of drone and where you plan on flying it. Categories A and B1 do not require a permit, however, recording pictures and videos requires permission. For deviating flight maneuvers you will need the permission of the Croatian Aviation Authority (CCAA).
Drones falling under B1 can be operated by a young person provided an adult is supervising and watching over them.
Drones falling under categories B2 and C1 have to be registered. Fill out this form and submit it accordingly to the following address:
The registration process costs equivalent to $3. To get flight clearance, you must have permission from Croatian Control. Of course, the authorization is mandatory for any user flying category B2, C1, and C2.
Yes. Provided you maintain your flight path within the visual line of sight.
To take photos or aerial videos using your drone, you need special permission from the State Geodetic Administration (SGA). You can send them an email via info@dgu.hr
The application is not similar to the license applications and I am yet to discover any set of criteria that qualifies an application over the other.
Some reviewers claim that your chances of approval are higher if the purpose of your shoot is for family reasons and you commit to not having them published publicly. SGA discusses every application with the Ministry of Defense, thus taking a month at the very least. If your stay in Croatia will be brief, consider applying for the recording authorization half a year before you set off.
I also came to learn that once you are approved, you must send back all that material for scrutiny before you receive the final go-ahead to use them.
Applying for a photo or video shoot permit is challenging given one must apply when physically present. You must stick a stamp onto your application which means you must be physically present.
In my opinion, I consider flying a drone in Croatia best suited for those with family or relatives who can accommodate them for a fairly long period. That way they can go through the whole ‘apply and wait’ bureaucratic process.
My following two recommendations are 2 great compact drones that are quite silent and also small enough to travel with and not stand out as annoying.
4k
31 min
10 km
No follow-me
DJI has surprised us with this incredible camera drone under 250g, which is legal to fly in most countries without registration.
It comes at a very cheap price for its incredible specs.I have covered it much more in-depth in my article review and even compared it with the Mavic Air 2.
4k 60p
34 min
10 km
Follow me
If you want more control over things like shutter speed, iso, and such, the best professional drone that still falls under the 500g category is the DJI Mavic Air.
It's made mostly for people who want to play around with settings and enter into the pro category.
DJI lowered its price since it was first released.
The best way to figure out what areas you can fly in, while you're here is by consulting DJI's official map.
They do a great job mapping the places that one should avoid while flying in every country:
These would be the current updated drone laws for Croatia. I suggest checking my full map with all the countries' drone laws to see where it's best to travel.
If you are going to visit Croatia, make sure you’ve learned all the dos and don’ts of flying drones in this region. This will help you have a safe journey and enjoy flying your drone without getting yourself into trouble.
Also, keep in mind that, commercial and recreational drones are treated differently in most countries therefore you will need to prepare yourself accordingly. Last but not least, always follow rules and regulations and make sure to respect the laws of every country.
