Drone Laws in Latvia: Border Closure, Night Ban, and Shoot-Down Authority (2026)

Latvia implements EU Regulation 2019/947 through the Law on Aviation (Aviacijas likums). The standard EASA three-tier system applies: Open (no authorization, under 25 kg, below 120 m), Specific (risk assessment required), and Certified (full aircraft certification). CAA Latvia manages registration, exams, and enforcement through its drone portal.

Registration costs 5 EUR per year, the cheapest in the EU alongside Lithuania. The airspace map at airspace.lv/drones updates every 5 minutes and shows all active restrictions, temporary flight zones, and the 50 km border closure area. Check it before every flight.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved significant fine increases in 2025, moving from flat 300 EUR penalties to turnover-based fines for legal entities (up to 10% of annual revenue). These new provisions also added drone-specific language to the Aviation Law that did not exist before, closing enforcement gaps that had limited CAA Latvia's ability to prosecute violations.

Latvia is the strictest EASA member state in the Baltics, and arguably the strictest on NATO's eastern flank. Five features set it apart from every other EU country.

50 km eastern border airspace closure

Since September 2025, Latvia has closed all airspace within 50 km of the Russian and Belarusian borders to drone operations between 20:00 and 07:00. The closure is designated "until further notice," with no announced end date. This affects the entire Latgale region, including Daugavpils (Latvia's second-largest city), Rezekne, and Ludza. Daytime flights in the zone require advance CAA Latvia authorization.

The trigger was direct. On September 7, 2024, a fully armed Shahed-type drone crashed in Rezekne. The warhead was live. It penetrated 0.5 meters into the ground. Latvia filed a formal diplomatic protest to Russia. On September 18, fragments of a second drone (Gerbera-type) washed up on a Latvian beach. Two cross-border drone incidents in 11 days left no room for ambiguity in the policy response.

Total night flying ban

Latvia bans all recreational drone flights at night. This goes beyond the EASA baseline, which allows night flying with a green flashing light. In Latvia, no green light saves you. Night operations are restricted to Specific category holders with explicit CAA authorization. For tourists, this means any sunset flight that extends past civil twilight is illegal. In winter (December/January), sunset comes as early as 15:45, which cuts the usable flying day to roughly 7 hours.

Overflight prohibition list

Latvia maintains one of the most extensive overflight prohibition lists in Europe. You cannot fly over:

• Bridges and overpasses
• Railway lines and railway stations
• Motorways (A-class roads)
• The Bank of Latvia (central bank)
• Cemeteries
• Pilgrimage churches and religious sites
• Prisons and correctional facilities
• Military installations
• Power plants and substations

This list makes urban and suburban flying significantly more restrictive than in Estonia, Finland, or most other EU countries. In practice, the bridge and railway prohibitions alone eliminate most scenic spots along the Daugava River in Riga.

Tiered mandatory insurance

Latvia requires insurance for all drones 250g and above, with coverage minimums that scale by weight.

Military shoot-down authority

The Latvian armed forces are permanently authorized to shoot down, disable, or capture any drone classified as an aggressor threat. This authority was formalized after the Rezekne incident and does not require case-by-case approval. Origin Robotics, a Latvian company, manufactures the BLAZE interceptor system that Latvia deploys along the border. The country is simultaneously an EASA-regulated civilian airspace and an active military counter-drone environment.

For more on drone privacy and surveillance laws, see our drone spying laws guide.

Location-by-location breakdown

Riga Old Town

Riga Old Town is the number one drone violation hotspot in Latvia according to CAA 2024 enforcement statistics. The offender profile is consistent: men aged 20 to 45, typically tourists. The area sits under Riga Airport's controlled airspace and is covered by the overflight prohibition on bridges (three major bridges cross the Daugava within the Old Town area). Add the railway station on the edge of Old Town, and there is effectively no legal launch point within the historic center.

National parks

Latvia's 4 national parks (Gauja, Kemeri, Razna, Slitere) require advance permission from the Nature Conservation Agency for drone flights. Gauja is the largest and most visited, known for its sandstone cliffs and Turaida Castle. Kemeri's Great Bog boardwalk is a popular drone photography target, but the wetland ecosystem is sensitive and permissions are tightly controlled.

Razna National Park sits in the Latgale region, which means it falls within the 50 km border closure zone. Even with Nature Conservation Agency permission for the park itself, you still need CAA authorization for the border zone. Two separate permits for one flight.

For more on flying drones near restricted areas, see our drone no-fly zones guide.

Latvia is a Schengen Area member, so customs are straightforward for EU travelers. The complications start after you land.

EU/EASA tourists

EASA mutual recognition applies. Your home country registration and Remote Pilot Certificate work in Latvia without additional registration. You must follow all Latvian national restrictions, including the total night ban, the overflight prohibition list, the insurance requirement, and the border closure zone. Your home country's lighter rules do not override Latvian national law.

Non-EU tourists

Register at droni.caa.gov.lv for 5 EUR per year. Complete the A1/A3 exam before your trip. You also need third-party liability insurance if your drone weighs 250g or more: minimum 150,000 EUR coverage for drones up to 1.5 kg. Check whether your travel insurance or existing drone policy covers operations in EU/Latvia specifically.

Customs and import

No special declaration for personal drones entering through Schengen. Non-Schengen arrivals may need to declare electronics worth over 430 EUR. No import duty applies for temporary personal use.

The night ban problem for tourists

Latvia's total night flying ban creates a practical problem that does not exist in neighboring Estonia or Lithuania. In summer (June/July), you get roughly 18 hours of usable daylight. In winter, sunset hits around 15:45 in December. That gives you about 7 hours of legal flying time. Golden hour and blue hour shots at sunset are legal only if you land before civil twilight ends. Any flight after that point requires Specific category authorization from CAA Latvia.

Border zone awareness

The 50 km eastern border closure affects anyone visiting the Latgale region, which includes Daugavpils, Rezekne, Ludza, and Razna National Park. If your travel itinerary includes eastern Latvia, assume you cannot fly after 20:00 and plan daytime flights with CAA advance authorization.

For more on traveling with drones internationally, see our guide to taking a drone on a plane. For privacy considerations when flying abroad, see our private property drone guide.