Drone Laws in Serbia: Permits, Photography Rules, and Tourist Guide (2026)

Serbia sits in an unusual position. The rules are modeled on EU regulations, and the country is an EU candidate state, but it is not part of the EASA system. That means your EU operator ID and drone registration do not transfer here. You start from scratch. For pilots used to flying freely in EU member states, Serbia requires a complete reset in expectations. For a broader view of which countries are easy or hard to fly in, see our countries where drones are banned guide (Serbia is legal, but barely practical for short visits).

Serbia's drone framework is built on the Rulebook on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, published February 15, 2020. The legal foundation sits under the Air Transport Law (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, Nos. 73/2010, 57/2011, 93/2012, 45/2015, and 66/2015). The 2020 Rulebook borrowed heavily from EU Regulation 2019/947, but Serbia adapted the weight categories and added the Ministry of Defense photography requirement.

Default operational limits

All drone flights in Serbia are subject to these baseline rules unless the CAD grants a specific exemption:

• Maximum altitude: 100 meters AGL
• Maximum distance from operator: 500 meters (VLOS)
• Minimum distance from critical infrastructure: 500 meters
• Night flying: prohibited without CAD special approval
• Flights over people and buildings: prohibited without approval (triggers registration for Cat 1-2)
• Minimum distance from aerodromes: varies by airport class

Registration process and fees

When registration is required, the process goes through the CAD. Total fees are RSD 800 for the application plus RSD 1,090 for the registration certificate, which comes to approximately EUR 16. Registration is valid for one year and must be renewed annually. The drone receives a registration number that must be displayed on the aircraft.

Insurance is mandatory for all registered drones. The CAD does not specify a minimum coverage amount, but standard third-party liability policies in Serbia start at around EUR 50 per year for recreational use.

On paper, Serbia's rules look like a slightly modified version of EU drone law. In practice, three features make flying in Serbia fundamentally different from almost any other European country.

The dual-permit system

This is the single biggest obstacle. Flying a drone in Serbia requires approval from two separate government bodies. The Civil Aviation Directorate handles flight authorization. The Ministry of Defense handles aerial photography and video recording authorization. These are independent processes with separate applications, separate review timelines, and separate approval chains.

The MoD photography permit requirement applies to any camera-equipped drone flight where you intend to record. Wedding videography, real estate photography, landscape filming, social media content: all of it requires MoD sign-off. The rationale is national security (aerial imagery of military and government facilities), but the effect is a blanket requirement that covers all aerial photography.

Per-flight approval (5 business days each)

Serbia does not issue blanket flight authorizations for a region or time period. Each individual flight requires a separate CAD approval, submitted at least 5 business days in advance. If you want to fly at three different locations during a week-long trip, that is three separate applications, each with its own 5-day processing window. You need to plan every flight location before you arrive.

The 0.9 kg threshold

Most drone regulations worldwide use 250g as the key weight threshold (the EU, UK, US, Australia, and many others). Serbia uses 0.9 kg for its Category 1 ceiling. This is actually favorable for popular sub-250g drones like the DJI Mini series, which fall well within Category 1 with room to spare. However, it also means that drones in the 250g to 900g range (like the DJI Neo or HoverAir X1) still qualify as Category 1, which would require registration in the EU but not necessarily in Serbia.

Enforcement: the BIRN surveillance report

In 2023, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) reported that Serbian police had used DJI and Yuneec drones to conduct aerial surveillance of political protests without legal authorization or judicial oversight. The Serbian Commissioner for Information of Public Importance criticized the practice. A March 2026 follow-up report described a "chilling effect" on public assembly, with protesters reporting awareness of police drones overhead.

This enforcement example is relevant because it shows that Serbian authorities take drone capabilities seriously from a surveillance perspective. The same MoD permit requirement that slows down tourist photographers also reflects a government that closely monitors who is capturing aerial imagery and why.

For context on how privacy and surveillance rules work in other countries, see our drone spying laws guide and flying over private property guide.

Serbia's geography ranges from the flat Vojvodina plains in the north to mountainous terrain in the south and west. The main restricted areas cluster around Belgrade, Novi Sad, and the country's airports and military facilities.

Belgrade: the airport problem

Nikola Tesla Airport sits just 18 km west of Belgrade's city center. The 5 km exclusion zone around the airport extends into populated areas of the city, making legal drone flights in central Belgrade nearly impossible without specific CAD coordination. The most photographed landmarks (Kalemegdan Fortress, the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, the Temple of Saint Sava) all sit within or near this restricted zone.

National parks: legal but complicated

Serbia has five national parks, and none of them have a blanket drone ban like you would find in US national parks or many EU protected areas. However, flying in a national park requires the standard CAD flight approval, the MoD photography permit, and potentially a separate authorization from the park management authority. The combined paperwork makes spontaneous flights in parks unrealistic. For comparison, see how national park drone rules work in other countries.

Rural Serbia: the most realistic option

Open agricultural land in Vojvodina (the northern plains) offers the most practical flying conditions. Flat terrain, minimal controlled airspace outside of cities, and low population density. A Category 1 drone (under 0.9 kg) flying below 100 meters in a rural area with no nearby aerodromes or infrastructure represents the lowest-hassle scenario in Serbia. You still need the CAD approval and MoD photography permit, but the approval is more likely to be granted quickly for rural locations.

For more general guidance on airspace rules, our where you can fly a drone guide covers the basics that apply in any country.

Flying a drone legally in Serbia as a tourist is technically possible. The process, however, requires planning that starts weeks before your trip. Here is the realistic timeline.

Step-by-step tourist process

1. MoD import approval (before travel). Contact the Ministry of Defense at kabinetministra@mod.gov.rs to request approval to bring a drone into the country. Include your drone model, serial number, weight, and purpose of visit. Allow at least 10 business days.
2. Customs declaration (on arrival). Declare the drone at customs upon entering Serbia. Present the MoD import approval. The drone's serial number will be recorded.
3. CAD registration (if required). If your drone triggers registration requirements (Cat 3-4, or Cat 1-2 with certain flight conditions), register with the CAD at dgca@cad.gov.rs or +381 11 292 71 69. Fee: approximately EUR 16.
4. Insurance (if registered). Obtain third-party liability insurance from a Serbian provider or confirm your existing policy covers Serbia.
5. CAD flight approval (per flight). Submit flight plans to the CAD at least 5 business days before each intended flight. Include GPS coordinates, date, time, altitude, and purpose.
6. MoD photography permit (per trip). Apply for aerial photography authorization from the MoD. This is separate from the import approval and covers the actual recording of images/video.

What most tourists actually do

The honest reality is that most tourists either leave their drone at home or fly without full permits. Neither option is ideal. The penalty for individuals caught flying without authorization ranges from RSD 50,000 to RSD 150,000 (approximately EUR 425 to EUR 1,275). For legal entities (companies), fines reach RSD 500,000 to RSD 2,000,000 (approximately EUR 4,250 to EUR 17,000).

The sub-250g advantage

If you fly a DJI Mini series drone (249g) in rural Serbia, below 100 meters, maintaining VLOS, not over people or buildings, and away from aerodromes and infrastructure, you fall into Category 1 without triggering the conditional registration requirements. You still technically need the CAD flight approval and MoD photography permit, but the risk profile is lower than flying a larger drone in an urban area.

Airline travel with your drone

Serbia does not restrict drone batteries on flights beyond standard IATA lithium battery rules. Batteries under 100 Wh (which covers every consumer drone battery) can go in carry-on luggage. The drone itself can go in either carry-on or checked luggage, though carry-on is always recommended. For detailed packing advice, see our taking a drone on a plane guide.