Dronesgator logo

All Drone Laws in Serbia for 2023 (Complete Guide)

Updated in 2023 by Paul Posea
serbia-drone-laws.jpg
height flight limit 1

100m max height

night icon white 1

No night flying

plane icon white 1 1

5km from airports

line of sight law 1

Only in line of sight

This is a guide for drone laws in the Republic of Serbia for 2023 (updated every year) where you'll get a clue about what you can or can't do while flying drones and traveling through this country.

Is it Legal to fly a drone in the Republic of Serbia?

Although the information on the drone situation in Serbia is relatively scanty, the Serbia Civil Aviation Directorate considers them legal. We always advise being aware and compliant with the rules and regulations of the respective country before you take your drone with you.

Are there any Specific Travel Considerations for taking a drone to Serbia?

If you are planning to travel to Serbia and want to take your drone along, we have enlisted a few travel specifications for you to consider. These specifications are listed by the CAD (Serbia’s Civilian Aviation Directorate).

  • You must obtain the permission of the Serbian Ministry of Defense before you enter Serbia with your drone as a foreigner.
  • You must get your drone registered by the government of Serbia.
  • You have to obtain permission before each flight of a drone from the CAD (Civil Aviation Directorate). The request usually tale up to five business days to process so you are advised to plan your things accordingly.

If you would be willing to contact the CAD directly for any queries, here is their contact information:

Email: dgca@cad.gov.rs 

Tel: +381 112927169

Additional information on permit applications and the process requirements is here.

Who is the drone regulating Authority in the Republic of Serbia?

As per the updates till March 2022, the drones regulations in the Republic of Serbia are regulated by the following agencies:

How are drones classified in the Republic of Serbia?

The regulations around drones in Serbia kicked in on February 20, 2020. The regulations cover the safe use of unmanned aircraft, how they are classified, requirements around recording, their maintenance, and several other factors. Based on their weight and operations, the Republic of Serbia has classified drones into four categories:

  1. Category 1 drones:

 This category includes drones with a maximum take-off mass of less than 0.9 kg.

  1. Category 2 drones:  

This category includes drones with take-off mass ranging from 0.9kg to 4 kg.

  1. Category 3 drones:

This category includes drones with take-off mass ranging from 4 kg to 25 kg

  1. Category 4 drones 

 This category includes drones with take-off mass ranging from 25 kg to 150 kg

image 31

General Drone rules in the Republic of Serbia

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Serbia.

  1. Drones should not exceed a flight height of 100 m.
  2. Any flight above 100 m requires permission from the Civil Aviation Directorate.
  3. Airflight records are recorded for categories 3 and 4, and occasionally for 1 and 2 if they intend to exceed the height limit or distance from the operator limit of 500 m.
  4. All drones must get registered by CAD.
  5. Citizens of Serbia may apply for the issuance of aerial filming permits of the territory of the Republic of Serbia through legal entities registered in the Republic of Serbia.
  6. Foreigners may apply for the issuance of an aerial survey on the territory of the Republic of Serbia only through legal entities registered in the Republic of Serbia.
  7. Keep your drone within visual sight.
  8. Check all the technical conditions before operating.
  9. You must fly your drones during the daytime.
  10. The drones must be kept at a distance of 5km from the airport.
  11. The drones must not be flown above military areas.
  12. The drones cannot carry or drop heavy material.
  13. Stay at least 500 meters away from major infrastructure such as power plants, high-voltage facilities, government buildings, etc. 
  14. Maintain a 30-meter distance around bystanders. 
  15. Do not operate the drone while intoxicated.

Laws for Recreational drones in the Republic of Serbia:

As such there are no specific rules, permits, or registrations required for operating recreational drones in Serbia, apart from the general rules of flying a drone mentioned above. 

To fly a drone for recreational purposes, you must abide by the general rules and you are then good to go. 

Laws for Commercial drones in the Republic of Serbia:

You must follow the following rules for operating your drone for commercial purposes:

  • The minimum age limit for a commercial operator in the Republic of Serbia is 18 years.
  • To operate a drone for commercial purposes, you must be registered as a commercial pilot. If you are already registered as a commercial operator in some other country, the process will be easier for you.
  • You must obtain approval from the Ministry of Defence, Serbia.
  • You must obtain liability insurance for the duration of your stay.
  • You need to obtain a statement of qualification in aviation law.

Is it necessary to get your drone insured before operating in the Republic of Serbia?

According to CAD, drone insurance is not compulsory in Serbia, but it is recommended to get your drone insured in case of any fines or accidents. It is always better to get yourself covered from that end.

Who can fly a drone in the Republic of Serbia?

Anyone can buy a drone but the license to fly one is determined by the Directorate of Civil Aviation. You must be medically fit and a licensed aircraft operator. 

In addition, one must have:

  • Passed a knowledge test
  • Got approval from the Directorate of Civil Aviation
  • Manufacturer instructions in electronic or printed format
  • Health document
image 24

What are my top drones to fly safely in Serbia?

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.

1. DJI Mini 2- The best international travel drone (under 250g)

camera-icon-spec

4k

battery-icon-spec

31 min

range-icon-spec

10 km

drone-icon-spec

No follow-me

image 25

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.

2. DJI Mavic Air 2 - My favorite drone overall

camera-icon-spec

4k 60p

battery-icon-spec

34 min

range-icon-spec

10 km

drone-icon-spec

Follow me

image 26

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.

Restricted Areas and Geofencing (Drone Flying map)

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:

  • airports
  • military bases
  • prisons
  • power plants
  • any high-risk areas

These would be the current updated drone laws for Serbia. I suggest checking my full map with all the countries' drone laws to see where it's best to travel.

Conclusion 

If you are considering visiting Serbia, 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.

author-paul-posea-picture
Hi, I'm Paul.
A big drone enthusiast, reviewing, comparing and writing about drones since 2015. I'm all about helping people enjoy and even monetize their hobby.

Become an FAA-Certified Drone Pilot

  • make money from your passion
  • pass the Part 107 test Guarantee (money back
  • 50,000 students and 3,000+ reviews

Use the code DRONESGATOR for $50 off 

Show me the Course!
paul posea
Paul Posea
Hi, I'm a long-time drone reviewer and I hope my articles and comparisons on this site as well as Dronesgator's youtube channel are of as much help as possible.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram