All Drone Laws in Slovenia for 2023 (Complete Guide)
Updated in 2023 by Paul Posea
150m max height
30m away from population
5km away from airports
Only line of sight
This is a guide for the Slovenian drone laws in 2023 (updated every year) where you'll get a clue about what you can or shouldn't do while flying a quadcopter anywhere in this country.
Can I fly a drone in Slovenia?
One of the first questions that come into mind when thinking about flying a drone is whether it is legal or not.
Drones are allowed in Slovenia however, they are subject to strict rules and regulations that need to be followed. There are also several no-fly zones in the country where drones are not allowed to be flown.
Before flying your drone in Slovenia, make sure to read up on the latest drone laws and regulations to avoid getting into any trouble. The governing body responsible for drones and their laws is the Civil aviation administration (CAA).
Contact information
You can reach out to them via:
Email: info@caa.si
Tel: (+386) 1 244 66 00
Flight Categories for Flying Drones in Slovenia
Here are four flight categories:
Category A (National Parks)
This category includes all national parks in Slovenia, where drones are not allowed to be flown. This is to protect the wildlife and natural habitat in these areas.
Category B (Infrastructure)
All infrastructure in Slovenia, such as airports, power stations, and roads, are classified here. Drones are not permitted to fly in these regions.
Category C (Houses, highways, and buildings)
All buildings, roads, and structures in Slovenia are classified in this category. Drones are not permitted to fly within 50 meters of these installations.
Category D (Towns, villages, and city centers)
This category covers all of Slovenia, where drones may be flown, with the exception of specific locations. However, there are still a few guidelines to observe.
Weight Categories for Flying Your Drone in Slovenia
Apart from the flight categories, you might be interested in knowing about all of the drone weight categories.
There are three weight categories:
Less 500g
500g - 5 Kg
Above 5 Kg
Drones that weigh less than 500g are not required to be registered in Slovenia. For drones that fall within the 500g - 5kg weight category, you will need to register your drone with the CAA. Drones that weigh more than 5 kg will need to follow additional regulations set by the CAA.
What are the Three Main Categories of Drones
Based on their size and weight, drones can be divided into three main categories in Slovenia. Each category has its own set of rules and regulations which you must follow. Let's take a look at each one:
Open Category
The open category contains all drones that weigh less than 25 kg. These drones don't need any kind of authorization or a declaration of flight by the operator. However, such types of drones must be operated from the line of sight range and they should never ever exceed this range.
Specific Category
The specific category includes all drones that weigh slightly more than 25 kg and there is a moderate level of risk involved in the flights. Such kind of drones needs to be authorized by the respective organizations and special permission is granted after assessing the operator's knowledge about risk management.
Certified Category
This category includes drones that are capable of taking off goods and even human beings. Pilots for such types of drones are not allowed to take off until they have special authorization from the CAA. Not only this but a remote pilot license is also mandatory for the flight of such types of drones.
What are the Drone Laws in Slovenia?
Provided your drone falls below the 5 Kg weight range, you do not need a license to fly. For all I know it could be a Nano drone, and who has time to register that? As long as you limit your flight between categories A and B you are good to go.
We'll also go a bit into what the new app features of the Mini 2 are and how you can use them.
For your information, here are some drone laws that apply to both commercial and recreational drones in Slovenia.
Height limit of 150m
Line of sight: Fly within sight, that should be 30 m during the day.
No night flying: Do not fly at night unless your drone has lighting
Keep 5 Km away from airports
Don't fly over crowds: Fly 30 m away from animals. Roads, vehicles, power lines, waterways, etc
Commercial use: To fly a commercial drone, it has to be registered annually. Flights should be registered 12 hours before take-off.
How do I register my drone in Slovenia?
If you wish to fly your drone for commercial applications then you must register it with the CAA before taking off. Registration of the drone is very easy in Slovenia and here is a step-by-step method that will teach you how to register your drone in Slovenia.
In Slovenia, the UAS pilot also needs to be registered before taking off with the drone. If you are a drone operator and your drone falls within the range of the open category then you will need to register for operators if your drone weighs more than 250g.
Similarly, if the drone weighs less than 250 g but it is capable of flying at 90 Km/h and it is equipped with a camera and a microphone then it needs to be registered. If you are a drone operator and your drone falls into the specific category, you will need to register as an operator if your drone weighs between 2 Kg and 25 Kg.
The process of registration is very simple and it can be done by filling out the application form which is available on the website of Civil Aviation Authority. After this, you will be asked to submit some documents along with the application form.
The documents which are required for registration are as follows:
Operator's license
Proof of identity
A certificate of registration or any other document that proves that the drone is registered
After submitting all these documents, you will be issued a certificate of registration which is valid for one year.
How to apply for flight permission in Slovenia
Applying for flight permission is another important thing that you need to do before taking off with your drone. If you want to fly your drone in controlled airspace then you will need to apply for flight permission.
You can find the application form on the website of the Civil Aviation Authority of Slovenia. The application process is pretty simple and you will need to submit some basic information about yourself and your drone.
After that, you will need to wait for the permission to be granted. Once you have permission, you can fly your drone in controlled airspace. Remember to keep the permission with you at all times when flying your drone.
Are there special flying areas?
Yes, there are specific areas that are restricted to both commercial and recreational drones. You cannot fly your drone in these areas without prior permission from the authorities.
Some of these restricted areas are:
Near airports
Near military bases
Near power plants
Crowded areas
National parks
Markets and private property
What are my top drones to fly safely in Slovenia?
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)
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.
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.
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 Slovenia. I suggest checking my full map with all the countries' drone laws to see where it's best to travel.
Conclusion
If you are going to visit Slovenia, 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.
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.
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.