A1/A3 or A2: Which EU Drone Licence Do You Need?

“Drone licence” is the everyday name for two different documents: the EU competency certificate A1/A3 and the EU remote pilot certificate A2. Which one you need depends on the weight of your drone and on how close to people you intend to fly. Here is the difference in five minutes. Both are valid across the whole EASA area — the EU, plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland — and are issued by your national aviation authority.

A1/A3 competency certificate: the baseline

  • Who needs it: anyone flying a drone of 250 g or more, or a class C1 to C3 drone, in the open category. It is not mandatory only for a C0 drone or a drone under 250 g, such as a DJI Mini — but it is still recommended.
  • What it allows: subcategory A1 (under 900 g, C0/C1) — you should avoid overflying uninvolved people, but there is no fixed minimum distance. Subcategory A3 (up to 25 kg) — 150 m from residential, commercial and industrial areas, and no uninvolved people nearby.
  • The exam: online training and an online test at your national authority (40 questions), valid for five years.

A2 remote pilot certificate: closer to people

  • Who needs it: anyone flying a class C2 drone (up to 4 kg — a Mavic 3 with a C2 label, say) in subcategory A2, meaning in built-up areas and as close as 30 m to uninvolved people, or 5 m in low-speed mode.
  • Prerequisites: a valid A1/A3 certificate, a self-declaration covering practical self-training, then the theory exam at a body designated by your national authority (30 questions), valid for five years.
  • Worth knowing: A2 includes A1/A3 — hold A2 and you hold both. That is why the document vault in Hoverpoint shows a single “competency” card, on which the higher certificate is the one that counts.

Which one applies to you

  • Drone under 250 g (C0), no further ambitions: no certificate needed — but you still have to register as an operator if there is a camera on board.
  • Drone between 250 g and 25 kg, flown in the countryside well away from people: A1/A3 is enough.
  • C2 drone flown in built-up areas or close to people: A2 is mandatory.
  • Flights over crowds, above 120 m or beyond visual line of sight: no longer a question of licences at all, but of the specific category — an operational authorisation with a SORA risk assessment, which Hoverpoint Pro helps you prepare with its SORA assistant.

The rest of the paperwork

  • Operator registration with your national authority — mandatory from 250 g, or at any weight with a camera. The operator number has to be displayed on the drone, and it is recognised across the whole EASA area.
  • Third-party liability insurance — mandatory for every drone in some countries, Germany among them, and only above certain weights in others. Check the rule for the country you fly in.
  • Keep an eye on expiry: both certificates run out after five years. Hoverpoint sends you a push 90, 30 and 7 days beforehand once the date is in the document vault.

Frequently asked questions about the drone licence

What does the A1/A3 drone licence cost?

The fee is set nationally, not by the EU. In Germany the online training at the Federal Aviation Office (LBA) is free; the online test and the A1/A3 certificate cost 25 euros, and issuing the A2 remote pilot certificate costs 30 euros, plus any fee the examination body charges. In other countries, check with your own authority.

Do I need a licence for a DJI Mini?

Not for a class C0 Mini under 250 g. The competency certificate is still worth having, and operator registration is mandatory as soon as there is a camera on board — which means every Mini.

Does A2 replace the A1/A3 certificate?

Yes. The A2 remote pilot certificate requires A1/A3 in the first place and includes the privileges of both A1 and A3. You only need to carry the A2 certificate.

How long is a drone licence valid?

The A1/A3 competency certificate and the A2 remote pilot certificate are each valid for five years from the date of issue. After that you sit the exam again. Hoverpoint reminds you in good time once the expiry date is stored in the document vault.

Try everything for free: Hoverpoint for Android and iOS, or straight in your browser at web.hoverpoint.info.

Note: this page reflects the situation as of September 2026 and is neither legal advice nor an official clearance. The regulations in force at the time of your flight are what count.