# Drone laws in Croatia

> Structured, citation-backed drone regulation information for Croatia, published by Drone Assistant from official sources. Every claim below links to the official material it came from. This is not legal advice, coverage is not exhaustive, and the linked official source governs.

> Limited guide. Drone Assistant's coverage of Croatia is still under review, so this page summarises only the published rules we can cite to an official source. It is not a complete statement of Croatia's drone law; check the linked sources or ask the assistant about your own flight.

Canonical page: [https://droneassistant.com/drone-laws/croatia](https://droneassistant.com/drone-laws/croatia)

This Markdown file is a machine-readable representation of that page. It is generated from the same published data; it is not a separate content source.

## Regulatory framework

- Jurisdiction: Croatia
- Responsible aviation authority: [Hrvatska agencija za civilno zrakoplovstvo (Croatian Civil Aviation Agency) (CCAA (HACZ))](https://www.ccaa.hr/sustavi-bespilotnih-zrakoplova-38098)
- Framework type: national rules within an inherited framework
- Inherited from: EU/EASA framework — [https://droneassistant.com/drone-laws/europe](https://droneassistant.com/drone-laws/europe)
- Published rules held for this jurisdiction: 128

Croatia applies the inherited EU/EASA framework. Rules below marked as framework rules are inherited rather than uniquely national, and a national rule may add to, restrict or clarify them.

Legal status is stated for every rule below: binding law, AMC/GM (acceptable means of compliance and guidance material), authority guidance or other non-binding material. Guidance is never a statutory maximum in itself.

## Registration and pilot requirements

### Registration

- Question: Do I need to register my drone in Croatia?
- Answer state: Conditional
- Scope: Whether a drone or its operator must be registered before flying, and under which threshold.

Registration in Croatia is governed by a published mass threshold of 0.25 kg, alongside the further conditions cited below. Whether it applies to a given flight depends on those conditions, each cited to its rule.

Published figures:

- Weight threshold: 0.25 kg (binding law)

Operating categories distinguished by the published rules: certified, open, specific.

What changes the answer:

- Flight altitude below 120 m (altitude)
- Kinetic energy above 80 joules (other)
- Take-off mass at or above 250 g (weight threshold)

Rules behind this answer:

- **Airspace registration for UAS operators** (Članak 16. stavak 7.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. UAS owners or operators must be registered for airspace use with the competent air navigation service provider to conduct flights in URG, ULG, or UAG areas. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_02_20_342.html)
- **Application requirements for aerial filming permit** (Članak 9. stavak 1.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. An application for an aerial filming permit must be submitted to the State Geodetic Administration (DGU) and must contain specified details of the client, operator, aircraft, planned period (up to 3 months), purpose, sensor specifications, proof of registered activity, and a cartographic plan with coordinates. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_07_77_1464.html)
- **Cooperation with Aviation Inspectors** (3) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. An operator must present all required certificates, logbooks, and documentation upon request to an aviation inspector and must not obstruct safety inspections. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2009_06_69_1663.html#from=%C4%8Clanak+76.&to=%C4%8Clanak+80.)
- **Inspection and Presentation of Documents** (Članak 156. stavak 1. točka 5.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. The pilot must present all required documents, logs, and other documentation upon the request of an aviation inspector. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2009_06_69_1663.html#from=%C4%8Clanak+76.&to=%C4%8Clanak+80.)
- **Registration for airspace use** (Članak 16. stavak 7.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. Vlasnik ili operator sustava bespilotnog zrakoplova mora biti prijavljen za uporabu zračnog prostora kod nadležnog pružatelja usluga u zračnoj plovidbi kako bi provodio letačke aktivnosti u URG, ULG ili UAG područjima. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_02_20_342.html)
- **Application for Cross-Border Operations under Operational Authorisation** (Article 13(1)) — binding law; EU/EASA framework rule; National binding rule — binding law. A UAS operator intending to conduct a specific category operation under an existing operational authorisation in a Member State other than their Member State of registration must submit an application to the competent authority of the Member State of intended operation. [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R0945-20250624)
- **Article 14 - section overview** (Article 14) — binding law; EU/EASA framework rule; EU regulation — binding law. This section establishes the mandatory registration requirements for UAS operators and certified unmanned aircraft, defining the thresholds for registration in the open and specific categories, registration location rules, and the obligation to display the registration number. [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R0945-20250624)

Limitations of this coverage:

- 1 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Last verified: 2026-09-07.

## Operating rules

### Operational authorisation

- Question: When does a drone operation need authorisation in Croatia?
- Answer state: Conditional
- Scope: When an operation needs prior authorisation, and how that authorisation is obtained.

Whether an operation in Croatia needs prior authorisation depends on the operational category, risk class or location: the published triggers below decide it.

Published figures:

- Application model: permit (binding law)

Operating categories distinguished by the published rules: open, specific.

What changes the answer:

- Pilot age at or above 16 years (pilot certification)
- Take-off mass below 20 kg (weight threshold)
- Age reduction at or below 2 years (pilot certification)

Rules behind this answer:

- **Ad hoc airspace restrictions and prohibitions** (2) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. Airspace users, including UAS operators, must comply with flight restrictions or prohibitions established in ad hoc airspace structures by the Airspace Management Cell (AMC), unless they are specifically authorized. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_02_20_342.html)
- **Airspace Management Approval** (Članak 4. stavak 13.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. UAS flight operations must only be conducted with prior approval from the competent Airspace Management (ASM) level, issued in accordance with the approval procedure for the specific geographical zone. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_02_20_342.html)
- **Application for approval to use aerial imagery** (11) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. An application for approval to use aerial imagery must be submitted to the State Geodetic Administration and must contain the client's details, the reference of the aerial filming approval, the filming period, the intended use, and the complete recorded material. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_07_77_1464.html)
- **Application for Approval to Use Aerial Images** (11) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. An application for approval to use aerial images must be submitted to the State Geodetic Administration and must include client details, the aerial filming approval reference, the filming period, the intended use, and all recorded material. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_07_77_1464.html)
- **Application requirements for aerial filming permit** (Članak 9. stavak 1.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. An application for an aerial filming permit must be submitted to the State Geodetic Administration (DGU) and must contain specified details of the client, operator, aircraft, planned period (up to 3 months), purpose, sensor specifications, proof of registered activity, and a cartographic plan with coordinates. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_07_77_1464.html)
- **Approval for use and publication of aerial imagery** (Članak 14. stavak 1.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. Aerial imagery may only be used, publicly published, or shared with third parties in accordance with the approval decision issued by the State Geodetic Administration (DGU) following a review. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_07_77_1464.html)
- **Approval for Use and Publication of Aerial Images** (Članak 14. stavak 1.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. Aerial images may only be used, publicly published, or shared with third parties in accordance with the official decision issued by the State Geodetic Administration (DGU) following a review of the footage. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_07_77_1464.html)

Limitations of this coverage:

- 1 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Last verified: 2026-08-25.

## Airspace and geographical zones

### Aerodromes and controlled airspace

- Question: Can I fly a drone near an airport in Croatia?
- Answer state: Conditional
- Scope: What permission or distance applies around aerodromes and in controlled airspace.

Drone flights near aerodromes in Croatia are governed by airspace and aerodrome restrictions: whether permission is needed depends on the airspace, distance or aerodrome type published below.

Operating categories distinguished by the published rules: open.

Rules behind this answer:

- **Air traffic control coordination for aerial filming** (Članak 4. stavak 4.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. The aircraft operator participating in aerial filming operations must announce and coordinate the filming operations with the competent air traffic control before the flight. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_07_77_1464.html)
- **Airspace Use Request Submission** (Članak 23.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. Authorized entities must plan airspace activities in advance and submit requests for airspace use and allocation to the Airspace Management Cell (AMC). [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_02_20_342.html)
- **Compliance with ATC Instructions and Approvals** (Članak 156. stavak 1. točka 12.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. Operating a flight without the required approvals, contrary to the conditions of those approvals, or failing to comply with instructions from air traffic control is prohibited. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2009_06_69_1663.html#from=%C4%8Clanak+76.&to=%C4%8Clanak+80.)
- **Compliance with aviation regulations for exempt filming operations** (Članak 5. stavak 3.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. Aerial filming operations exempted under Article 5 paragraphs 1 and 2 must be performed in accordance with regulations governing air traffic. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_07_77_1464.html)
- **Prior consent for operations near uncontrolled airports** (Članak 4. stavak 8.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. Prior consent from the operator of an uncontrolled airport is required to operate a UAS within 1500 meters of the airport edges and 500 meters laterally along the approach path up to 2500 meters from the runway threshold. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_02_20_342.html)
- **UAS Operations Near Uncontrolled Airports** (Članak 4. stavak 8.) — binding law; national rule; National binding rule — binding law. Prior consent from the operator of an uncontrolled airport is required for UAS operations within 1500 meters of the airport edges and 500 meters laterally along the approach path up to 2500 meters from the runway threshold. [Official source](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_02_20_342.html)
- **In-flight Geographical Zone Compliance** (UAS.OPEN.060(2)(c)) — binding law; EU/EASA framework rule; National binding rule — binding law. During the flight, the remote pilot must comply with the operational limitations defined for geographical zones. [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R0945-20250624)

Limitations of this coverage:

- Binding law and official guidance disagree on airport_airspace.altitude_relationship; the binding position is published.
- 1 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Last verified: 2026-08-25.

## Insurance

### Insurance

- Question: Do I need drone insurance in Croatia?
- Answer state: Conditional
- Scope: Whether third-party liability insurance is mandatory, and from which threshold.

Drone insurance in Croatia is published with a minimum third-party cover of 20 kg. Whether cover is required for a given flight depends on the published conditions below.

Published figures:

- Weight threshold: 20 kg (binding law)

Operating categories distinguished by the published rules: open, specific.

What changes the answer:

- Take-off mass below 20 kg (weight threshold)

Rules behind this answer:

- **Contents of an Operational Authorisation Application** (UAS.SPEC.030) — binding law; EU/EASA framework rule; National binding rule — binding law. The application for an operational authorisation shall be based on the risk assessment referred to in Article 11 and shall include the specified operator registration, manager name, risk assessment, mitigation measures, operations manual (if required), and insurance confirmation. [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R0945-20250624)
- **Declared standard scenario operations require confirmation of insurance cover** (UAS.SPEC.020(2)(d)) — binding law; EU/EASA framework rule; National binding rule — binding law. A declaration by a UAS operator shall contain confirmation by the UAS operator that an appropriate insurance cover will be in place for every flight made under the declaration, if required by Union or national law. [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R0945-20250624)
- **Model aircraft under 20 kg are outside the EU aviation insurance regulation** (Article 2(2)(b)) — binding law; EU/EASA framework rule; National binding rule — binding law. Regulation (EC) No 785/2004 shall not apply to model aircraft with a maximum take-off mass of less than 20 kg. [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R0945-20250624)
- **Operational authorisation applications require confirmation of insurance cover** (UAS.SPEC.030(3)(f)) — binding law; EU/EASA framework rule; National binding rule — binding law. An application for an operational authorisation shall include a confirmation that an appropriate insurance cover will be in place at the start of the UAS operations, if required by Union or national law. [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R0945-20250624)
- **Operator registration records an insurance policy number where insurance is required** (Article 14(2)(d)) — binding law; EU/EASA framework rule; National binding rule — binding law. The registration systems for UAS operators shall provide the fields for introducing and exchanging an insurance policy number for UAS if required by Union or national law. [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R0945-20250624)
- **Insurance for Aerial Work** (Page 15) — guidance / non-binding material; national rule; Authority guidance — not binding law. The operator must obtain an insurance policy if the drone is used at any time for aerial work (such as filming, photography, or surveillance), regardless of whether it is for private, business, commercial, or non-commercial purposes. [Official source](https://www.ccaa.hr/file/274760378b39c0db16158a9356b6857d2a46)
- **Insurance Requirement for Aerial Work** (250) — guidance / non-binding material; national rule; Authority guidance — not binding law. Operators planning to perform aerial work operations are required to contract an operator insurance policy. [Official source](https://www.ccaa.hr/file/274760378b39c0db16158a9356b6857d2a46)

Limitations of this coverage:

- 2 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Last verified: 2026-08-25.

## Visual line of sight (VLOS)

Requirement (acceptable means of compliance / guidance material, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)): VLOS is determined by whether the remote pilot can keep the unmanned aircraft in unaided visual contact. EASA guidance treats the maximum possible VLOS distance as the smaller of the attitude line of sight (ALOS) and the detection line of sight (DLOS); anything beyond that is BVLOS.

- Distance: Depends on aircraft size and visibility
- What that means: European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) publishes a method for working this out. The requirement to fly within visual line of sight is itself binding; it is this way of calculating a practical distance that comes from acceptable means of compliance / guidance material, so the result is not a statutory maximum in itself.
- Legal status of the governing material: acceptable means of compliance / guidance material (not a statutory maximum in itself)
- Governing layer: inherited framework (eu-easa)
- Depends on: the aircraft's characteristic dimension
- Depends on: the ground visibility at the site
- Published expression: ALOSmax = 327 x CD + 20 m
- Published expression: ALOSmax = 490 x CD + 30 m
- Published expression: DLOSmax = 0.3 x ground visibility
- Worked example published by the authority: 1 m (rotary wing) — 347 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 1 m (fixed wing) — 520 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 2 m (rotary wing) — 674 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 2 m (fixed wing) — 1010 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 3 m (rotary wing) — 1000 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 3 m (fixed wing) — 1500 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 3.5 m (rotary wing) — 1164.5 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 3.5 m (fixed wing) — 1500 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 4 m (rotary wing) — 1328 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 4 m (fixed wing) — 1500 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 4.53 m (rotary wing) — 1500 m
- Worked example published by the authority: 4.53 m (fixed wing) — 1500 m

- Visual observer: An observer may assist the remote pilot, but the remote pilot remains responsible for maintaining visual line of sight and the operating range is not extended.
  - Legal status: acceptable means of compliance / guidance material (inherited framework)
- First-person view (FPV): UA observers may also be used when the remote pilot conducts UAS operations in first-person view (FPV). In any case, including during FPV operations, the remote pilot is still responsible for the safety of the flight. (acceptable means of compliance / guidance material)
  - The remote pilot remains responsible for the safety of the flight at all times.
  - A UA observer may be used and must be situated alongside the remote pilot.
- Visibility: Visibility is part of the published method: DLOSmax = 0.3 x ground visibility

Layers that apply:

- Inherited (eu-easa), acceptable means of compliance / guidance material, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA): VLOS is determined by whether the remote pilot can keep the unmanned aircraft in unaided visual contact. EASA guidance treats the maximum possible VLOS distance as the smaller of the attitude line of sight (ALOS) and the detection line of sight (DLOS); anything beyond that is BVLOS.
  - Method: The maximum possible distance results from the smaller value of ALOS and DLOS. Anything beyond that is considered BVLOS.

VLOS sources:

- [Easy Access Rules for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Revision from June 2026 - Annex to AMC3 UAS.SPEC.030(3)(e), A.5.2.5-A.5.2.6; GM1 UAS.OPEN.060(4)](https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-unmanned-aircraft-systems) — European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); acceptable means of compliance / guidance material, last verified 2026-09-07

## Official sources

- [Pravilnik o upravljanju zračnim prostorom (NN 20/2023) — UAS zemljopisna područja i postupak integracije](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_02_20_342.html) — Hrvatska agencija za civilno zrakoplovstvo (Croatian Civil Aviation Agency); Secondary legislation — binding law; last verified 2026-09-27
- [Uredba o snimanju iz zraka (NN 77/2020) — nacionalni režim odobrenja za snimanje iz zraka](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_07_77_1464.html) — Hrvatska agencija za civilno zrakoplovstvo (Croatian Civil Aviation Agency); Secondary legislation — binding law; last verified 2026-09-27
- [Zakon o zračnom prometu (NN 69/2009) — Članak 76.–79. — aerodromi i posebna odobrenja za objekte od značaja za sigurnost](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2009_06_69_1663.html#from=%C4%8Clanak+76.&to=%C4%8Clanak+80.) — Hrvatska agencija za civilno zrakoplovstvo (Croatian Civil Aviation Agency); Primary legislation — binding law; last verified 2026-08-27
- [Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R0945-20250624) — National binding rule — binding law; last verified 2026-09-07
- [CCAA — Praktični vodič kroz regulativu za bespilotne zrakoplove (practical guide, PDF)](https://www.ccaa.hr/file/274760378b39c0db16158a9356b6857d2a46) — Hrvatska agencija za civilno zrakoplovstvo (Croatian Civil Aviation Agency); Authority guidance — not binding law; last verified 2026-09-20

## Verification

- Sources last verified: 2026-08-25
- Page built: 2026-10-07
- Regulations change. Where a statement says a value is unverified or not published, that describes the official material reviewed so far, not a finding that no such rule exists; please reproduce such caveats as caveats.
- A rule shown here applies to this jurisdiction and to the operation described. Do not generalise it to other countries or to other categories of operation.
- Site map for agents: [https://droneassistant.com/llms.txt](https://droneassistant.com/llms.txt)