Can you fly your drone in Bulgaria?

Two separate things are easily confused here. Registration as a drone operator is required as soon as your drone weighs 250 g or more, or has a camera or sensor able to capture personal data — so it covers many sub-250 g drones too, unless they qualify for the toy exemption. The Pilot's License competency certificate is something else: you need it once your drone weighs 250 g or more, or carries a C1 or higher class mark. A camera drone under 250 g therefore needs registration, but no exam. You get the certificate by passing an online theory test with ГД „Гражданска въздухоплавателна администрация" (CAA), and it is then valid across the whole EASA area, not just here.

Yes — EU drone rules apply to visitors too. If you are already registered as a drone operator in another EASA country, that registration and your A1/A3 certificate (also A2) are valid in Bulgaria as well. Coming from outside the EASA area, you register once — in the first EASA country where you plan to fly, here with ГД „Гражданска въздухоплавателна администрация" (CAA).

The short version: Max. 120 m above ground level (EASA Open category). On top of that: Registration as a UAS operator for drones weighing 250 g or more or equipped with a camera. Also: Mandatory Online Training A1/A3 — Minimum Age 16. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Bulgaria, so always check the official sources.

What you need to avoid are the restricted zones — typically around airports, prisons, military areas and protected nature. You'll find the official map for Bulgaria under Sources below, and the DroneKoll app shows current NOTAMs (temporary airspace restrictions) for Bulgaria.

Drone flying in Bulgaria is regulated by ГД „Гражданска въздухоплавателна администрация" (CAA). The airspace itself is managed by BULATSA. You will find both organisations' official pages under Sources below — those are the links worth bookmarking.