DroneKoll

Can you fly your drone in Latvia?

Whether you can fly depends on your drone, your registration and exactly where you fly. Here is what applies: key rules, no-fly zones and the official sources, in one place.

Regulator

Civilās aviācijas aģentūra (CAA)

Framework

EU 2019/947 (EASA Open Category) + national enforcement framework

Pilot credential

Remote Pilot Certificate

MAIN RULES (EASA OPEN CATEGORY)

  1. In the open category, the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance to the closest point on the ground surface — not only straight down, so near a slope the ground alongside may also count. Within 50 m of a tall artificial obstacle (over 105 m), the maximum height may be increased up to 15 m above the height of the obstacle at the request of the entity responsible for the obstacle.
  2. You must register as a drone operator if your drone weighs 250 g or more (or could transfer more than 80 J of kinetic energy in a collision) — this also applies to toys. If it weighs less than 250 g, registration is still required if the drone has a sensor able to capture personal data, unless it is considered a toy under the EU Toy Safety Directive. Pilot training/certificate requirements are separate and depend on the drone's class and subcategory.
  3. You must register as a UAS operator in your EU country of residence (if you live outside the EU — in the first EU country where you fly); registration is valid throughout the EU, and registering in two countries at the same time is not allowed. In Latvia, registration costs 5 € and is valid for 1 year. Each drone must be marked with the UAS operator number.
  4. A drone from 250 g requires the A1/A3 online course and exam. As of 2024, drones without a C class mark and weighing 250 g or more may only fly in the A3 subcategory — far from uninvolved persons and at least 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.
  5. In Latvia, the minimum age for flying independently is 16; younger pilots may only fly under the direct supervision of a qualified remote pilot aged at least 16, or with a class C0 drone designed as a toy.
  6. Class C1, C2 (and C3) drones must fly with active direct remote identification (Remote ID) with your UAS operator number entered.
  7. Civil liability insurance is mandatory, except for drones with a mass under 250 g and a maximum speed under 19 m/s. Minimum limit: in the A1 and A2 subcategories — 50,000 €; for drones from 20 kg and in the specific category — 750,000 SDR (Regulation (EC) No 785/2004).
  8. There is no general ban, but UAS geographical zones may be established over state roads, bridges, railway facilities and 110/330 kV power lines (up to 50 m from them) — check airspace.lv. Avoid flying over people, traffic, buildings and engineering structures whenever possible.
  9. Filming or photographing critical infrastructure objects bearing the sign „BEZ SASKAŅOŠANAS FOTOGRAFĒT, FILMĒT AIZLIEGTS“ is prohibited.
  10. In the open category, you must keep the drone within your direct visual line of sight without aids (glasses/contact lenses are allowed; binoculars or a screen do not count) — or fly with the help of an observer, maintaining clear and effective mutual communication at all times so that together you can monitor the airspace and avoid collisions. “Follow-me” mode is a separate exception, permitted up to 50 m from the pilot.
  11. Do not fly over assemblies of people. Rules for uninvolved persons depend on subcategory, class mark and operating conditions; check the official matrix.
  12. There is no single EU-wide distance to keep from airports. Restrictions near airports are published as geographical zones (Article 15), whose shape and size vary from airport to airport. Before flying near an airport, airfield or heliport, check the official drone zone map; flying in a control zone (CTR) usually requires prior air traffic control permission.
  13. In Latvia, as of 1 January 2025, flights in UAS geographical zones that require flight notification or approval must be notified before the flight in the CAA Unmanned Aircraft Information System BGKIS (e.caa.gov.lv); operators registered in another EEA country or in Switzerland can also create a BGKIS account. Approval in zones around aerodromes can take up to 5 working days (up to 30 days if the flight plan has to be changed).
  14. Night flight is permitted under the EASA open-category baseline when the required green flashing light is used, unless a current geographic zone or national rule imposes a stricter condition.
  15. The Riga CTR covers a large part of Riga. Without separate approval, flying is permitted below 50 m above ground and more than 5 km from the thresholds of runways 18 and 36 with a drone up to 2 kg; a drone over 2 kg requires additional qualification (e.g. an A2 certificate of competency). Higher than 50 m or within the 5 km zone around the runway thresholds, each flight must be approved in advance with VAS „Latvijas gaisa satiksme“.
  16. At the request of the police, CAA, border guard or another official, stop the flight immediately and present an identity document – carry it with you.
  17. A remote pilot or observer whose blood alcohol concentration exceeds 0.2 ‰ or who is under the influence of intoxicating substances may be fined up to 700 €; refusing a test is prohibited. Fines: up to 700 € (e.g. for flying without mandatory insurance), up to 1,000 € for violating the permitted height or aerodrome zone requirements.

No-fly zones and restrictions

Current NOTAM data in the app · rules & checklists
Open the official drone map ↗

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence or certificate to fly a drone in Latvia?

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 remote pilot's certificate of competency (Remote Pilot 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 Civilās aviācijas aģentūra (CAA), and it is then valid across the whole EASA area, not just here.

Can I fly a drone as a tourist or foreign visitor in Latvia?

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 Latvia as well. Coming from outside the EASA area, you register once — in the first EASA country where you plan to fly, here with Civilās aviācijas aģentūra (CAA). Latvia requires third-party liability insurance for drone flights, with a minimum of 50,000 euro for open-category flights in subcategories A1 and A2 — in practice most camera drones between 250 g and 4 kg flown near people. Only drones under 250 g with a top speed below 19 m/s are exempt; for A3 flights under 20 kg no minimum amount is set.

What are the most important drone rules in Latvia?

The short version: In the open category, the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance to the closest point on the ground surface — not only straight down, so near a slope the ground alongside may also count. Within 50 m of a tall artificial obstacle (over 105 m), the maximum height may be increased up to 15 m above the height of the obstacle at the request of the entity responsible for the obstacle. On top of that: You must register as a drone operator if your drone weighs 250 g or more (or could transfer more than 80 J of kinetic energy in a collision) — this also applies to toys. If it weighs less than 250 g, registration is still required if the drone has a sensor able to capture personal data, unless it is considered a toy under the EU Toy Safety Directive. Pilot training/certificate requirements are separate and depend on the drone's class and subcategory. Also: You must register as a UAS operator in your EU country of residence (if you live outside the EU — in the first EU country where you fly); registration is valid throughout the EU, and registering in two countries at the same time is not allowed. In Latvia, registration costs 5 € and is valid for 1 year. Each drone must be marked with the UAS operator number. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Latvia, so always check the official sources.

Where am I not allowed to fly a drone in Latvia?

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

Who regulates drone flying in Latvia?

Drone flying in Latvia is regulated by Civilās aviācijas aģentūra (CAA). The airspace itself is managed by LGS. You will find both organisations' official pages under Sources below — those are the links worth bookmarking.

Good to know

OFFICIAL SOURCES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Before your flight, always check the official sources of the CAA (Civilās aviācijas aģentūra, the Civil Aviation Agency) and airspace.lv. This page is a guide — not a legal authority. Latvia complies with EASA regulations, with national additions.

The app

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