Can you fly your 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 Certificate 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 Civilās aviācijas aģentūra (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 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 (minimum 50,000 euro) for open-category flights of C1 drones in subcategory A1 and C2 drones in A2 — in practice most camera drones between 250 g and 4 kg flown near people. Sub-250 g drones and A3 flights under 20 kg are exempt.

The short version: A maximum of 120 m above ground level (EASA Open Category). On top of that: Register as a UAS operator if your drone weighs 250 g or more or is equipped with a camera. Also: A1/A3 online training required – minimum age 16. 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.

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 Latvia under Sources below, and the DroneKoll app shows current NOTAMs (temporary airspace restrictions) for 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.