Can you fly your drone in Lithuania?
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
Transporto kompetencijų agentūra (TKA)
Framework
EU 2019/947 (EASA Open Category) + national enforcement framework
Pilot credential
Remote Pilot Certificate
BASIC RULES (EASA OPEN CATEGORY)
- In the open category the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance to the closest point of the ground surface — not simply straight down, so when flying near a slope, the adjacent ground may also count. Within 50 m of a tall artificial obstacle (taller than 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.
- 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 applies even to toys. Below 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.
- The registration number must be visible on the drone and (for C1–C3 class drones) entered into the Remote ID system
- Drones without a C class mark (placed on the market before 2024-01-01) and privately built drones may fly only in the A1 subcategory if their take-off mass is less than 250 g, or in the A3 subcategory if less than 25 kg
- The minimum age for a remote pilot is 16 (EU rule; Lithuania has not lowered it). Younger pilots may fly only: under the direct supervision of a remote pilot who meets the requirements; with a C0 class toy in the A1 subcategory; or with a privately built drone with a take-off mass of less than 250 g. The A1/A3 training and exam are completed in the TKA system, and the certificate is valid for 5 years.
- Civil liability insurance is mandatory for drones weighing more than 20 kg
- In the open category you must keep the drone within your own direct, unaided visual line of sight (glasses/contact lenses are fine; binoculars or a screen don't count) — or fly with the help of an observer, maintaining clear and effective communication with each other at all times so that together you can scan the airspace and avoid collisions. “Follow-me” mode is a separate exception, allowed up to 50 m from the pilot.
- Do not fly over assemblies of people. Rules for uninvolved persons depend on subcategory, class mark and operating conditions; check the official matrix.
- There is no single EU-wide distance from airports that you must keep. Restrictions near airports are published as geographical zones (Article 15), whose shape and size vary from airport to airport – before flying near an airport, aerodrome or heliport, check the official drone zone map. In controlled airspace (Vilnius, Kaunas, Palanga, Šiauliai UR zones) you may fly in the open category without prior authorisation only up to the height set for the zone – the closer to the airport, the lower (heights – utm.ans.lt; flying higher requires an authorisation issued under the LTSA procedure). In aerodrome ATZ/TIZ zones the flight must be coordinated in advance with the aerodrome owner or operator.
- Flights in EYP zones and over military areas (EYURM) are prohibited without authorisation; the same applies in activated EYR zones (activation is announced by NOTAM)
- 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.
- Restrictions are in effect in the Curonian Spit National Park
- In the border zone along the borders with Belarus and Russia (about 7.4 km from the border), flights without prior coordination are strictly prohibited
No-fly zones and restrictions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence or certificate to fly a drone in Lithuania?
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 Transporto kompetencijų agentūra (TKA), 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 Lithuania?
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 Lithuania as well. Coming from outside the EASA area, you register once — in the first EASA country where you plan to fly, here with Transporto kompetencijų agentūra (TKA).
What are the most important drone rules in Lithuania?
The short version: In the open category the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance to the closest point of the ground surface — not simply straight down, so when flying near a slope, the adjacent ground may also count. Within 50 m of a tall artificial obstacle (taller than 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 applies even to toys. Below 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: The registration number must be visible on the drone and (for C1–C3 class drones) entered into the Remote ID system. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Lithuania, so always check the official sources.
Where am I not allowed to fly a drone in Lithuania?
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 Lithuania under Sources below, and the DroneKoll app shows current NOTAMs (temporary airspace restrictions) for Lithuania.
Who regulates drone flying in Lithuania?
Drone flying in Lithuania is regulated by Transporto kompetencijų agentūra (TKA). The airspace itself is managed by Oro navigacija. You will find both organisations' official pages under Sources below — those are the links worth bookmarking.
Good to know
OFFICIAL SOURCES
- TKA – Drone RulesOfficial drone rules of the Transporto kompetencijų agentūra (TKA)tka.lt
- TKA – Register as an OperatorRegister as a UAS operator (31 €, valid in all EU/EASA countries)sertifikatai.tka.lt
- UTM Lithuania – Airspace MapOfficial UTM airspace map showing drone zones and restrictionsutm.ans.lt
- TKA – Overview of the RulesAn Overview of Drone Flight Regulations in Lithuaniatka.lt
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Before flying, always check the official TKA sources and UTM Lithuania. This page is a guide — not a legal authority. Lithuania follows EASA regulations with national additions.
The app
The whole picture, up to date — in your pocket
DroneKoll shows weather and current NOTAMs on the map — with a flight log and checklists built in.
More in the app:Interactive zone map · Flight log · Planning & measuring · Pre-flight checklists · Flying abroad
