Can you fly your drone in Romania?

ESSENTIAL RULES (EASA OPEN CATEGORY)

1. 01In the open category, the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance to the closest point of the Earth’s surface — not simply straight down, so near a slope the terrain next to you can 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. 02Registration as a UAS operator is mandatory for drones of 250 g or heavier (or under 250 g with a personal data sensor). Registration is done online on the AACR platform (uas.caa.ro), and the fee is 20 € (MTI Order No. 1280/2021). Your unique operator number (ROU-…) must be displayed on all your drones.
3. 03In Romania, the minimum age for a remote pilot is 16 years, or 12 years under the direct supervision of an authorized pilot aged at least 16 years; there is no minimum age for a drone under 250 g in subcategory A1.
4. 04No Romanian law generally prohibits flying a drone in built-up areas: the Air Code (Codul aerian, Law 21/2020, Art. 15(2)(d)) exempts drones that comply with European rules, and EASA rules apply in the open category. However, flying over sites of the structures of the national defense, public order and national security system remains prohibited without the written consent of their heads (Art. 15(3)). Above most urban centers there are ROMATSA restricted zones from the ground (GND–120 m AGL), each with the access route indicated in the zone data — usually an MApN approval (aerofoto@mapn.ro) or ATC contact. Check the zone on the map before takeoff.
5. 0530 km exclusion zone along the border with UKRAINE (Northern Dobrogea, Sulina–Galați) — flight prohibited by joint order of the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Transport (Air Code, Art. 15(4))
6. 06In the open category, you must keep the drone within your direct line of sight, with the naked eye (glasses/contact lenses are allowed; binoculars or a screen do not count) — or fly with the help of an observer, maintaining clear and effective communication between you 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.
7. 07Do not fly over assemblies of people. Rules for uninvolved persons depend on subcategory, class mark and operating conditions; check the official matrix.
8. 08Flying near airports is prohibited — the protection zones (for example around Henri Coandă Airport in Bucharest) extend for several kilometers. Check the official drone zone map before flying near an airport.
9. 09Night 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.
10. 10Danube Delta: flying a drone over the reserve requires a permit issued by the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration — on permise.ddbra.ro, under «Permise fotografiere-filmare» (photography/filming permits), there is a «Permis survol dronă de mici dimensiuni (sub 500 g)» (small drone overflight permit, under 500 g) (50 RON); for heavier drones, ask ARBDD. This is an access/photography permit from the administration, not an airspace restriction. In national parks, the park administration’s rules apply.

Frequently asked questions