š In this blog post weāll share all law links & known regulation about recreational & commercial drone use in Macedonia (Skopge). Give a š at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in The Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
Recreational vs Commercial drone use in Macedonia
Macedonia does not differentiate commercial & recreational drone use - see our post to differentiate recreational vs commercial drone usage. However both are subject to restrictions and code of conduct. Additionally, depending on your drone's weight and where you want to fly your drone, different rules will apply.
ā In Macedonia, drone regulation falls under the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency (CAA), & they can be contacted anytime via:
Email: contact@caa.gov.mk
Phone:(+389) 2 318 160 1
Mail: Dame Gruev 1, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Can I bring my drone to Macedonia?
ā Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within Macedonia (Skopge) as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
šØ Whilst we didn't find any laws saying you should declare your drone; beware that you might face insisting police forces prior entering, here's a video of Rick's unfortunate experience
šØ Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
Where can I fly my drone in Macedonia?
ā Macedonia is pretty open when it comes to flight zones for your drone. The only little patch to worry about is in the centre of its capital city, Skopje.
The map below showcases the flight areas to avoid with your drone.
šØ Stay way (100 m) from all governmental buildings, diplomatic missions, power plants & installations, storage facilities & water purification, prisons & other sensitive buildings.
š² National parks & reserves might be on a case by case permission & you might need to check directly with the local park or reserve authorities.
Recreational & Commercial Drone use in Macedonia
ā Good things first, you will not need a license or permit to fly your drone in Macedonia as long as you fly within the permitted zones & follow a few rules:
you will need to be at least 18 years old.
fly a drone weighting less than 5 kg
fly your drone at a maximum altitude of 120 m above the ground & further than 500 from you & always in sight.
fly away from people (50 m) & respect individuals' privacy.
fly away from vehicles (30 m) & respect individuals' privacy.
fly at least 1 km away from the 2 airports of the country (Skopje & Ohrid). If you see a plane or helicopter during your flight, land immediately your drone.
do not fly within 3 km of Macedonia's borders (the country is not part of Schengen).
do not fly near a natural disaster or somewhere emergencies will need to intervene.
do not fly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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How to register my drone in Macedonia?
ā You should report your flights to CAA, they will simply record it and add it to the live map for safety reasons. You can register by emailing them at contact@caa.gov.mk & your flight should be added to this map.
š Allow a minimum of 24h for any registration to be complete
How to obtain my drone drone permit in Macedonia?
ā If you wish to fly within restricted zones or outside the rules explained above, you can ask for a permission by completing this form (in Macedonian).
What do I risk for flying a drone illegally in Macedonia?
The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction and/or if you had any commercial purposes to do such.
Once you got everything in order, you can start flying above Macedonia's awesome landscapes and create videos like this one:
ā Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Macedonia! Have fun and safe flight!
Disclaimer: Although greatĀ care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authoritiesĀ for needed information about local drone rules and regulations.
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