🖐 In this blog post we’ll share all law links & known rules about recreational & commercial drone use in Slovakia (Bratislava & Košice). Give a 👍 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 Slovakia
Slovakia differentiates commercial & recreational drone uses. Both are subject to restrictions & a strict code of conduct. Additionally, depending on the weight of your drone, different rules will apply.
✅ In Slovakia, drone regulation falls under the Civil Aviation Division of the Transportation Office (CAD) & they can be contacted anytime via;
Email: martin.jurovic@nsat.sk
Phone: (+421) (02) 48-777-548
Can I bring my drone to Slovakia?
✅ Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within Slovakia (Bratislava & Košice) as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
🚨 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 Slovakia?
✅ We did not find any official drone fly map from Slovakian Authorities however we stumbled on app.airmap.io which has listed the country's flight zones in a convenient way.
Slovakia Drone Fly Map
🦅 National parks are protected flight areas in Slovakia and you might need to seek specific permission prior taking off in these places.
🚨 Fly away from the country's borders and at lest 1.5 km away from crowds and urban centres. Avoid airports and heliports as a ban for flying within 5.5 km without specific authorisation is in place.
💡 Spare drone batteries are a must when travelling overseas, they give you more autonomy to fly and take pictures during your trips.
Recreational Drone use in Slovakia
✅ Good things first, you will not need a license to fly your drone for recreational use in Slovakia if your drone weights less than 7 kg as long as you keep your flight in a non restricted area. With this in mind, you should always:
fly at a maximum of 120 m altitude & 1 km away from you.
fly during day time & within sight (or 1 km away, whichever comes first).
fly a drone weighting less than 7 kg that has a lighting system such as the Mavic Pro 2
run a back check of your drone and the flights' surroundings prior any take off.
fly at least 5.5 km away from airports. You must also give priority to all other categories of aircraft & if you see n aircraft during your flight, land immediately.
fly your drone 50 m away from animals, buildings, vehicles, people & respect individuals' privacy.
It is recommended to subscribe to an insurance
fly your drone 1.5 km away from crowds.
do not carry, drop or drag anything with your drone.
fly away from urban areas.
🚨 If your drone is fitted with a camera or you intend to do any recording with your drone, we understand this qualifies as commercial use of your drone & you will need to look for further permissions and paperwork. Follow this topic on the Forum & see below more info about commercial drone use in Slovakia.
🚨 If your drone weights more than 20 kg, you will need:
register your drone online
have an insurance covering your drone activities
have a license to fly your drone after undertaking a practical and theoretical exam.
How to register my drone in Slovakia?
✅ This is done by completing this online form. To complete your registration you will need to provide your full contact details, your drone's full specs (including registration mark & serial number), and any other details such as the purchase invoice & photos if you have.
🚨 Note, the Civil Aviation Division of the Transportation Office specifies that only citizen or person having a permanent address in Slovakia can apply. This said, there is a mention that the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development may authorise exceptionally should a demand be done. For further help, you can contact them via:
Phone: (+421) 0918 382 016
E-mail: register.lietadiel@nsat.sk
✅ Once done, you will join the list of registered drone owners which is published here.
🚁 If you are considering getting your first drone or upgrade, feel free to check the Drone Gear content we've put together or click on the model you like below to get its full specs. Any purchase done from one of our affiliate links helps Dronemade stay free and available to all.
Drone Commercial use in Slovakia
🚨 Flying a drone for commercial purposes in Slovakia is a long process (this includes clearly aerial photography under Slovak rules) as you will need:
to register your drone (same process as for recreational use).
create an operating manual for your drone (guidebook in case of problems).
obtain a permission (via the Department of Defense) for 600€ per year. 🕔 Allow 8 to 10 days to process.
have a Slovak license to fly your drone(s).
subscribe to an insurance (about 350€ per year).
Additionally, there are specific rules for you to follow:
Prior your flight, you must be reported & pre-approved by:
having written approval from the land owner or public authority involved.
sending this approval to the Department of Defense with your full flight info & intentions, you should get your approval shortly after.
After your flight, you will need to:
send all your videos & photos to the Topographic Institute for a check (if no classified information has been unveiled).
🕔 Allow 10 days for an approval or refusal of your content before using it yourself.
💡 A virtual headset is the best way to immerse yourself and they are now affordable...
How to obtain my drone license in Slovakia?
✅ The Slovak drone license has 2 parts; a theoretical & a practical one.
The Theoretical Test
You will need to undertake a theoretical exam to test your aeronautical skills which can be self studied at home. The Civil Aviation Division of the Transportation Office recommends these books:
Pilot textbooks, World Wing Publishing.
Boy, Solzhátko - DRONY - Practical guide for DJI drones; 2017; publisher Agentura Rubico, sro, Czech Republic, ISBN: 978-80-7346-228-4
Karas - 222 tips and tricks for drones; 2017; Computer Press Brno, Czech Republic; ISBN: 978-80-251-4874-7
Hohenlohe - DRONY; 2016; publishing house Alpress Frýdek-Místek, Czech Republic; ISBN: 978-80-7543-234-6
Karas, Tichý - Drones; 2016; Vydavatelstvo Computer Press Brno, Czech Republic, ISBN: 978-80-251-4860-4
The test will be done in Slovak, under a PC format with a series of 100 questions to answer within 90 minutes in a closed room. 🏆 You will need to score at least 75% good answers to succeed! For more information about the theoretical exam you can contact letecky.personal@nsat.sk 🕔 Allow at least 14 days upon submission to process.
✅ Here are some questions (in Slovak) that might be asked during the exam
The Practical Test
You will need to undertake the theoretical exam and a practical exam. These happen once a month (usually around the 15th) at Stephan Banic Airport. For more information about the theoretical exam you can contact martin.jurovic@nsat.sk 🕔 Allow at least 3 days upon submission to process.
Once you got everything in order, you can start flying above Slovakia's awesome landscapes and create videos like this one:
✅ Please leave a comment or update when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Slovakia! Have fun and safe flight!
Disclaimer: Although great 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 authorities for needed information about local drone rules and regulations.
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