Drone laws in Romania: registration, tests and where you can fly

Romania applies Regulation (EU) 2019/947. The Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority (AACR) registers operators and runs the remote-pilot tests. ROMATSA, the air navigation service provider, publishes the UAS geographical zones and the drone-related NOTAMs. The Ministry of National Defence (MApN) approves aerial photography and filming where approval is needed.

You register as an operator — once, not per drone — if your drone weighs 250 g or more, or carries a camera or other sensor that can capture personal data, unless it is a toy. You register in the country where you live; the registration is recognised in every EASA country, and your operator number goes on every drone you fly.

• Register on AACR’s drone platform, uas.caa.ro — the same platform handles the remote-pilot tests.
• Mark every drone you fly with your operator number.

The A1/A3 proof of training and the A2 certificate are valid for five years and recognised in every EASA country. The EU minimum age for remote pilots is 16, with no minimum for a C0 drone that is a toy (Directive 2009/48/EC) flown in A1, a privately built drone under 250 g, or flying under the direct supervision of a qualified pilot; each country may set a lower age.

The A1/A3 online training and test, and the A2 exam, are taken through AACR’s platform, uas.caa.ro. Check there for current fees and any national age rule.

The national UAS geographical zones — airports, military and state sites, protected areas — are on the drone map of Romania, with who published each one and when. To check a particular spot, click it on the map; for zones that switch on later, check your flight date.

Outside the zones, the open category’s own limits still apply: at most 120 m above the ground, the drone always in sight, and never over gatherings of people — as do any national rules, such as those on filming, privacy or local bylaws.

• Aerial photography and filming: in the open category and outside restricted areas you need no approval from the Ministry of National Defence. Otherwise, apply to [email protected] at least seven working days before the flight (five for flights over Bucharest below 3,000 m).
• Insurance: EU law requires liability insurance for drones of 20 kg or more (Regulation (EC) No 785/2004). Most drones are lighter — insurance is still strongly advised.
• NOTAMs: ROMATSA publishes drone-related NOTAMs alongside its zones, and they change quickly. GeoPilot shows both, but shortly before you fly, check ROMATSA’s own publication and the current NOTAMs.

This guide summarises the official sources listed below as they stood on the date at the top. Rules and fees change: check the authority’s own pages before you fly. GeoPilot is not an authorization.