Drone Laws in Serbia

Last update on 02.10.2020 | 4 Kommentare

This article will tell you which drone laws apply in Serbia.

The rules currently in force in Serbia date from 2015 and are currently being revised by the government.

As of today, if you want to bring your drone into the country, you will have to seek approval by the Ministry of Defense. You will also have to contact the ministry for permission to take aerial video or photos.

Overview: Drone rules in C

Requirements for drone pilots in Serbia

Serbia distinguishes drones by their intended use and weight. Drones with an operating mass under 500 grams (with a maximum speed of less than 20 m/s, reaching a maximum distance of 15 meters and a maximum height of 10 meters) are excluded from the regulations. For all other drones, there are four categories:

1. operating mass less than 500 grams, maximum height of flight 50 meters, maximum speed 30 m/s, maximum range 100 meters
2. operating mass 500 grams to 5 kilograms, maximum height of flight 150 meters, maximum speed 30 m/s, maximum range 2500 meters
3. operating mass 5 kilograms to 20 kilograms, maximum height of flight 500 meters, maximum speed 55 m/s, maximum range 2500 meters
4. operating mass 20 kilograms to 150 kilograms (no further limitations on height, speed, range)

For commercial flights, the age limit is 18 years; for non-commercial category 1 flights, pilots may also be minors if supervised by an adult.

All drones belonging to categories 2, 3, 4 and all drones for commercial purposes must be registered. Note that, according to our information, Serbia considers photo and video recordings a commercial purpose.

There is a registration form in Serbian (docx file). However, it seems like the Serbian authorities sometimes recognize registrations in the home country. Along with the registration form, you should send the instructions manual and maintenance of your drone.

You need permission to enter airspace in Serbia. The civil-military coordination at the Air Traffic Services Agency, SMATSA, is responsible for this. Yu have to submit the application at least 5 days before the scheduled flight. This can be done by mail, fax or e-mail to [email protected]. A form in English can be found in the appendix to the legal text we linked to.

For commercial purposes, a statement of qualification and a knowledge test in aviation law are also required, but your foreign drone pilot license may be recognized. If you have successfully gotten permission for flying a drone in Serbia, you are welcome to share your experience with us.

There is no information about liability insurance, but we recommend you protect your equipment and flight accordingly.

Also note the general safety instructions:

• Stay at least 5 kilometers away from airports
• Fly only during the day
• Keep the drone in visual line of sight
• Fly at a maximum height of 100 meters above ground
• Keep the drone within 500 meters of the pilot
• Do not operate multiple drones at the same time
• Do not control the drone from a moving object
• Keep at least 500 meters away from major infrastructure (power plants, high voltage facilities, government buildings, military facilities, water treatment plants, highways, correctional institutions etc.) unless you have permission from the owner or occupant
• Keep a distance of 30 meters to bystanders
• Do not fly the drone under the influence of intoxicants or psychoactive substances

Violations of the rules can lead to severe fines in Serbia.

The laws in Serbia are incredibly cumbersome. That’s why I would recommend you leave your drone at home. I hope that the conditions will relax significantly when new regulations are introduced and that it will once again be easier to fly a drone in Serbia.

Helpful Links: Law Firm, Drone Info from Civil Aviation Directorate, Regulation on Unmanned Aircraft Systems

We have researched the listed drone regulations for Serbia to the best of our knowledge. We cannot guarantee the correctness of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, contact the competent aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also ask the embassy in your country for further information about the regulations. Please leave us a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your copter in Serbia!