Your drone licence as a card: how it works

You receive your EU drone licence as a PDF by email. It is more practical as a sturdy credit-card-sized card: always in your wallet or drone case. Here you can find out which certificates exist, whether the card is valid and how to get yours.

Which drone licences are there?

• EU A1/A3 proof of competency: online training and an online exam with 40 questions. In Germany from the Federal Aviation Office (LBA), fee €25. Required for drones of classes C1 to C4 and for older drones without a class label weighing 250 g or more. Drones of class C0 do not need one (Which drone licence do I need?).
• EU A2 remote pilot certificate: builds on A1/A3, with practical self-training and a theory exam at an examination centre designated by the LBA. In Germany the certificate costs €30 plus the examination centre’s fee.
• EU STS remote pilot certificate: for flights under the European standard scenarios STS-01 and STS-02 in the specific category, with an additional theory exam and practical training.

At the LBA, the certificates appear on one combined document with the symbols A1/A3, A2 and STS. They are valid for 5 years and throughout the EU. We print all three versions as a card. The minimum age for remote pilots in Germany is 16, with a few exceptions, for example for toy drones.

Is the certificate valid as a card?

You must carry your certificate when flying. A card is the most convenient way to do so, and it is allowed. The LBA states: printing on plastic cards is permitted as long as the content and proportions of the document are not changed. The QR code on the document is a security feature and must remain machine-readable. Your authority’s QR code is always included on our cards.

How to get your card

1. Choose a design: with QR code, national flag or your photo, and optionally your address on the back.
2. Upload the PDF: the file from your aviation authority’s email. For the photo version, also upload a colour photo.
3. Receive your card: we print and ship within 24 hours on working days.

Also for certificates from other countries

All EU countries issue the proof of competency under the same EU regulation, for example Austro Control in Austria, AESA in Spain or the RDW in the Netherlands. We print your certificate from any of these countries and deliver across Europe.

Tip: add your registration confirmation

Besides the licence, your registration as an operator with your operator ID is also available as a card, with the key rules on the back. That way you can show both if anyone asks.