What must I sort out before I fly and film with a drone in Slovenia?
Before you take off you must register the drone operator with the CAA and complete the training — the duty applies already for a drone over 250 g or with a built-in camera, and the old 2016 Slovenian decree no longer applies. Since 2021, Slovenia applies the common EU rules (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947), administered by the Civil Aviation Agency (CAA). Operator registration is mandatory for drones over 250 g and for lighter drones with a built-in camera or personal-data sensor; registration costs EUR 40 and is valid for 2.5 years. For drones over 250 g you must complete online training and an exam (A1/A3). You must respect the geographical zones where flying is restricted or banned, and privacy when filming people. The myth that a "toy" or a camera drone requires nothing to be sorted out does not hold — flying unregistered means a fine of EUR 400.
📋 The rules
- Since 2021 Slovenia applies the EU rules (Regulation (EU) 2019/947); the previous Slovenian Decree on unmanned aircraft systems from 2016 no longer applies.
- Operator registration with the CAA is mandatory for drones over 250 g and for lighter drones with a built-in camera or sensor of personal data; registration costs EUR 40 and is valid for 2.5 years.
- For drones over 250 g you must complete online training and an exam for subcategory A1/A3 and hold proof of remote-pilot competency.
- You must respect the geographical zones for drones (UAS) — near airports, over crowds or in prohibited zones, flying is restricted or banned.
- Supervision is carried out by the CAA, the police and municipal and nature-protection inspectors; flying unregistered is fined EUR 400, and breaching the geographical limits up to EUR 2,500.
🔓 Exceptions
- For a drone under 250 g without a camera or personal-data sensor, operator registration is generally not required, but the general rules of safe flight and the geographical limits still apply.
- For flying indoors (e.g. a hall) the EU open-category regulation does not apply, as there is no access to airspace.
- For more demanding or risky operations (over crowds, beyond visual line of sight, larger drones) the open category is not enough — a CAA authorisation in the specific category is required.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Breaches of the drone rules are supervised by the CAA, the police and inspectors, and the fines are not negligible. An individual operating a drone without the required registration faces a fine of EUR 400; the same applies to a pilot who does not complete the required training and exam, and EUR 200 for a pilot without proof of competency. The highest fine for flying in prohibited or restricted geographical zones is EUR 2,500. If you film people or neighbours with the drone and substantially intrude into privacy, you also risk criminal liability under Article 138 of KZ-1 and measures from the Information Commissioner under ZVOP-2. In an accident or where damage occurs (injury, a collision, a fall onto a vehicle) you are liable in damages, and insurance is advisable or mandatory for many operations. A dangerous flight over a crowd or near an airport can, besides the fine, trigger the seizure of the drone and more serious proceedings for endangering air-traffic safety.
📎 Official sources
- CAA · Civil Aviation Agency (unmanned aircraft, registration) →
- PISRS · register of legislation (implementation of EU drone regulations) →
- gov.si · SPOT (drones: permits and obligations) →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I have to register a drone if it has a camera?
Yes, operator registration with the CAA is mandatory for all drones over 250 g and also for lighter drones with a built-in camera or personal-data sensor. Registration costs EUR 40 and is valid for 2.5 years, and for drones over 250 g you must also complete online training and an exam.
Does the old Slovenian drone decree still apply?
No, since 2021 Slovenia applies the common EU rules under Regulation (EU) 2019/947, administered by the CAA. The previous Slovenian Decree on unmanned aircraft systems from 2016 no longer applies, so old descriptions of permits are out of date.
What is the fine for flying without registration?
Operating a drone without the required registration carries a fine of EUR 400, the same as for a pilot without completed training and an exam. The highest fine for flying in prohibited or restricted geographical zones is EUR 2,500.
May I film neighbours and their yard with a drone?
Not without consent — filming people with a substantial intrusion into privacy is a criminal offence under Article 138 of KZ-1. Continuous filming of a neighbour's parcel is also unlawful processing of personal data, handled by the Information Commissioner.
Where may I not fly a drone?
Flying is restricted or banned in the geographical zones for drones, for example near airports, over crowds and in prohibition zones. Check the applicable geographical zones with the CAA before take-off, as a breach means a fine of up to EUR 2,500 and possible seizure of the drone.
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