Lithuania LT
EASA rules apply with a low-cost annual registration, but 12 restricted zones along the Belarus border are closed to civil aviation and drones (extended to January 2027) after repeated drone incursions, and Belarusian smuggling balloons have separately triggered airport closures and a state of emergency since late 2025.
Your plan
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1 thing to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Lithuania
Reported annual registration fee of EUR 10. A camera drone under 250 g must still be registered, but no exam is required for it. Fee: 10 EUR. Allow about 1 day before your trip.
- Remote ID may apply
Direct Remote ID is required for C1, C2 and C3 class drones and in some geographical zones.
- Bringing your drone in
EU traveller allowance: goods up to €430 (air/sea) or €300 (land) from outside the EU are duty- and VAT-free; above that, import VAT (21%) and possibly duty apply. Batteries: Carry-on only. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100-160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares).
- Before each flight
Max 120 m above ground, always in visual line of sight · Never fly over crowds or assemblies of people · 12 restricted zones along the Belarus border are closed to civil aviation, private aircraft and drones except under military-authorised procedures; these were extended for six months and now run until 1 January 2027 following repeated drone incursions (including a Gerbera drone crash near Šumskas and a suspected Russian-made drone found at Gaižiūnai in mid-2025)
Flying
- Max 120 m above ground, always in visual line of sight
- Never fly over crowds or assemblies of people
- 12 restricted zones along the Belarus border are closed to civil aviation, private aircraft and drones except under military-authorised procedures; these were extended for six months and now run until 1 January 2027 following repeated drone incursions (including a Gerbera drone crash near Šumskas and a suspected Russian-made drone found at Gaižiūnai in mid-2025)
- Since October 2025, Belarusian smuggling balloons have repeatedly entered Lithuanian airspace, prompting temporary Vilnius Airport closures, Belarus border-crossing shutdowns, and a state of emergency declared in December 2025 - the security situation remains fluid, so check current NOTAMs before flying anywhere near the eastern border
- Flights above the vertical limits of geographical zones within an aerodrome traffic control zone need an online training certificate from the Transport Competence Agency
- Registration required from 250 g or for any drone with a camera
Commercial use: The Open category covers most low-risk commercial work away from the Belarus border zones; flights there require military authorisation, not a normal Specific-category process.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (from 250 g or camera) Reported annual registration fee of EUR 10. A camera drone under 250 g must still be registered, but no exam is required for it. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Yes (online, from 250 g) EU A1/A3 online certificate. Standard EASA A1/A3 online training and exam via the Transport Competence Agency; fee not confirmed (likely free as in most EASA states). |
| Remote ID | Some classes Direct Remote ID is required for C1, C2 and C3 class drones and in some geographical zones. |
| Insurance | Depends Liability insurance is mandatory only above 20 kg take-off weight; below that it is optional but recommended. |
| Foreign registration accepted | Depends EASA operator registration and A1/A3 certificates from other EASA states are valid in Lithuania; visitors already registered elsewhere do not need to re-register. Visitors should avoid the Belarus border region entirely - the 12 restricted zones there are enforced with possible use of force against unmanned aircraft, and the wider airspace situation (balloons, drone incursions) has been unusually volatile since late 2025. |
Import & export
- EU traveller allowance: goods up to €430 (air/sea) or €300 (land) from outside the EU are duty- and VAT-free; above that, import VAT (21%) and possibly duty apply.
- CE marking required for sale in the EU/Lithuania.
- Batteries: Carry-on only. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100-160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares).
- No customs within the EU single market.
- Duty rate on drones imported from outside the EU depends on the TARIC tariff code; not separately confirmed for Lithuania.
Export
- EU dual-use export controls apply to professional drones with long range, autonomy or heavy payload capacity, an area of heightened attention given Lithuania's border security posture.
Costs
| Operator registration | 10 EUR Validity: 1 year |
|---|---|
| EU A1/A3 online certificate | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + 21 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Start flying in Lithuania Residents
- Register as an operator
Register with the Transport Competence Agency for a reported EUR 10/year.
- Pass the A1/A3 test
Standard EASA online training and exam, valid across the EASA area for 5 years.
- Check NOTAMs near the Belarus border
Avoid the 12 restricted zones along the border, in force until at least January 2027, and stay alert for temporary closures linked to balloon incursions.
Sources
- EASA – Civil drones (Open category) · accessed 23 Sept 2026
- LRT - Lithuania extends Belarus border airspace restrictions for six months · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Xinhua - Lithuania extends airspace restrictions along Belarus border until January 2027 · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Oro navigacija (ANS Lithuania) - Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−10
- Pilot test (online)−10
- Remote ID−4
- Mandatory insurance−3
- Visitors must register locally−5
- Duty + VAT ≈ 26 %−16
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works