Montenegro ME
Montenegro transposed EU 2019/947-style drone rules on 1 July 2024, and EU-registered operators holding an A1/A3 certificate do not need to re-register or retake the exam locally. However, every foreign visitor — EU or not — must separately obtain an import permit from the Ministry of Economic Development before bringing a drone into the country, and non-EU visitors must additionally register as a drone operator and pass a free online exam via the Civil Aviation Agency's portal. A tourist can fly, but only after completing the import permit (allow about 30 days) and, if not already EU-certified, the online registration/exam.
Your plan
Choose your home country (top right) to see steps tailored to you.
2 things to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Montenegro
EU-registered operators who already hold an A1/A3 certificate are exempt from re-registering, but must submit proof of their home-country registration and exam pass. Non-EU visitors register directly at dron.caa.me. A secondary source cites a 500 g / 15 m range / 10 m height registration threshold instead of the CAA's stated 250 g — treat the official 250 g figure as authoritative and the other as possibly outdated. Free. Allow about 30 days before your trip.
Open official page - Carry liability insurance
Required. Check that your policy covers flights in Montenegro.
- Bringing your drone in
Foreign visitors must obtain an import permit from the Ministry of Economic Development before bringing a drone into Montenegro; a drone arriving without one risks seizure at the border. Applications reportedly require the drone's make, model and serial number, the purpose of use, and the dates of stay. Batteries: No Montenegro-specific rule found; standard international air-travel lithium-battery limits (carry-on only, spare batteries under the usual 100/160 Wh airline thresholds) are expected to apply.
- Before each flight
Since 1 July 2024, Montenegro applies EU 2019/947-style drone rules; registration and a theoretical exam (both free) are handled through the CAA's online portal dron.caa.me · Drones of 250 g or more must be registered, and any drone equipped with a personal-data sensor (camera or microphone) must be registered regardless of weight — a secondary source instead cites a 500 g threshold, so treat 250 g as the safer, CAA-sourced figure · EU-registered operators who already hold an A1/A3 (or equivalent EASA) certificate of competency are exempt from re-registering or re-testing in Montenegro, but must be able to show proof of their home registration and exam pass
Flying
- Since 1 July 2024, Montenegro applies EU 2019/947-style drone rules; registration and a theoretical exam (both free) are handled through the CAA's online portal dron.caa.me
- Drones of 250 g or more must be registered, and any drone equipped with a personal-data sensor (camera or microphone) must be registered regardless of weight — a secondary source instead cites a 500 g threshold, so treat 250 g as the safer, CAA-sourced figure
- EU-registered operators who already hold an A1/A3 (or equivalent EASA) certificate of competency are exempt from re-registering or re-testing in Montenegro, but must be able to show proof of their home registration and exam pass
- Non-EU visitors must register directly at dron.caa.me and pass the free online theoretical exam before flying; minimum pilot age is 16
- Keep the drone within visual line of sight at all times
- Older/secondary sources describe a 150 m altitude ceiling and 500 m horizontal operator distance under the pre-2024 national rules; under the new EU-aligned regime the standard Open-category ceiling of around 120 m is the safer planning assumption — confirm the current figure with the CAA before flying
- Do not fly over populated areas, or above aircraft, vehicles, ships, roads, railways, power lines or other infrastructure not involved in the flight
- Avoid government and military facilities; unauthorised flights near sensitive sites can trigger a criminal investigation
- Since 2024, drone filming without prior permission from the relevant authorities is prohibited, and filming in protected areas (e.g. national parks) without permission carries steep fines
Commercial use: Commercial operation and filming — especially in protected areas or national parks — need prior permission from the relevant Montenegrin authorities in addition to standard CAA registration; fines for unauthorised commercial filming in protected areas range from EUR 100–4,000 for individuals and EUR 1,000–40,000 for organisations.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (from 250 g or camera) EU-registered operators who already hold an A1/A3 certificate are exempt from re-registering, but must submit proof of their home-country registration and exam pass. Non-EU visitors register directly at dron.caa.me. A secondary source cites a 500 g / 15 m range / 10 m height registration threshold instead of the CAA's stated 250 g — treat the official 250 g figure as authoritative and the other as possibly outdated. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Sometimes (online, from 250 g) CAA Montenegro online theoretical exam (waived for EU A1/A3 certificate holders). Required for non-EU visitors and anyone without an existing EU A1/A3 (or equivalent) certificate; free of charge; minimum age 16. |
| Remote ID | Unknown No public Remote ID broadcast requirement was confirmed from official CAA sources. |
| Insurance | Yes Third-party liability insurance is described as required for all drone flights regardless of category, purpose or weight. Foreign visitors specifically need a policy whose coverage extends to Montenegrin (or EU) territory. |
| Foreign registration accepted | Depends All foreign visitors need a Ministry of Economic Development import permit before bringing a drone into Montenegro, regardless of EU status; review takes up to about 30 days. Visitors already registered as a drone operator in an EU member state, holding an A1/A3 certificate, do not need to re-register or retest in Montenegro but must carry proof of both. Non-EU visitors must register directly at dron.caa.me and pass the free online exam before flying. All foreigners need third-party liability insurance whose coverage extends to Montenegro (or the EU). |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Under 250 g, no camera/sensor | < 250 g | Reported as exempt from CAA registration; general operational rules (VLOS, no-fly zones) still apply. |
| 250 g and above, or any camera/sensor drone | ≥ 250 g, or any weight with a camera/microphone | Must be registered via dron.caa.me; EU A1/A3 holders are exempt from re-registration but non-EU visitors must also pass the free online exam. |
| Commercial / protected-area filming (any weight) | for commercial use or in protected areas | Needs prior permission from the relevant government authority in addition to standard registration; unauthorised commercial filming in protected areas carries fines up to EUR 40,000 for organisations. |
Import & export
- Foreign visitors must obtain an import permit from the Ministry of Economic Development before bringing a drone into Montenegro; a drone arriving without one risks seizure at the border. Applications reportedly require the drone's make, model and serial number, the purpose of use, and the dates of stay.
- No drone-specific radio/type-approval certification requirement beyond the import permit and CAA registration was confirmed from available sources.
- Batteries: No Montenegro-specific rule found; standard international air-travel lithium-battery limits (carry-on only, spare batteries under the usual 100/160 Wh airline thresholds) are expected to apply.
- Import-permit review reportedly takes up to about 30 days; the permit is issued for the duration of the trip, up to a maximum of one year — apply well before travelling.
- The import permit is separate from, and in addition to, CAA drone-operator registration/exam — both are needed before flying a personally owned drone as a foreign visitor.
Export
- No Montenegro-specific drone export restriction was found; treat cross-border movement of drone equipment as subject to ordinary Montenegrin customs rules.
Costs
| Operator registration | Free Validity: Each operator receives an electronic registration number and secret code valid for 2 years. |
|---|---|
| CAA Montenegro online theoretical exam (waived for EU A1/A3 certificate holders) | Free |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in Montenegro as a visitor Visitors
- Apply for a Ministry of Economic Development import permit first
Submit the drone's make, model, serial number, purpose of use and travel dates; review can take up to about 30 days and the permit covers the length of your trip (max 1 year), so apply well ahead.
- If you're not EU-registered, complete CAA registration and the free online exam
Non-EU visitors must register at dron.caa.me and pass the free theoretical exam before flying; minimum age is 16. Open
- If you already hold an EU A1/A3 certificate, bring proof instead
EU-registered operators are exempt from re-registering or re-testing in Montenegro but should carry proof of their home registration and exam pass.
- Arrange liability insurance valid in Montenegro
Third-party liability insurance is required for all drone flights regardless of weight or purpose; make sure coverage extends to Montenegrin (or EU) territory.
- Avoid restricted and protected areas
Stay clear of government/military facilities, populated areas, infrastructure, and don't film in national parks or other protected areas without separate prior permission.
Sources
- CAA Montenegro — Pilot examination and registration of drone operators · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- dron.caa.me — Montenegro drone operator registration portal · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- GoMonte — Drones in Montenegro: import rules, use and fines in 2026 · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- drone-traveller.com — Drone rules & laws in Montenegro · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−10
- Pilot test (online)−5
- Remote ID−3
- Mandatory insurance−6
- Night flight unknown−3
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−5
- Long lead time (30 days)−8
- Import permit−40
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works