Plan
Drone rules: Bulgaria
Last checked: October 5, 2026
Required from 250 g or with a camera or sensor; registration in your country of residence is valid throughout the EASA area – with a German operator ID you do not need a second one.
Not required for recreational flights under 20 kg; mandatory from 20 kg and for any commercial use.
For tourists
You fly with your German operator ID and EU competency certificate. For flights in prohibited or restricted zones, you must apply to the aviation authority no later than seven days before the flight.
Further rules
- In Bulgaria, you register as a drone operator via the official portal of the civil aviation authority (drones.caa.bg) – mandatory from 250 grams take-off weight or for any drone with a camera or other data-capturing sensor, regardless of weight.
- You only register once, in the EASA state where you live – the EASA area comprises the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Your operator ID is then valid throughout the EASA area: if you are already registered in another EASA country, you don't need a second registration in Bulgaria. Only if you live outside the EASA area do you register in the EASA state where you first fly.
- Under Art. 19a of the Bulgarian Civil Aviation Act, you need third-party liability insurance. The only exemption is for drones with a take-off mass under 20 kilograms that are used exclusively for sport or recreational flights – if you fly commercially, the obligation applies below that weight too.
- For flights in prohibited or restricted zones, you must submit an application to the aviation authority (by email or in person) no later than seven days before the planned flight. The A1/A3 exam is taken via the official X-TESLA platform.
- In the open category, the maximum flight height is 120 metres above ground, as regulated uniformly across the EU.
Sources
This overview is not legal advice and not an official statement — laws change, and we cannot guarantee that every entry is fully up to date. Before your flight, please also check the official source or the local civil aviation authority.