Drone rules in Montenegro (2026): what you need to know before you fly

Drone flying is regulated by the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro (CAA, Agencija za civilno vazduhoplovstvo). It runs operator registration and the online pilot exam at dron.caa.me. Flights inside the controlled zones around Podgorica and Tivat airports also need approval from AMC Montenegro, the airspace management unit run with air traffic services (SMATSA).

The main rules are in the Rulebook on conditions for the safe use of unmanned aircraft systems (Official Gazette of Montenegro 24/23, 117/23 and 75/25, amended again in 2026). It brings EU Implementing Regulation 2019/947 into Montenegrin law and has applied since 1 July 2024. The 2026 amendment cites the new Law on Air Transport (Official Gazette 52/26). Importing a drone is handled separately, by the ministry responsible for foreign trade. Filming in national parks has its own permits.

According to the CAA, importing or exporting a drone still needs approval from the ministry (the CAA names the Ministry of Economic Development). An archived gov.me page says a permit is required to import and use a drone. The application needs a copy of your passport, the drone's technical specification, proof that the administrative fee was paid, and a signed statement accepting the drone rulebook. It is filed on the ministry's foreign trade request form.

That gov.me page dates from 2023, refers to an older rulebook and gives no fee amount or processing time. Ministry names and contacts have changed since then. Before you travel, ask the CAA (dron@caa.me) or the ministry whether and how this applies to a drone in your luggage.

You must register as a drone operator if your drone weighs 250 g or more. You must also register if it weighs less but carries a sensor that can collect personal data, such as a camera or microphone. In practice that covers almost every camera drone. Registration is online at dron.caa.me and is free. You get one registration number, which you mark on all your drones. It is valid for two years and then has to be renewed. Anyone registered under the old rules before 1 July 2024 has to register again.

Anyone flying a drone of 250 g or more must pass the free online theory exam for subcategories A1/A3, also at dron.caa.me. The CAA publishes the training material. The minimum age for drone pilots in Montenegro is 16.

Drones without an EU class label (C-mark) can still be flown in the open category during a transition period. In 2026 that period was extended to 11 January 2027.

The CAA says foreigners who are already registered and have passed the theory exam in an EU member state do not have to register or take the exam again in Montenegro. They must still provide proof of the exam and their registration statement or number. Pilots from outside the EU should expect to register and take the exam at dron.caa.me. If you are unsure, ask the CAA.

All operators must have third-party liability insurance for damage caused by flying a drone. Foreign operators need a policy that covers the territory of Montenegro or the EU. Check that your policy explicitly covers drone use.

Open category basics from the CAA training material: keep the drone in visual line of sight and no higher than 120 m above the closest point of the ground. Never fly over assemblies of people. Keep a safe distance from people who are not involved in the flight. If you fly at night, the drone must have a green flashing light. Do not fly near emergency operations without permission. Report serious incidents to the CAA within 72 hours (mor@caa.me).

The CAA lists areas where drones may not be flown. These include prisons, military installations, high-level government buildings, protected natural areas, hospitals, industrial plants and parts of the transport infrastructure.

Airports: around Podgorica and Tivat there is a restricted area, marked green on the CAA maps, where you may fly only with AMC Montenegro approval. In the rest of each controlled zone (blue line) you can fly up to 50 m above ground. Flying from 50 m to 120 m needs AMC approval. Send the request at least two working days ahead, by 10:00 UTC, for each flight. Privacy also counts: the Criminal Code of Montenegro penalises unauthorised photography of other people.

Montenegro's national parks (Durmitor, Lovćen, Biogradska gora, Prokletije and Skadar Lake) have their own rules. For drone filming, the national parks enterprise (JPNPCG) asks for three things. First, a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. Second, a CAA permit if the drone weighs more than 249 g. Third, approval from JPNPCG itself. Its published fees are €200 per day for feature and commercial films and €400 per day for video spots and advertisements.

Under the EU-based framework, drone flights are classed by risk (open, specific or certified), not by whether you are paid. Commercial work that stays within open category limits follows the same flight rules, but you may still need permission from the landowner, a protected area or a city authority. Anything beyond the open limits, such as flights over people or higher-risk operations, falls into the specific category. Ask the CAA what authorisation that needs.

1) Ask about the import permit before your trip. 2) Register as an operator at dron.caa.me and mark the number on the drone. 3) Pass the A1/A3 exam, or bring proof of your EU exam and registration. 4) Carry liability insurance that covers Montenegro. 5) Check the CTR Podgorica and CTR Tivat maps and request AMC approval if needed. 6) Avoid crowds, sensitive sites and protected areas, and keep below 120 m in sight. 7) For national parks or paid shoots, get the park and agency permits first.

The CAA's 2024 notice put fines under the Law on Air Transport at €500 to €2,000. A new Law on Air Transport was adopted in 2026, so check the current amounts with the CAA. For questions, contact dron@caa.me.

For a one-off shoot of a villa, an event, a construction site or a hotel, the paperwork can take longer than the flight: the import permit, registration, insurance, AMC requests near the airports and permits in protected areas. Hiring a local operator who already holds registration and insurance saves you those steps.

Eyrion Studio is a licensed and insured drone operator based in Podgorica, working across Montenegro. If you would rather have someone else handle the drone footage, get in touch and tell us the location and date.