The drone licence in Austria
Two certificates cover almost everything: the free online A1/A3 and the A2 exam for heavier drones close to people.
- Under 250 g (C0): no licence required. Registration and insurance still apply.
- 250 g and above: A1/A3 certificate – online training + 40-question exam at Austro Control, free, valid 5 years EU-wide.
- C2 drones near people: A2 certificate – supervised exam, 69.60 € (fee since 1 April 2026).
A1/A3 – the standard certificate
Required for all drones of 250 g and above. You complete an online course and a 40-question multiple-choice exam on the Austro Control dronespace portal – free of charge, in one sitting, valid five years in the whole EU. EU certificates from other member states are equally valid in Austria.
A2 – for C2 drones near people
Class C2 drones (e.g. DJI Mavic 4 Pro) may fly as close as 30 m to uninvolved people (5 m in low-speed mode) – but only with the A2 certificate: a supervised theory exam at Austro Control, currently 69.60 € (58 € plus VAT, fee schedule since 1 April 2026). Without A2, C2 drones are limited to A3 distances (150 m from built-up areas).
No licence at all?
Drones under 250 g (class C0 – e.g. DJI Mini or Lito series) need no certificate. The free online training is still recommended – the rules on people, altitude and zones apply to you all the same.
Häufige Fragen
Is my drone licence from another EU country valid in Austria?
Yes – A1/A3 and A2 certificates issued by any EASA member state are valid across the EU, including Austria.
How hard is the A1/A3 exam?
It is an open-book style online exam with 40 multiple-choice questions. With the free training, most people pass on the first attempt.
Quellen & Rechtsgrundlagen
- EU-RechtRegulation (EU) 2019/947UAS.OPEN.020/030/040 – competency requirementsZur Quelle ↗
- Österr. RechtAustro Control fee schedule (ACGV)A2 exam fee: 58 € plus VAT = 69.60 € (since 1 April 2026, BGBl. II No. 65/2026)Zur Quelle ↗
- BehördeninfoAustro Control – dronespace.atOnline training and examsZur Quelle ↗
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