I wish to fly drone in Croatia, I am not Croatian citizen, I am here temporarily – what do I need to do?

Implementing Regulation on Unmanned aircraft defines the difference between operator and remote pilot.

Operator of unmanned aircraft (hereafter: operator) is any legal or natural person who conducts or has an intention to conduct activities using one or more unmanned aircraft systems (hereafter: drone), regardless of number of remote pilots. Operators need to register in Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (hereafter: CCAA) registration system, when applicable.

Remote pilot is a person who operates drone in any particular operation and remote pilot does not need to register in CCAA registration system. However, remote pilot needs to train and pass exam in accordance with applicable rules.

In the event of a serious injury to persons or a close encounter between an unmanned aircraft and a manned aircraft, you are obliged to inform the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency within 72 hours of the event in question via the portal AVIATION REPORTING.

Registered operator might have several drones within its organisation and more than one remote pilots for the conduct of flight operations, however it shall not be overlooked that the responsibilities of operator and remote pilot are different.

You may be an operator and remote pilot if you are the person who at the same time actually operates drone. However, you may be remote pilot without being an operator, if you are e.g. remote pilot who works for an operator who provides services using drones. In that case, legal or natural person is the operator and you are the remote pilot.

I am EU member state citizen.
I need to register as UAS operator in my permanent residence country and my registration is valid in Croatia!
I need to train and pass remote pilot exam in any of EU member state and my remote pilot proof or certificate is valid in Croatia!
Downlaod and install AMC Portal Mobile application and see where I am allowed and where I am not allowed to fly. Contact Air traffic control to see this and if I might be required to get authorisation for my flights: https://amc-en.crocontrol.hr/Contact.
If I intend to take aerial photos and videos, I might be required to obtain permission from State geodetic authorities: https://dgu.gov.hr/kontakti/80.
Pay attention to weather conditions and fly according to the drone manufacturer's instructions https://met.crocontrol.hr/web/guest/opmet-croatia https://meteo.hr/

I am not EU member state citizen
I need to register as UAS operator in the first EU member state in which I intend to fly my drone.
If that country is Croatia and if I am required to register (see the point below), this is what I need to do. In order to register as UAS operator, I need to obtain aviation-specific liability insurance policy in respect of passengers, baggage, cargo and third parties. The insured risks shall include acts of war, terrorism, hijacking, acts of sabotage, unlawful seizure of aircraft and civil commotion. The minimum insurance amount in respect of liability for third parties is 750.000,00 SDR. Remark: I do not need an insurance policy if I do not intend to conduct aerial work operations with a drone and/or aircraft model weighing up to 20 kg, (such as filming, photography, advertising, surveillance and the like, for compensation or not, for personal or public needs. So, I will only fly a drone and/or an aircraft model weighing up to 20 kg for recreational purposes, for example within the framework of aviation modeling clubs and activities.
If, while conducting my activities I use a drone: with a MTOM of 250 g or more or which in the case of an impact can transfer to a human kinetic energy above 80 Joules or that is equipped with a sensor able to capture personal data, (camera, microphone…), unless it is a toy complying with Directive 2009/48/EC. I need to register as drone operator here: http://www.ccaa.hr/letenje-dronom-98073
I need to train and pass remote pilot exam.
If I wish to fly a drone of small mass, less than 900 g in the uninvolved persons vicinity or with heavier drone up to 25 kgs where there are no uninvolved persons and at minimum distance of 150 m from any infrastructure, I qualify for subcategories A1/A3.
I understand Croatian language! I can do it here: http://www.ccaa.hr/osposobljavanje-za-udaljene-pilote-za-potkategorije-a1a3-otvorene-kategorije-28241. I don’t understand Croatian language. May I do it in English? Yes! Try here: https://dac.gouvernement.lu/en/drones/train-where-how.html or in any other EU member state country.
Flying in the vicinity of uninvolved persons with drone whose mass is more than 900 g is possible in two cases: Drone without C marking with mass less than 2 kgs, until 31.12.2022., or Drone with C2 marking. I may fly such a drone in subcategory A2. Beside A1/A3 exam I need to train and pass the exam for subcategory A2. I understand Croatian language! Instructions may be found here: http://www.ccaa.hr/obrasci-i-publikacije-42179, and when I am ready I contact UASispiti@ccaa.hr and arrange my exam. I don’t understand Croatian language. No problem! A2 exam from any EU member state will be valid in Croatia.
For information on geographical zones, an overview of areas where you can and cannot fly and airspace reservations install the AMC Portal Mobile. Depending on the area of the planned flight operation all remote pilots and drone operators shall obtain the airspace reservation (establishment of airspace adhoc structure) irespective of drone mass. Airspace adhoc structure shall be established via: - Regular administrative procedure (paper application submission 7 days in advance of intended start of operation), or - Automated procedure (AMC portal mobila application). Applicable procedure depends on the airspace type in which an operator or remote pilote intends to conduct operations, according to the following overview: More information on this at: https://amc-en.crocontrol.hr/Contact.
If I intend to take aerial photos and videos, I might be required to obtain permission from State geodetic authorities: https://dgu.gov.hr/kontakti/80.
Pay attention to weather conditions and fly according to the drone manufacturer's instructions https://met.crocontrol.hr/web/guest/opmet-croatia https://meteo.hr/

I bought my drone before 1^st of January 2021. It does not carry C marking. Should I buy new drone?
NO?! Great! These are the conditions under which I may fly this drone.

Conditions to fly drones without C markings C1 to C4 in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/945 during transitional period until 31st of December 2023

Special conditions of operations:

UAS do not comply with the requirements of Parts 1 to 5 of the Annex to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 (C1 to C4).
unmanned aircraft with a take-off mass of less than 25 kg.
the remote pilot keeps the unmanned aircraft (UA) at a safe distance from persons and shall never overfly assemblies of people.
the remote pilot keeps the unmanned aircraft in VLOS at all times except when flying in follow-me mode or when using an unmanned aircraft observer.
during flight, the unmanned aircraft is maintained within 120 meters from the closest point of the surface of the earth, except when overflying an obstacle.
during flight, the unmanned aircraft does not carry dangerous goods and does not drop any material.

Special conditions of operations

PLEASE NOTE: After the transition period, these drones will be able to perform operations exclusively in subcategories A1 (drone mass <250 g) and A3 (drone mass <25 kg) of open category or in a special category!

What I intend to do does not fit within open category rules. I need to fly in specific category. These are means to obtain authorization for operations in specific category.
Remark: Non-EU member state operators shall obtain these authorisations from the first member state competent authority where the UAS operator intends to operate. EU member state operators shall obtain these authorisations from their respective competent authorities.
If the first country where I intend to operate is Croatia, this is what I need to do:
I conduct operations in accordance with one or more of Standard scenarios (STS) published by EASA. For the time being two are published: STS-01 i STS-02. Standard scenarios details may be obtained here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/HR/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02019R0947-20200606&qid=1610358787509#tocId59 Appendix 1 to Annex to regulation (EU) 2019/947. Great! That’s what I need! I just need to declare my capability to operate within the scope of STS to CCAA, using form UAS-FRM-024 which I can find here: http://www.ccaa.hr/obrasci-i-publikacije-42179. This option will be available from 1st of January 2024.
I intend to conduct operations in accordance with one or more Predefined Risk Assessments (PDRA). For now four are developed. I can access them under AMC2 to AMC5 Article 11 in the document Easy access rules for Unmanned Aircraft Systems which can be downloaded here: https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-unmanned-aircraft-systems-regulation-eu. Great! That’s what I need! I need to apply for authorization using form UAS-FRM-001 which can be downloaded here: http://www.ccaa.hr/obrasci-i-publikacije-42179, attach documents indicated in the form.
Hm, my intended operations do not fit into proposed STSs nor PDRAs. I need to apply for authorization using form UAS-FRM-001 which can be downloaded here: http://www.ccaa.hr/obrasci-i-publikacije-42179, attach documents indicated in the form. Risk assessment which shall be attached I will conduct in accordance with instructions from UAS-UPUTE-001 which can be downloaded here: http://www.ccaa.hr/obrasci-i-publikacije-42179. It’s in Croatian language only, so if I don’t understand Croatian language, I need to consult risk assessment process in AMC1 Article 11 in the document Easy access rules for Unmanned Aircraft Systems which can be downloaded here: https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-unmanned-aircraft-systems-regulation-eu.
I wish to authorize my own operations, without declaring nor asking for authorization from competent authority. I may obtain Light UAS operator Certificate (LUC) in accordance with Part C, of Annex to Regulation (EU) 2019/947. I apply using form UAS-FRM-006 which can be downloaded http://www.ccaa.hr/obrasci-i-publikacije-42179, attach required documents.