Get Your EU Drone License in Under 2 Hours for Free

Why Luxembourg?

Every EU country offers the A1/A3 drone pilot certificate, but the experience varies wildly. Some countries charge fees, require you to navigate clunky government portals, or take days to issue the certificate. Luxembourg's Direction de l'Aviation Civile (DAC) has built the most streamlined process in Europe:

Completely free — no registration fee, no exam fee, no hidden costs
100% online — training, exam, and certificate issuance all happen in your browser
Fast — most pilots complete the entire process in 1.5 to 3 hours
Multilingual — available in English, French, German, and Luxembourgish
Open to everyone — no residency requirement, no nationality restriction
Immediate certificate — download your PDF certificate the moment you pass

The resulting certificate is legally identical to one issued by Germany's LBA, France's DGAC, or any other national authority. EASA mutual recognition means your Luxembourg certificate is valid across every EU and EASA member state.

Step-by-Step: The Luxembourg Method

Step 1: Register on the DAC Portal

Go to the Luxembourg DAC drone registration portal and create an account. You will need a valid email address. The registration form asks for basic personal information — name, date of birth, address, and nationality. This takes about 5 minutes.

Step 2: Complete the Online Training

Once registered, you gain access to the A1/A3 training module. This is a series of lessons covering the five exam topics:

Air safety and drone regulations (EU 2019/947 framework)
Airspace restrictions and geo-zones
Human performance limitations (fatigue, stress, situational awareness)
Meteorology basics (wind, visibility, temperature effects on batteries)
Drone technical knowledge and operational procedures

The training is self-paced. Fast readers with some prior drone knowledge can get through it in about 45 minutes. If you are completely new to drones, expect to spend 1 to 2 hours. Take notes — the exam draws directly from this material.

Step 3: Take the Exam

After completing the training, you can immediately take the A1/A3 exam. Key details:

40 multiple-choice questions
75% pass mark (30 out of 40)
Open-book — Luxembourg allows you to reference the training material during the exam
No time pressure — take as long as you need
Unlimited retakes — if you fail, try again immediately at no cost

The open-book nature and unlimited retakes make this exceptionally accessible. It is genuinely difficult to fail if you have read through the training material.

Step 4: Download Your Certificate

Pass the exam and your A1/A3 certificate is generated immediately as a downloadable PDF. This is your official EASA certificate of competency. It contains your name, certificate number, date of issue, and expiry date (5 years from issue).

Save this PDF securely. You will need the certificate number and other details if you want to add it to Apple Wallet or when registering for an A2 certificate later.

Step 5: Add It to Apple Wallet with PilotPocket

Now that you have your certificate, open PilotPocket and add it to Apple Wallet. Enter your certificate number, name, and certificate type, and PilotPocket generates a proper Apple Wallet pass in seconds. Your drone license is now on your iPhone and Apple Watch, accessible offline with a double-click — no more searching for PDFs during field inspections.

How Long Does the Whole Process Take?

From opening the DAC portal to having your certificate in Apple Wallet, the typical timeline is:

Registration: 5 minutes
Training: 45 minutes to 2 hours
Exam: 20 to 40 minutes
Certificate download: Immediate
Adding to Apple Wallet: Under 1 minute

Total: 1.5 to 3 hours from start to finish. No waiting periods, no postal mail, no appointments.

What About Operator Registration?

The A1/A3 certificate is your pilot qualification, but you also need an Operator ID to legally fly. Operator registration must be done in the country where you reside — you cannot use Luxembourg for this unless you are a Luxembourg resident. The operator registration process varies by country but is typically online and costs between €0 and €30.

Got Your Certificate? Add It to Apple Wallet

Download PilotPocket and turn your fresh Luxembourg A1/A3 certificate into an Apple Wallet pass.

Download on the App Store

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Luxembourg's Direction de l'Aviation Civile (DAC) allows anyone — regardless of nationality or country of residence — to complete the A1/A3 training and exam through their online portal. You do not need to live in Luxembourg, visit Luxembourg, or have any connection to the country.

The Luxembourg DAC portal offers the training and exam in multiple languages, including English, French, German, and Luxembourgish. English is the most commonly used option for international pilots.

Yes. Under EASA Regulation 2019/947, drone pilot certificates issued by any EU member state are recognised across all EU and EASA countries. A Luxembourg-issued A1/A3 certificate is legally identical to one from Germany, France, Spain, or any other member state.

Yes. The A1/A3 certificate does not distinguish between recreational and commercial use. It qualifies you to fly in the Open category for any purpose — hobby, photography, videography, inspections, or any other commercial activity — as long as you stay within the Open category operational limits.

You can retake the exam immediately. There is no waiting period and no additional cost. The exam is free every time, and you can attempt it as many times as needed until you pass.