Your EU Drone License Is Expiring in 2026 — Here's How to Renew

The First Wave of Expirations

The EU's harmonised drone regulation (EASA 2019/947) entered full effect on 31 December 2020. Starting in early 2021, drone pilots across Europe began obtaining their A1/A3 certificates for the first time. Those certificates are valid for exactly 5 years — which means the first wave of expirations is hitting in 2026.

If you were among the early adopters who got certified in 2021, your certificate is expiring this year. Flying with an expired certificate is a regulatory violation that can result in fines and, more importantly, invalidates your insurance coverage. Renewal is not optional.

There Is No Fast-Track Renewal

Unlike a driver's license, which can often be renewed by paying a fee and providing a photo, the A1/A3 drone certificate has no simplified renewal process. EASA regulations require you to retake the full exam:

• Complete the online training module again
• Pass the 40-question multiple-choice exam with at least 75%
• Receive a new certificate with a fresh 5-year validity period

The rationale is that drone regulations, technology, and airspace rules evolve. Requiring pilots to re-study and re-test ensures that active pilots stay current with the latest rules and safety practices.

Your Renewal Options

You are not required to renew through the same country that issued your original certificate. This is an important point that many pilots do not realize. Under EASA's mutual recognition framework, a certificate from any EU member state is valid everywhere. This gives you options:

Option 1: Renew Through Your Original Authority

Go back to the national aviation authority that issued your first certificate. The process will be familiar — the same portal, the same training, the same exam. Costs and timelines vary by country:

• Germany (LBA): Free exam, but the portal can be slow and bureaucratic
• France (DGAC/AlphaTango): Free exam, French-language portal with English options
• Spain (AESA): Nominal fee, Spanish-language process
• Netherlands (ILT): Free exam via a third-party platform

Option 2: Renew via Luxembourg (Recommended)

Regardless of where your original certificate was issued, you can renew through Luxembourg's Direction de l'Aviation Civile (DAC). This is the same Luxembourg method that new pilots use, and it has the same advantages for renewals:

• Completely free
• 100% online
• Available in English, French, German, and Luxembourgish
• Completed in 1.5 to 3 hours
• Certificate issued immediately as a downloadable PDF
• No residency requirement

Many pilots who originally certified through their national authority are choosing Luxembourg for renewal because it is faster, free, and less bureaucratic. Your new certificate will show Luxembourg as the issuing authority, but it is legally valid in every EU and EASA country.

When Should You Renew?

Do not wait until the last day. While there is no grace period defined in the regulation, here are practical considerations:

• Renew before expiry — flying with an expired certificate is illegal and voids your insurance
• There is no early renewal penalty — your new 5-year period starts from the date you pass the new exam, regardless of when your old certificate expires
• Plan for time — while Luxembourg is fast, you should still allow yourself a couple of hours to go through the training and exam properly

What About Your A2 or STS Certificate?

If you also hold an A2 or STS certificate, those have their own 5-year validity periods. Renewing your A1/A3 does not automatically renew your A2 or STS. Each certificate must be renewed independently through its own exam process.

However, since A1/A3 is a prerequisite for A2 and STS, make sure your A1/A3 is renewed first — or at least that it remains valid while you hold the higher certificates.

Operator Registration Is Separate

Your Operator ID has its own renewal cycle, which varies by country. Renewing your pilot certificate does not renew your operator registration, and vice versa. Check with your national aviation authority to confirm when your operator registration needs renewal.

Update Your Apple Wallet Pass After Renewal

Once you have your new certificate, open PilotPocket and generate a new Apple Wallet pass with the updated certificate details. The new pass will replace the old one in your Wallet, showing the correct expiry date and certificate number. This takes under a minute and ensures your digital credentials are always current.

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