🖐 In this blog post we’ll share all law links and known regulation about recreational and commercial drone use in Estonia (Tallinn). Give a 👍 at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in The Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
Recreational vs Commercial drone use in Estonia
Estonia does not differentiate commercial & recreational drone usage - see our post to differentiate recreational vs commercial drone usage. However both are subject to restrictions and code of conduct. Additionally, depending on where you want to fly your drone, different rules will apply.
✅ In Estonia, drone regulation falls under The Estonian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA), & they can be contacted anytime via:
Email: ecaa@ecaa.ee
Phone: +372 610 3500
Can I bring my drone to Estonia?
✅ Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within Estonia (Tallinn) as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
🚨 Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
Where can I fly my drone in Estonia?
✅ We did not find a complete map about Estonia authorised flight zones. However, we found some restricted zones that apply (Note that there might be more). With this in highlight, you should not fly close to: Tallin, Tartu & Amarin airspaces without a permit.
🚨 Estonia also issues temporary flight restrictions based on events, check here.
🦅 Estonia protects its national parks & without a permit, you cannot fly above Vilsandi & Matsalu National Parks.
✅ The Estonian Civil Aviation Authority can grant permits to fly in these areas via this link. In all other places, you should be pretty sweet to fly if you follow the rules described below & use common sense at all times.
Recreational & Commercial Drone use in Estonia
✅ Good things first, you will not need a permit or a license to fly your drone for recreational or commercial purposes in Estonia as long as you do not fly in a restricted zone, in a national park or near the border between Estonia & Russia.
Saying this, within the permitted zones, you will need to follow one rule:
fly your drone at a maximum altitude of 150 m above the ground.
Additionally, we would like to recommend you:
fly your drone only during daylight & always in sight.
fly your drone away from people & respect individuals' privacy.
fly away from airports & give priority to all other categories of aircraft. If you see a plane or helicopter during your flight, land immediately your drone.
do not fly your drone over public, military, energy & industrial areas.
do not fly near a natural disaster or somewhere emergencies will need to intervene.
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How to obtain a permit to fly my drone within restricted zones in Estonia?
✅ To apply for an Estonian drone flight restriction waiver, only 2 steps are required:
apply for permit by sending your application
coordinate with local authorities once you got your permit.
1/ If you're applying as an individual, complete this form & if you're a business, complete this form. In both case, Estonian authorities will ask your full personal and drone's details. Once completed, you can send it to ecaa@ecaa.ee
💲 It will cost you 45€ that must be paid via bank transfer, below are the details:
Beneficiary customer: Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Estonia Beneficiary address: Endla 13, Tallinn 10122 ESTONIA Reference no: 2900073106 Details of payment: (for example: special permit for RPA operations)
Beneficiary's bank / account (choose the easiest for you):
SEB: IBAN EE89 1010 2200 3479 6011, BIC / SWIFT: EEUHEE2X
Swedbank: IBAN EE93 2200 2210 2377 8606, BIC / SWIFT: HABAEE2X
Danske Bank: IBAN EE40 3300 3334 1611 0002, BIC / SWIFT: FOREEE2X
Nordea: IBAN EE70 1700 0170 0157 7198, BIC / SWIFT: NDEAEE2X
✅ The permit is valid for 1 year.
2/ Before any flight with your permit in a restricted zone, you will need to coordinate with local authorities. You will need to let them know in advance:
where you want to fly (with map attached)
the purpose of the flight & its technical details (altitude & time).
share your emergency plan in case things go wrong
the full personal details of whom will be piloting the drone.
🕔 You will need to tell them at least 3 working days in advance if your drone flight is under 150 m altitude or at least 7 working days if you plan to fly your drone above 150 m altitude.
What do I risk for flying a drone illegally in Estonia?
🚨 The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction or not. However, according to this blog source, the max fine you will get is 1,200€
Once you got everything in order, you can start flying above Estonia's awesome landscapes & create videos like this one:
✅ Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Estonia! Have fun & safe flight!
Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about local drone rules and regulations.
Other resources
Permit for Restricted Airspace Flights (individuals)
Permit for Restricted Airspace Flights (businesses)
Source