Europe
North Macedonia
MCAA — drone.gov.mk portal, EASA partner (not a full member)
North Macedonia manages registration and flight notification through a dedicated digital portal (drone.gov.mk), with a published procedure also for foreign operators.
250 m maximum horizontal distance from the operator, confirmed on drone.gov.mk (official portal).
Mandatory even under 250 g if the drone is fitted with a camera/microphone; free online procedure for foreign operators published on drone.gov.mk.
Flight notification to be submitted at least 24 hours in advance according to secondary sources, to be confirmed on the official portal.
Mandatory third-party liability insurance for drones over 500 g for foreign operators, under North Macedonia's compulsory insurance law (confirmed on drone.gov.mk).
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: 100 m from military/government/diplomatic facilities and energy plants, 50 m from gatherings, 30 m from buildings/vehicles/ships (figures from secondary sources).
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
Horizontal distance (250m) and the insurance requirement (over 500g) are now confirmed directly on drone.gov.mk. Distances from military/gatherings/buildings and the 24-hour notice period still come from secondary sources, not a direct fetch of the complete official document.
Verify officially before flying
Source: MCAA — Civil Aviation Agency of North Macedonia
Last checked: 2026-09
Go deeper
Why registration exists
Operator registration exists for accountability: if a drone causes an incident or enters a restricted zone, the authority needs to be able to trace it back to whoever was flying it. You usually get an identification number (operator ID) to physically attach to the drone, valid for every drone the same person owns. The cost is often minimal or free, and it applies to visiting tourists too, not just residents. For North Macedonia, the official reference remains MCAA — Civil Aviation Agency of North Macedonia, also via drone.gov.mk. Mandatory even under 250 g if the drone is fitted with a camera/microphone; free online procedure for foreign operators published on drone.gov.mk.
How this usually works
Here the requirement depends on factors like the drone's weight, distance from people, or use case (recreational vs. commercial). The note above describes the most common case: if your situation is different, check the official source to see exactly which scenario applies to you before flying. The exam and certificate are handled by MCAA — Civil Aviation Agency of North Macedonia, also via drone.gov.mk. Flight notification to be submitted at least 24 hours in advance according to secondary sources, to be confirmed on the official portal.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.