A1/A2/A3 Certification: complete guide to getting your license in 2026

In this article

A1/A3 certification is mandatory for flying any drone above 250g in the Open category and is obtained online, for free, through ANAC’s portal
A2 certification is required for flying C2 class drones near people, and ANAC currently charges no fee for it
The A1/A3 exam has 40 multiple choice questions with a minimum passing rate of 75%
The A2 exam is taken in person at ANAC, with 30 questions focusing on meteorology and risk mitigation
Both competencies last 5 years

The A1/A3 exam is simple: forty multiple choice questions, taken online. The A2 certification demands more, and rightly so, because flying a 4 kg drone 30 meters from people requires knowledge you can’t improvise.

This guide follows the EASA rules and ANAC’s instructions step by step, with no shortcuts.

What’s the difference between A1/A3 and A2?

The A1/A3 and A2 certifications refer to the subcategories of the Open category under Regulation (EU) 2019/947:

Subcategory A1 — Allows flying over uninvolved persons (with drones <250g class C0, or class C1 up to 900g). Most permissive subcategory.

Subcategory A3 — Requires flying far from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas. Any drone up to 25 kg can operate here, including those without CE class.

Subcategory A2 — The middle ground. Allows flying close to people (but not over them) with class C2 drones up to 4 kg, maintaining a minimum horizontal distance of 30 meters (or 5 meters in low-speed mode).

A1/A3 competency is obtained with a single online exam. A2 requires first having A1/A3, self-declared practical training, and passing a more demanding second exam.

A1/A3 Exam: step by step

Step 1: Create account on ANAC portal

Go to rp.anac.pt, ANAC’s training and exam platform, and create an account. Portuguese citizens sign in with the Chave Móvel Digital (Portugal’s digital ID login); foreign nationals request an account from ANAC through a form. This platform is separate from the operator registration platform (uas.anac.pt).

Step 2: Study the training material

ANAC provides its online course for free, covering the 9 subjects EASA defines for A1/A3:

Aviation safety (safe behavior, distances, flying within visual line of sight)
Human limitations (fatigue, stress, alcohol effects)
Operational procedures
Airspace restrictions (geographical zones)
Aviation regulation (subcategories, classes, registration)
General technical knowledge
Privacy and data protection (GDPR)
Insurance and civil liability
Security

The subjects most worth mastering are the subcategories and the drone classes, which are easy to confuse. Study time: if you fly drones already, 4-6 hours. Beginners: a full weekend.

Step 3: Take the online exam

40 questions multiple choice
Exam access only after reading 100% of the course content
75% minimum to pass (30 correct answers)
Cost: free
1 attempt; to retake, you must ask ANAC to unlock the exam

I recommend taking it on a computer in a quiet environment. Read each question carefully to the end.

Step 4: Get your certificate

Pass and the certificate is auto-generated as PDF. Valid for 5 years. Keep it on your phone to present if needed.

A2 Exam: the next level

Prerequisite: A1/A3 competency

You cannot take A2 without A1/A3 first. It’s sequential.

Step 1: Self-declared practical training

You must declare you’ve completed practical training. There is no minimum number of hours: each pilot does as many flights as they consider necessary. The signed declaration is uploaded to the platform and, yes, it’s honor-based. But take it seriously. Flying 30 meters from people with a 4 kg drone is not for amateurs.

Step 2: Study additional material

The A2 exam covers advanced material:

Advanced meteorology: urban wind effects, mechanical turbulence
Flight performance: weight, altitude and temperature vs battery life
Risk mitigation: scenario analysis, contingency plans
Safety distances: 30m/5m rule
Batteries: types, terminology (capacity, C-rate) and charging and storage care

There are private prep courses, but ANAC’s official course is free and, studied seriously, should be enough.

Step 3: Take the A2 exam

30 questions multiple choice
Prerequisites: valid A1/A3 proof and a self-training declaration
75% minimum (23 correct answers)
Cost: no fee at this stage, according to ANAC
In person, in ANAC’s exam room (there is no online A2 exam)

If you fail, you must email ANAC to ask for the exam to be unlocked and book the in-person exam again.

Study tips that work

1. Don’t underestimate A1/A3.

2. Focus on subcategories. Know by heart what each allows. Make a comparison table.

3. Meteorology isn’t memorization. Understand why wind accelerates between buildings (Venturi effect) or why battery life decreases with altitude.

4. Practice with simulators. There are unofficial apps and practice tests; use them only as a complement to ANAC’s course.

5. Read Regulation (EU) 2019/947. Part A of the Annex, which covers the open category, is short and contains everything you need.

Cost summary for 2026

Operator registration: free
A1/A3 exam: free
A2 exam: no fee at this stage
Civil liability insurance (mandatory above 900 g): price varies by insurer
Private prep course (optional): price varies

Total ANAC fees to fly with A2: EUR 0 at this stage. The real cost is insurance, where it is mandatory.

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing registration with certification. Registration identifies who’s responsible. Certification proves flying competency. You need both.

Thinking sub-250g drones need nothing. If it has a camera, you need operator registration.

Not renewing. Competency expires after 5 years. If yours has expired and you keep flying, you’re in violation.

Conclusion

Getting A1/A3 and A2 certification in Portugal is accessible, cheap and doable. You don’t need to be aeronautical engineers — study the material, understand the rules, respect subcategory limits.

My advice: don’t view certification as annoying bureaucracy. See it as an opportunity to truly understand what you’re doing when you put a drone in the air. These rules exist for safety — yours and everyone on the ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take the A1/A3 exam in Portuguese?

Yes. The course and the exam on ANAC’s platform (rp.anac.pt) are in Portuguese.

How long to receive the certificate?

A1/A3 is generated immediately. A2 is also issued automatically on the platform when you pass the in-person exam.

If I fail A2, can I retake it?

Yes, but not right away. Each request gives you one attempt; to retake, you must ask ANAC to unlock the exam ([email protected]) and request the in-person exam again. ANAC charges no fee at this stage, but the unlock can take a while, so it’s worth passing first time.

Is Portuguese certification valid in other EU countries?

Yes. A1/A3 or A2 competency from Portugal is recognized across the entire EU. Fly in Spain, France or Germany with the same certificate, respecting local rules.

Do I need A2 for the DJI Mini 4 Pro?

No. The DJI Mini 4 Pro weighs under 250g (class C0/subcategory A1). For a C0 the law does not require training (knowing the manufacturer’s manual is enough), but A1/A3 is free and recommended; operator registration is mandatory because it has a camera. A2 is only needed for C2 class drones, such as the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, when flying near people (the DJI Air 3 is class C1).

Miguel Santos

DroneFlyBlog

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