Your drone license has expired—can you still fly?

What are the risks of flying with an expired certificate?

An expired pilot’s license is considered invalid. In the Netherlands there are penalty guidelines in place for this. In May 2023, the Public Prosecution Service published guidelines for drone fines (Government Gazette 2023, No. 5607).

The relevant amounts are listed below:

If multiple violations occur at the same time, the fine can rise significantly—in the most serious cases, to several thousand euros. Unlike five years ago, the police are conducting more and more thorough inspections.

Risks of flying without a valid drone license

Your insurance. Many liability and drone insurance policies exclude coverage if you did not meet the legal requirements at the time of the incident. If you fly without a valid drone license and damage a car, an object, or someone else, you could be held fully liable for the costs. Check your policy terms before assuming everything is in order.

Your client. If you fly for business purposes, an expired certificate is a problem for your business operations. Clients are increasingly asking for it, as are insurers, and in the event of an incident, the ILT will look at it first. An expired certificate puts a lot at risk.

Renewal is no longer possible after the expiration date

If you’re late in renewing, you’ll have to start from scratch: retake the entire training course and the full exam. Instead of a short refresher course with a 20-question exam, you’ll have to retake the entire theory portion (including the exam).

If you have a valid full EU drone certificate (A1/A3 + A2), you can renew the entire certificate for five years by taking a short refresher course. If your certificate has expired, you must retake the entire A1/A3 course and the entire A2 course.

If you have a valid A1/A3 basic certificate, you can extend its validity by five years by taking a short refresher course. Afterward, you can take the A2 course to obtain the full certificate, which is valid for another five years.

When does my drone certificate expire?

The expiration date of your drone certificate is printed on your certificate. It expires five years after you pass the relevant exam.

You only need to renew your highest-level or most recently obtained certificate on time.

Here’s how to check your status in two minutes

Follow this short step-by-step guide:

1. Grab your pilot’s license: the digital PDF you received from the RDW (Dutch authority).
2. Find the expiration date. Do you have multiple certificates? Look at the highest-level certificate.
3. Are you within three months of that date? Start the renewal process today.
4. Has the expiration date passed? Then you’ll need to retake the training course instead of the refresher course.

Certificate still valid: renew in one afternoon

As long as your certificate hasn’t expired yet, the process is quick.

1. Take the refresher course: Take the refresher course for A1/A3 or the refresher course for A1/A3 + A2. A quick refresher on the most important drone rules and all the information that has changed over the years.

2. Take the online exam. The exam to renew your A1/A3 certificate consists of 20 multiple-choice questions. The exam to renew your A1-A3 + A2 certificate consists of 35 multiple-choice questions.

3. Submit your application to the RDW. Did you pass the exam? Submit your application to the RDW. Your new certificate is valid for another five years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is my drone license valid?

Five years, starting from the date you passed the exam. If you hold multiple categories, the highest category determines the expiration date.

Can you renew expired certificates after the expiration date?

No. The RDW does not accept renewals after the expiration date. You will then have to retake the entire training course and the entire exam.

Is my Dutch pilot certificate valid in other countries?

Yes, your certificate is valid within the EU, as well as in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.