Validity of certificates and moving from one country to another
A certificate lives five years, then is revalidated, but not in the same way depending on whether it is still valid or already expired. And not everything obtained in one State travels: the regulation itself says where it puts borders.
Key points
- The A1/A3 online theoretical competency and the A2 certificate of remote pilot competency are valid for five years (UAS.OPEN.070).
- Within the validity period, revalidation is done in either of two ways: demonstrating the competencies again, or completing a refresher training covering the same subjects, provided by the competent authority or by an entity designated by it.
- After expiry, that second route closes: refresher training is no longer enough, only a demonstration of competencies restores the certificate (UAS.OPEN.070(3)). Letting it expire therefore costs more than revalidating in time.
- The regulation puts a territorial limit where it wants to, and it says so: the national lowering of the age applies only on the territory of the State concerned (Art. 9(4)), and a model aircraft club authorisation is limited to the territory of the State that issues it (Art. 16(3)). The certificate of competency carries no such mention.
- What never travels are the geographical zones: points UAS.OPEN.050(4)(c) and UAS.OPEN.060(1)(b) both refer to those published by the Member State OF OPERATION, that is, the country being flown over.
- Operator registration, on the other hand, is unique and follows you: it is done in the State of residence or of principal place of business, and being registered in more than one State at a time is prohibited (Art. 14(6)).
- In the ‘specific’ category, an authorisation obtained in one State does not export itself: you must file an application with the authority of the State of intended operation, with a copy of the authorisation and the updated mitigation measures, and wait for its confirmation before flying (Art. 13(1) and (2)).
The trap. The trap is not the certificate, it is what people believe it carries with it. It says nothing about the geographical zones of the country where you land for the holidays, and those are what change most sharply from one Member State to another.
Source
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (CELEX 02019R0947, consolidated on 01/05/2025), Annex Part A, points UAS.OPEN.070, UAS.OPEN.050(4)(c) and UAS.OPEN.060(1)(b); art. 9, § 4, art. 13, § 1 and § 2, art. 14, § 6, and art. 16, § 3