The remote pilot is the person who controls the drone remotely. A minimum age of 12 years applies in the open category. Children under 12 may only fly a drone under the supervision of a person who is at least 16 years old and has the necessary certificates. In the specific category, the remote pilot must be at least 14 years old and have the required certificates. Along with the drone operator, the remote pilot is responsible for the safe operation of the drone. Information on drone operators can be found on the page Registration as a drone operator.
Do I need a remote pilot certificate?
There are different requirements regarding remote pilot certificates depending on whether a drone is flown in the open or specific category.
*Exception: Remote pilots flying class C0 drones, legacy drones under 250g or privately built drones under 250g in category A1 do not require a remote pilot certificate, although this is recommended.
Certificates obtained in one EASA member state are recognised and valid in all other EASA member states. EASA member states include all EU member states as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland. It is neither possible nor necessary to upload certificates obtained abroad to the Swiss dLIS platform.
Remote pilot certificates issued by countries that are not members of EASA are not recognised in Switzerland.
If a remote pilot flies drones exclusively for an organisation and does not require a remote pilot certificate – e.g. because they only fly C0 drones – then they do not need to create an account on dLIS, since the organisation is already registered as an operator.
Remote pilot certificates
A1/A3 remote pilot certificate
An A1/A3 remote pilot certificate is required for flights in the open category in accordance with A1 or A3 flight rules.
Remote pilot certificates: A remote pilot certificate in another category is not required.
Minimum age: 12 years
Preparation: Training materials are made available online on the exam platform once the exam fee has been paid. No additional course needs to be taken.
Type of exam: Theory exam
Place: Online, possible from home.
Time allowed: 60 minutes
Fee: CHF 20
Language: German, French, Italian and English.
Retakes: The exam can be retaken twice. After three failed attempts, the exam fee must be paid again.
Valid for: Five years in all EASA member states
Must be shown: At all times when flying a drone, on request. It can be either a printed or digital version.
How to renew: Information on renewing your certificate will be published here from 2026.
A2 remote pilot certificate
An A2 remote pilot certificate is required for flights in the open category under A2 flight rules.
Remote pilot certificate: Candidates must have the A1/A3 certificate.
Practical self-study: Candidates must practise flying their drone independently in certain situations before registering for the A2 exam. A checklist of instructions can be found at the bottom of this webpage in the documents under ‘Further information’.
Minimum age: 12 years
Preparation: Training materials are made available online on the exam platform once the exam fee has been paid. No additional course needs to be taken.
Type of exam: Theory exam at exam centre, no aids allowed
Exam centres: Ittigen (BE), Illnau (ZH) and Lausanne (VD)
Time allowed: 60 minutes
Fee: CHF 20
Language: German, French, Italian and English.
Retakes: The exam can be retaken twice. After three failed attempts, the exam fee must be paid again.
Valid for: Five years in all EASA member states
Must be shown: At all times when flying a drone, on request. It can be either a printed or digital version.
How to renew: Information on renewing your certificate will be published here from 2026.
STS remote pilot certificate (specific category)
An STS remote pilot certificate is required for flights performed according to an STS (standard scenario) in the specific category. As this certificate can only be used in combination with an STS declaration, the FOCA recommends clarifying in advance whether the STS is possible/is required. In the specific category, an STS certificate is only required for STS operations. It is not required for PDRA- or SORA-based operational authorisations.
There are two stages to obtaining the STS certificate. In Switzerland, the FOCA is the only body which runs the STS theory exam. The practical training and exam are offered by a number of recognised bodies. Further information can be found under Standard scenarios (STS).
Remote pilot certificates: Candidates must have the A1/A3 certificate.
Preparation: The FOCA does not provide any learning materials. Candidates must acquire the required knowledge independently.
Practical exam. The practical training and exam are offered by a number of recognised entities.
Type of exam: Theory exam at exam centre, no aids allowed
Exam centres: Ittigen (BE), Illnau (ZH) and Lausanne (VD)
Time allowed: 60 minutes
Fee: CHF 20
Language: German, French, Italian and English.
Retakes: The exam can be retaken twice. After three failed attempts, the exam fee must be paid again.
Valid for: five years in all EASA member states
Must be shown: at all times when flying a drone, on request. It can be either a printed or digital version.
How to renew: Information on renewing your certificate will be published here from 2026.
Registering for and taking the exam
Below you will find more information on obtaining a remote pilot certificate.
Candidates need to register on the dLIS platform used by the FOCA. An eIAM account (CH-Login/AGOV-Login) is required to log in. If you have any questions or registration problems regarding CH-Login, please go to: CH-LOGIN Help – eIAM help pages / I need help – agov.ch or call the FOIIT: +41 58 465 88 88
NB: All the information you enter on dLIS is linked to your person. You should therefore enter a private email address that you can continue to access even if you change jobs.
Your dLIS account uses the personal details that you enter in the eIAM system. Please confirm your details on dLIS and upload a scan of your passport or ID.
A1/A3 application
Go to the menu item ‘Drone (UAS)’ under ‘Domains’. Click on ‘+New drone certificate’. Select the certificate you are applying for and follow the instructions. You will be asked to pay the CHF 20 fee.
As soon as you have completed the application process, you will receive access to our training and exam platform.
A2 or STS application
Follow the same procedure as for an A1/A3 application. You can only select the A2 or STS certificate if you have completed the A1/A3 in dLIS.
You must select an exam date and the centre at which you would like to sit the exam, in Ittigen (BE), Illnau (ZH) or Lausanne (VD).
Once you have completed the application process, A2 training documents are available on the training and exam platform. No training documents are provided for the STS exam.
A1/A3 exam
The A1/A3 exam can be taken online at any time from the comfort of your own home.
A2 or STS exams
The A2 and STS exams take place at an exam centre. Please note the following:
Identity documents: Please bring your passport or ID with you.
Login information: Make sure that you can log in to dLIS and know your access data such as user name, password, 2-FA (two-factor authentication).
Language: The exam language can be selected on site.
Start time: Please be at the exam centre at least 10 minutes before the start of the exam.
The following exam dates are available:
The STS certificate is only issued once both the practical training and exam and the theory exam have been successfully completed. The practical training and exam can be completed either before or after the theory exam.
As soon as the theory exam has been taken at the FOCA, the proof that you have completed the practical training and exam can be uploaded to dLIS.
The final exam result is transferred to the system approximately five minutes after you complete the exam. Once you pass the test, you can view or download your certificate under Domains > Drones (UAS).
Premises for A2 and STS theory exams
The exams are held in the FOCA building in Ittigen. The entrance to the exam centre is at the side of the building: see map below.
Address: Federal Office of Civil Aviation FOCA, Papiermühlestrasse 172, 3063 Ittigen
Public transport stop: Ittigen, Papiermühle
Parking: No parking is available at the FOCA building. Please use the public parking or the multi-storey car park in the Talgut centre.
The exams are held at the Lausanne-Blécherette aerodrome.
Address: Aéroformation, Avenue du Grey 119, 1018 Lausanne
Public transport stop: Lausanne-Blécherette
Parking: Parking spaces are available.
The exams are held at the Hotzehuus in Illnau.
Address: Hotzehuus, Usterstrasse 2, 8308 Illnau
Public transport stop: Illnau, train station
Parking: Parking is available in Kempttalstrasse and in the car park in Effretikonerstrasse. Further information about parking can be found on the Hotzehuus website.
