Frequently Asked Questions

How to authenticate on rp.anac.pt platform?

To authenticate on the platform, the user needs a personal Digital Mobile Key. This key can be obtained through autenticacao.gov.pt.

The Mobile Digital Key should have a personal email account associated with it, in order to finish the registration process.

If you are citizen from a European Union country or a foreign coming from a third country, holder of a Portuguese resident card (main address) and a Tax Identification Number, you must obtain first a Digital Mobile Key in person, at one of the locations published on the website Autenticacao.gov.pt.

A foreign citizen from a Third Country that do not hold a resident card may apply for a NIF and a Digital Mobile Key. For more information on how to obtain a NIF, please check: https://eportugal.gov.pt/en/servicos/pedir-o-numero-de-identificacao-fiscal-para-para-personalsingular.

Access to a non-resident foreign citizen may also be granted exceptionally, by completing and submitting the registration form, provided that all the documentation is submitted and the candidate comes to ANAC with their valid passport and visa for a face-to-face verification.

What happens to the already existing accounts?

Users who already have an account on the platform, should authenticate with the Digital Mobile Key. It is necessary to have an email account associated with this. The email can be different, where the email used on the platform will be the one used on the registration process. Everything previously saved on the platform will remain available.

I can’t enter on the platform with my email and password, what should I do?

It will not be possible to use the traditional authentication method. To log on the platform, it is necessary to have a Digital Mobile Key.

I found the following error message: “An error occurred as you do not have an email account configured in your digital mobile key. Before attempting to authenticate again you should ensure that an email address is configured, so it is suggested that you contact the services that provide the digital mobile key or configure it by yourself on the AMA platform using a citizen card reader. For more information check https://www.autenticacao.gov.pt/.”. What should I do?

If this error message appears, it means that the Digital Mobile Key email is not properly configured. The user should add and/or verify the email associated in the Mobile Digital Key.

I did not receive the confirmation email on the online platform

If the confirmation email does not reach your email box after registration, wait a few minutes and check your inbox again.

If after a few minutes it still doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder.

If the message does not reach your inbox or spam folder, please contact technical support at the following support email address indicating that the registration email has not reached you.

Which certificate should I get first?

If you have no certificate, you must first obtain the A1-A3 Proof of Completion, after obtaining the A1-A3 Proof of Completion, you can obtain the A2 certificate or the STS certificate according to your needs.

How are courses organized?

All courses are organized in blocks, the first blocks correspond to the theoretical content of the course, after the theoretical block there is a block where you can take the exam and finally a block where you can download the certificate if you pass the exam or the instructions on how to retake the course if you fail the exam.

In A2 and STS courses there are extra blocks where you will be asked to upload documents to the platform or blocks where you will be asked to contact ANAC through a form to request the face-to-face exam. The examination is carried out by the applicant at the premises of ANAC.

All blocks must be completed sequentially, starting with the first block. After finishing block 1, block 2 is unlocked, once you finish block 2, block 3 is unlocked and so on until the last block.

What are the requirements to attend A1-A3, A2 or STS?

To take the A1-A3 course you need to be 16 years old.

To take the A2 course, you need to meet the requirements of the A1-A3 course and also hold a valid A1-A3 proof of completion.>

To take the STS course, you need to meet the requirements of the A1-A3 course and also hold an A1-A3 or A2 certificate.

I cannot complete the A2

The theoretical part of the A2 course and the access to the form to request the face-to-face exam has some blockage. The system only allow a request for a face-to-face exam in case the user already holds a valid A1-A3 proof of completion and a signed declaration of self-training.

In order to be able to complete the A2 course and request an in-person examination from ANAC, it is first necessary to prove that you have a valid A1-A3 proof of completion and that you have completed practical self-training (by attaching the signed declaration). The proof of completion and the signed self-declaration must be loaded on the platform through the lock "Declaration of Self-training" ("Download and fill in the form of self-training" followed by "Send form of self-training") and "Test required to access the A2 SUBCATEGORY COURSE EXAMINATION" ("Submit PROOF OF COMPLETION OF A1-A3 ONLINE THEORETICAL TRAINING"). After sending the proof of completion and the declaration ANAC will verify the validity and accept if it conforms.

Once verified, you will receive a message on your desktop informing you that the revision of your document has already been performed. At that time, if you enter the platform in the third block of sending certificates, you can see if your document has been accepted and the part related to the request of the exam will be unlocked so that you can send the request to ANAC ("Request access to the A2 in-person examination" - submit the in-person examination form). You may submit the application for an in-person examination to A2 only if you have submitted a valid declaration of self-training and proof of completion A1-A3. If the documents are not correct, ANAC will not notify you of the problem or confirm the date of the examination until the applicant uploads valid and compliant documents.

The notifications are made available by ANAC directly in the user’s desktop and the call for examination is made through electronic message (email or platform). The candidate should regularly consult your desktop and wait for the call if you have submitted valid documents and followed the procedure. In case of difficulties you should send an email to exames.drones@anac.pt.

Can’t I access the theoretical part of the contents of the STS discipline?

The theoretical part of the STS course has some blocks.

To be able to complete the STS course and apply for the in-person exam, you must first prove that you have a proof of completion A1-A3 or a valid A2 certificate (requirement to complete and complete the STS exam) as applicable. The document must be loaded on the platform in the Send Certificates block to ANAC to check if your certificate is valid.

Once verified, you will receive a message stating that the revision of your document has already been performed. At this point, if you enter the platform in the certificate submission block, you can see if your document has been accepted and the part of the exam request will be unlocked so that you can schedule this exam (form). If your document is not correct, ANAC will notify you of the problem with that document and you will need to upload the certificate again. Candidates will find this information in their work area and in the previously mentioned block.

A1-A3, A2 or STS courses are remote? What are the costs? Which country should I be in to access this content?

The courses are online after successful enrollment in the user account area (management at user responsibility and discretion). It´s only possible to do it after proper registration (completed). No fees are charged nor are there associated costs.

To access the contents of each of the courses in which you signed up, the candidate must be in Portugal. In order to better serve the national remote pilots and ensure controlled and secure access, training content (courses) consultation outside the Portuguese territory is not possible (blocked platform). If you access your account outside the Portuguese Territory the following error will be displayed "Forbidden". You will only be able to access it once you log into your account at a terminal located in Portugal. The same applies to any European citizen (EU country) or international student (non-EU country).

Are the exams done face-to-face or online?

The A1-A3 exam is taken online. The exam is only accessible after the applicant has read 100% of the training contents. There is a time limit that requires the applicant to remain a minimum time per page of the training content. There is no possibility of unlocking. This limiter also exists in A2 and STS courses.

The A2 examination and the STS examination is carried out face-to-face in the ANAC examination room, as is the case with other aeronautical personnel (for example pilots or flight operations officers). ANAC does not perform face-to-face examinations outside its facilities because the entire system has been parameterized to operate safely and controlled on its servers.

I need to have A1-A3 proof of completion and A2 certificates to be able to take the STS course?

No need to have both, having any one is enough.

You can take the STS course if you only have the A1-A3 certificate, for this, upload the said certificate in the document validation section that is in the appropriate block of the STS course. The course will be longer and the face-to-face exam will have more questions.

You can also take the STS course if you have the A2 certificate, so upload the A2 certificate in the document validation section that is in the appropriate block of the STS course.

How can I sign up and how much time do I have to finish the course and take the exam I signed up for?

The applicant is responsible for enrolling and must follow the intuitive flow procedure sequence (1. Click on the course 2. Consult the training programme 3. Enroll).

National applicants (Portuguese citizen) can create an account on the platform using their Citizen Card (Digital Mobile Key).

The A1-A3 course and the exam must be completed no later than one month after the registration date.

The A2 course, the STS course, and the associated exams must be completed no later than six months after the registration date.

In case the applicant does not comply with the above deadlines the user is automatically classified as "not active". The control mechanism will give the opportunity to the new users that are compliant.

Candidates were classified as "not active" lose priority. To be active again, they shall request through exames.drones@anac.pt the activation for the purpose of being able to register and perform the exam. ANAC reserves the right to activate according to the number of candidates enrolled at the date of request (“active users”).

As a general rule the administrative procedure code apply, meaning that the deactivation by ANAC can take up to 60 days, assuming that there will be no internal extension request for the completion of the process.

How many questions does the exam have and what is the minimum passing score?

To obtain a proof of completion A1-A3, certificate of competence A2 or STS the applicant must obtain at least 75%.

The A1-A3 online exam has 40 questions.

The A2 face-to-face exam has 30 questions.

The face-to-face STS examination has 40 questions.

How many attempts to pass the exam are allowed?

To obtain a proof of completion A1-A3, certificate of competence A2 or STS the applicant must obtain at least 75%.

The candidate has only one attempt.

What happens if you get 75% or more on the exam? What is the validity of the proof of completion or certificate?

In the event of obtaining at least 75%, the applicant will automatically receive the A1-A3 proof of completion or the A2 or STS certificate in his work area issued in accordance with European regulations.

The candidate usually receives the proof of completion or the certificate directly in his mailbox. If you don’t receive it you should take it from your profile on the desktop of your personal user account (1. Click on the upper right side where the name is 2. Click on "View profile" 3. Click on "More" 4. Click on "My certificates" 5. Click on "Download" in the right column with the name "File").

Proof of completion A1-A3 and A2 or STS certificates are valid for 5 years after the date of issuance. The remote pilot is responsible for monitoring the validity of his certificates. ANAC will not inform remote pilots when the proof of completion or certificate expires.

What happens if you don’t get 75% or more on the exam?

In case the score is less than 75%, the candidate receives information that did not pass the exam. It should follow the instructions given directly in the system.

Briefly, the candidate will have to formally request the ANAC via electronic message addressed to exames.drones@anac.pt the unlocking of the exam and the contents in order to be able to perform it again. The unlocking is done according to availability and considering the number of candidates still registered and active. ANAC will monitor any abusive practices, including those that jeopardise the stability and integrity of the platform.

After unlocking, on A1-A3 the online exam can be taken again (1 try). In A2 or STS, after unlocking, the candidate must again formally ask to perform the face-to-face exam through the form available (1 attempt).

As a general rule, the administrative procedure code apply, and the activation by ANAC may take up to 60 days, assuming that there will be no internal extension request for the completion of the process.

I am a European (EU) or international (non-EU) candidate. How do I create an account to register for the exams?

The account creation process is different from a Portuguese citizen because if he or she does not have a residence card he or she will probably not have a Portuguese NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal, or TIN – Tax Identification Number). For security reasons, these applicants must request a user account from ANAC.

A European student must apply for an account by submitting the "European Citizens Registration Form".

An international student must apply for an account by submitting the "international citizen registration form".

All fields of the forms must be completed and attached to the requested documents. By submitting the form, once received, ANAC will create the user if there is no evidence that the information is false. You will automatically receive a message in your email box after it is created by ANAC. ANAC will only create the user if it receives all the information requested in the form (in case the requested data is missing ANAC reserves the right to not create the user). After receiving the account creation message in your mail box, you are responsible for managing your account, including changing your password and enrolling in the courses and exams as a Portuguese citizen does.

Applies to European or foreign applicant with an active user account the same FAQ s that apply to a national citizen. European or international candidates can only access the training and examination platform if they are in Portugal. Access outside Portugal is blocked for security reasons. The "Forbidden" message will be displayed in case you try to do it.

As a general rule, the administrative procedure code applies, and the creation of the user by ANAC may take up to 60 days, assuming that there will be no internal extension requests to complete the process.

What should I do if the expiry date of the proof of completion or certificate is close (only as of 31 August 2026)?

If less than 6 months are left until the expiration of the A2 or STS completion proof or certificate, the remote pilot will receive an automatic message. To start the revalidation process and re-register to obtain a valid competence certificate for another 5 years, you must access your account and click on the (repeat) button.

By applying this procedure, the revalidation process is initiated (new training and exam). If you proceed, you should inform exames.drones@anac.pt, submitting the certificate that is about to expire as an attachment. The user will have their progress functions reset, allowing them to register and retake the exam to obtain a new certificate valid for another 5 years. After this step, the processes described in previous FAQs apply.

During the period between the recycling and the issuance of the new completion proof or competence certificate, the associated QR code will indicate that the title is not valid. It is suggested that the remote pilot always keeps the valid proof and certificate and the message submitted to ANAC (exames.drones@anac.pt) informing about the re-registration or recycling of progress to obtain a new certificate.

If you hold an expiring A2 certificate and wish to obtain a new certificate with another 5 years of validity, you only need to re-register for the A2 (as it already includes A1-A3). If you hold an expiring STS certificate and wish to obtain a new certificate with another 5 years of validity, you only need to re-register for the STS (as it already includes A2).

If I wish to surrender my competence certificates (I am no longer a remote pilot and do not want the certificates that are still valid), what should I do?

In this situation, you should send an email to exames.drones@anac.pt, attaching the respective competence certificate and informing them that you want to surrender it. The practical effect will be the removal of the certificate from the system, making it no longer valid.

What should I expect if I send an email asking for clarifications as regards to subjects already available in this FAQ?

Subjects that are already explained in the FAQ will not be answered.

As a general rule, for any other formal request that needs a replay, the administrative procedure code apply and the response may take up to 60 days, assuming that no request for an internal extension to the completion of the procedure will occur.

I have a suggestion to improve the contents. How can I contribute?

According to European regulations, ANAC only has to offer one course in the A1-A3 subcategory and in the STS. By courtesy a course is available for subcategory A2.

Aiming the European harmonisation and mutual recognition of certificates, content must be aligned at European level. Adjustments or modifications must therefore always be on a case-by-case basis and taking into consideration the risk level of the category, the existing European guidelines and published means of compliance.

Within the scope of continuous improvement, any suggestion can be sent by users to drones@anac.pt, and at least the course reference, module, slide, phrase or word and the correction proposal. The same applies to any configuration problem that was not detected by ANAC during the conversion of the contents to the SCROM (Shareable Content Object Reference) packages.

For more information check ANAC