A Class 1 medical in the UK costs £1,181–1,345. In Sweden it's €1,900. In Bulgaria it's €150. Same EASA certificate. Same legal validity. Same airlines will accept it.
Eastern Europe is where budget-conscious student pilots and experienced aviators go to save hundreds — sometimes over €1,000 — on the same medical examination. This guide covers 8 countries with verified pricing, practical travel info, and the honest trade-offs. For the full 10-country price ranking, see our cheapest EASA Class 1 medical guide. If you're not sure what the exam involves, start with the Class 1 medical certificate guide.
The Price Gap
The price difference between Western and Eastern European AeMCs is dramatic — and it's not because Eastern centers are worse. EASA certification requirements are identical everywhere. The difference is labor costs, rent, and market competition.
Western Europe
UK: £1,181–1,345 (€1,380–1,570)
Sweden: €1,901 (across 3 visits)
France: €810 (Toulouse)
Germany: €350–500
Eastern Europe
Bulgaria: €150
Latvia: €180–210
Czech Republic: €220
Croatia: €250
8 Countries Ranked by Price
| # | Country | AeMC | Initial | Same Day | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bulgaria | Aviation Medical Center Sofia | €150 | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Latvia | Aviamed (Riga Airport) | €180 | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Latvia | Premium Medical (Riga city) | €210 | — | Yes |
| 4 | Czech Republic | ULZ Prague | €220 | No (2 days) | Yes |
| 5 | Croatia | KB Dubrava / OptimaMed (Zagreb) | €250 | — | Yes |
| 6 | Slovenia | ZVD Ljubljana | €280 | — | Yes |
| 7 | Hungary | NNK Budapest | €290 | — | Yes |
| 8 | Slovakia | Air Military Hospital Košice | €341 | Yes | Yes |
Serbia: €180 — But Not EASA
Belgrade offers Class 1 at €180, but Serbia issues ICAO certificates under the Serbian CAD — not EASA. Only useful if you fly exclusively under Serbian registration. For EASA operations, you need an EASA member state AeMC.
Also in the region but unpriced:
Romania (INMAS Bucharest) — frequently cited as very cheap on PPRuNe, no published pricing. Poland (WIML Warsaw) — same-day certificate, excellent PPRuNe reviews, but pricing not publicly listed and LUX MED stopped accepting foreigners. Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki) — €550, closer to Western European pricing.
Your Class 1 medical — up to €500 cheaper elsewhere.
Same EASA certificate, valid everywhere. Prices vary 5× between countries. Find the cheapest center near you.
Find Cheapest Center — €14.99Country Profiles
Bulgaria — €150 (Cheapest in EASA)
One AeMC: Aviation Medical Center Sofia, headed by Dr. Nikolay Raynov (president of the Bulgarian Association of Aviation and Space Medicine). Same-day certificate. Accepts foreigners. English spoken. The cheapest EASA Class 1 initial you can get anywhere in Europe.
Catch: Only one center in the entire country — if something goes wrong or you need a second opinion, there's nowhere else in Bulgaria to go. No online booking. Sofia is well-connected by budget airlines (Ryanair, Wizz Air) from most European cities.
Latvia — €180–210 (Best All-Round Budget Option)
Two AeMCs in Riga. Aviamed (€180) sits at Riga Airport — arrive at 9am, medical takes the full first day, results and certificate by end of day. Online booking available. Speaks Latvian, English, and Russian. Same-day certificate confirmed.
Premium Medical (€210) is the newer center in central Riga. Both accept foreigners. Latvia is well-connected: Ryanair and airBaltic fly from most European hubs to RIX for €30–80. The airport location of Aviamed means you can fly in, get your medical, and fly out the same day — though allowing two days is more realistic.
Czech Republic — €220 (2-Day Exam)
One AeMC: ULZ Prague. Excellent reputation. The only country in this guide requiring a 2-day exam — day one is medical, day two is a psychological assessment. Online booking. English spoken. Accepts foreigners.
No same-day certificate — expect processing time after the exam. The 2-day requirement means you need a hotel night (Prague hotels from €40/night). Still cheaper than most Western European options even with the extra night. Czech AMEs offer renewals from €88 — the cheapest renewal anywhere in our database.
Croatia — €250 (Two Zagreb Options)
Two AeMCs, both in Zagreb at the same price. KB Dubrava is the government hospital-based center. OptimaMed is private with online booking. Both accept foreigners and speak English. Zagreb is accessible via Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air.
Croatia joined EASA relatively recently. The Croatian CAA medical assessor can be contacted directly (aeromedical@ccaa.hr) for questions about certification with complex histories.
Slovenia — €280 (Only 1 Center)
ZVD Ljubljana — Slovenia's only active AeMC. The second center (military) has been suspended since January 2024. English spoken. Accepts foreigners. Ljubljana is a small, walkable city — easy logistics.
Hungary — €290 (Cheapest Renewals at €101)
NNK Budapest — 50+ years of operation. Hungary's primary civilian AeMC. The initial is mid-range at €290, but the renewal at €101 is exceptional for career-long savings. Budapest is a major European hub with cheap flights everywhere.
Kecskemét is the military AeMC that also serves civilians. No published pricing, but it has a hypobaric chamber — relevant for pilots who need altitude tolerance testing after medical incidents.
Slovakia — €341 (Military Hospital, Same-Day)
Air Military Hospital Košice — recommended by Czech flight schools as an alternative when ULZ Prague is fully booked. Online booking, same-day certificate, English spoken, accepts foreigners. Košice has Wizz Air connections. At €341 it's the most expensive Eastern European option but still cheaper than most of Western Europe.
Renewal Prices
Renewals are where Eastern Europe truly shines over a 30-year career. You do your initial once — you renew annually.
| Country | Renewal | 30-Year Cost | vs UK (£315/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | €95 | €2,850 | Save €8,100 |
| Hungary | €101 | €3,030 | Save €7,920 |
| Slovakia | €120 | €3,600 | Save €7,350 |
| Czech Republic | €140 | €4,200 | Save €6,750 |
| Latvia | €150 | €4,500 | Save €6,450 |
| Croatia | €160 | €4,800 | Save €6,150 |
| Slovenia | €175 | €5,250 | Save €5,700 |
| UK (baseline) | ~€365 | €10,950 | — |
Career Savings Are Massive
A UK-based pilot renewing in Bulgaria instead of London saves €8,100 over a 30-year career — renewals alone. Even accounting for annual travel (if you can't use a local AME), the savings are €5,000+. Remember: Class 1 renewals can also be done by authorized AMEs, not just AeMCs. Eastern European AME renewals are even cheaper — Czech AMEs offer renewals from €88.
Travel Math: 3 Worked Examples
UK Pilot → Sofia (Bulgaria)
Medical: €150. Ryanair LTN→SOF: ~€50 return. Hotel (1 night): €40. Food/taxi: €30.
Total: ~€270 vs UK £1,181 (€1,380). Saving: ~€1,100.
Swedish Pilot → Riga (Latvia)
Medical: €180. airBaltic ARN→RIX: ~€80 return. Hotel: €0 (same-day at airport). Food: €20.
Total: ~€280 vs Sweden €1,901. Saving: ~€1,620.
German Pilot → Prague (Czech Republic)
Medical: €220. FlixBus/train from Munich/Berlin: ~€30 return. Hotel (1 night for 2-day exam): €50. Food: €30.
Total: ~€330 vs Germany €350–500. Saving: €20–170. Marginal — worth it mainly if combined with Prague sightseeing.
Who Should (and Shouldn't) Go East
Go East If:
You're a student pilot getting your first Class 1 (biggest single saving)
You're based in the UK, Scandinavia, or France (largest price gap)
You have a clean medical history with no complications
You're flexible on dates and comfortable with basic facilities
Quick Recommendation
Cheapest possible: Bulgaria — €150, same-day, one center. Fly Wizz Air/Ryanair.
Best overall value: Latvia (Aviamed) — €180, same-day, at the airport, online booking, two centers to choose from.
Best renewal strategy: Czech AME at €88/year — cheapest renewal in our database.
Most thorough exam: Czech Republic (ULZ Prague) — 2-day exam with dedicated psychology day. €220.
Eastern European AeMCs
Авиомедицински център — София (Aviation Medical Center Sofia)
Sofia, Bulgaria
Aviamed
Mārupe, Latvia
Premium Medical
Riga, Latvia
ULZ Prague
Prague, Czech Republic
Zavod za zrakoplovnu medicinu — KB Dubrava (HR.AeMC.01)
Zagreb, Croatia
OptimaMed Aeromedical Centre (HR.AeMC.04)
Zagreb, Croatia
View all 11 aeromedical centers
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