Can I take my drone on holiday? The European country drone policy guide
Are you planning a holiday in Europe this summer? Thinking about taking your drone? Wondering what the regulations are for the country you're heading to? In this article we give you the information you need for every country in the EU including where you can fly, where you need to register, whether (and where) you can take a test and where you can apply for authorisations in any of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) remit countries; Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and separately, for good measure the United Kingdom.
This guide covers flying in the 'Open' category only. If you need to fly in the 'Specific', which caters for riskier operations, you'll need an operational authorisation (OA) from the national aviation authority (NAA) of the member state of registration. Follow the relevant links in the table below to find out more about this and the specific operation risk assessment (SORA) process.
Table of contents
- Do I need a European Operator ID
- How to get a European Operator ID
- Summary of European operational subcategories, restrictions and qualifications
- Do I need a European C-class label for my drone
- Links to European National Aviation Authorities (NAA)
- Conclusion
If I'm visiting from outside of the Europe do I need a European Operator ID?
If you're travelling to the EU from anywhere else in the World, you'll need to get an Operator ID from a European country before flying your drone in any of the European countries listed above. Be aware though, the UK doesn't fall within the EASA remit which means that if you're visiting say, France and the UK, you're going to have to get separate Operator IDs for the EU and the UK. And, if you're in the UK and have a UK Operator ID, then I'm afraid it's no use for flying your drone in the rest of Europe; you'll still need to get an Operator ID from a European country. Strictly speaking, the Operator ID should be issued by the first EU country where you visit and fly your drone, however that's not always practical. The good news is that an Operator ID from any EASA country will cover you for all other EU countries.
Recommended reading: EASA - Travelling with Drones
How to get a European Operator ID
Although you can, in theory, register to obtain your Operator ID in any EU country, obviously the local language will prove tricky if your fist language is English. The easiest option therefore is to register with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). There is a cost of 40€ but the registration covers you for 5 years. You can find out more about registering here but here's a summary of what you need to do to register in Ireland and obtain your European Operator ID:
- Setup an account with the IAA.
- Once you get the verification email, input your details and upload your ID. The IAA will verify your details.
- Once your ID is verified, you'll get an email to confirm. Follow the instructions to set up 2FA.
- Register as an Operator within MYSRS account - "Dashboard > UAS > Unmanned Aircraft System - Operator Registration".
- Complete A1/A3 Remote Pilot course within your MYSRS account. (Watch the video and answer 40 multiple choice questions).
- Once you pass the test, you'll get your EU Operator ID.
- Label your drone with your new European Operator ID.
Alternative (FREE) option †
It is possible to get an EU Operator ID free of charge via the French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC). Again, that Operator ID will be valid across all EASA member countries.
- Head to the DGAC Alpha Tango website
- At the bottom right of the page, switch to English language if needed
- Click "Create Your Account > A manual input > next" and
- Select whether you're registering as an individual or organisation and enter the required details (note that you can only complete the online training if you register as an individual)
- Click through the verification email and set your password
- In the "Operator" panel on the dashboard, click on "Register in France"
- Tick the two confirmation boxes and "Register"
- You now have your Operator ID
- You should also complete the training - bottom-right panel click "Access to the DGAC Online Training Portal"
- Click the "Register to Open Category" panel and then "Subscribe > Access the Course"
- Complete the training material (180 minutes)
- Take the test - 40 multiple choice questions
Assuming you pass the test, your training is valid for a period of five years.
†With thanks to Colin Brink of ColTarn Consulting
Get a UK Operator ID
The UK process to obtain an Operator ID is relatively simple. Similar to the IAA process, you'll need to take a 40-question multiple choice test and achieve a pass mark of 30 or more. The test will take around 30 minutes to complete and you're able to take it as many times as you like. The Operator ID will cost £11.13 and is valid for one year. YOu'll also be given a FlyerID which is free and is valid for five years.
- Prepare for the test by reading the UK Drone and Model Aircraft Code
- Head to the registration page
- Provide your email address and then enter the verification code on the next screen
- Select the "Yes" option to "You’ll get a flyer ID and an operator ID." and take the test
- Once you've passed, complete your details and provide insurance information if needed
- Pay the fee and obtain your UK Operator ID
- Label your drone with your new UK Operator ID.
Summary of EASA drone C-classes, operational subcategories, restrictions and qualifications
Operation | Drone Operator/pilot | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drone C-Class | MToM | Subcategory | Operational restrictions | Operator registration? | Qualifications | Min age |
Privately built | <250g | A1 (can also fly in A3) |
May overfly uninvolved people but not over assemblies of people. | Yes. No if toy or not fitted with camera/sensor. |
- Read user manual | No min age (certain conditions apply) |
Legacy <250g | ||||||
C0 | ||||||
C1 | <900g | Yes | - Read user manual - Complete online training - Pass online theory exam |
16 | ||
C2 | <4kg | A2 (can also fly in A3) |
No planned overflight of uninvolved people. May fly close to people (30m or 5m in low-speed mode). |
- Read user manual - Complete online training - Pass online theory exam - Conduct & declare self-practical training - Pass written exam at NAA or RAE |
||
C3 | <25kg | A3 | Fly far from uninvolved people (150m). | - Read user manual - Complete online training - Pass online theory exam |
||
C4 | ||||||
Privately built | ||||||
Legacy drones (art 20) |
EU C-class labels - do I need one?
For drones placed on the market before Jan 1st 2024 ("legacy" drones), no, you don't need to have EU C-class label.
For drones placed on the market after Jan 1st 2024, yes, you need to have a C-class label displayed on your drone. There's likely to be a requirement to update your firmware to be sure your drone complies with the Classification requirements. Here is the EASA list of drones that received the class identification label.
For DJI, here are the relevant instructions on how to obtain your C-label to apply retrospectively to your drone:
- C0: How to get the C0 label for the DJI Mini 3,DJI Mini 2 SE
- C1: How to get the C1 label for the DJI Mini 4 Pro or for the Air 2S
- C2: How to get the C2 label for the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise and DJI Matrice 30 Series
Links to the official sources of information about flying your drone in Europe
Once you've obtained your Operator ID, then you're all set and can fly in any of the EASA remit countries; Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. But remember, if you want to fly in the UK, you'll need an additional Operator ID for that.
You should check your destination(s) for their specific rules and guidance about where you can and cannot fly your drone. We've listed all the relevant links to information for each country below...
*Note: The UK falls outside of the EASA remit and has separate drone regulations defined by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Conclusion
That's it; everything you need to know about flying in Europe. Please bear in mind that many countries in Europe have additional drone flying rules and regulations which you should familiarise yourself with before visiting. Have a great holiday and fly safely and responsibly wherever you go and, if you're flying to your destination, please check out our other post Can I take my drone on holiday? The airline drone policy guide to get the low-down on the airline rules about taking your drone on board. And if you're taking a cruise, please check out our post Can I take my drone on holiday? The cruise line drone policy guide.