Update on drone legislation in 2026

In 2026, the first EU drone licences will be renewed. In Luxembourg and the United Kingdom, a number of changes have been made to drone regulations. In this blog, we list the most important changes.

First drone licenses have expired

The first drone licenses (issued on 1 January 2021) have expired. The EU Drone License is valid for five years after issue. It is possible to renew your EU Drone License. Please do so before the expiry date.

Our renewal/refresher course has been available since the end of 2025. This short refresher course allows you to renew your drone licence for another five years. The first drone licences have now been renewed. You can read all the information about renewing your drone licence in our blog: Renewing your drone licence.

Changes to drone regulations in Luxembourg

Many people travel to Luxembourg. Like all EU Member States, this country applies European legislation on drones. In addition to European drone legislation, the following national drone rules have also applied since 2026:

• Registration as an operator is mandatory for all drone activities
• Violation of drone rules can now have criminal consequences (particularly for flying outside valid zones and flying without appropriate training and registration)
• There are costs associated with applying for certificates and registration

With the introduction of these additional rules, the emphasis is on flying outside the valid zones. The only valid drone map for Luxembourg is Geoportal. The European drone licence is valid in Luxembourg. In addition to this drone licence, an operator number is also mandatory for all drone activities.

Changes to drone regulations in the UK

Although European legislation does not apply to the United Kingdom, we will nevertheless go through the most important changes in this drone legislation. Many drone pilots take their drones with them when travelling to the UK.

If you want to fly a drone in the UK, please take the following changes to the drone rules into account:

• Registration as an operator and obtaining a Flyer ID (theory certificate) is mandatory for drones weighing 100 grams or more (previously 250 grams).
• New class markings (UK0 to UK6) for drones entering the British market from 2026 onwards.
• EU Cx labels will continue to be recognised (“tolerated”) until the end of 2027
• Remote ID is mandatory for drones with a UK1, UK2 and UK3 label
• From 2028, Remote ID will be mandatory for all drones weighing more than 100 grams

The above is a clear tightening of the rules compared to the rules in the EU and is therefore striking.

The EU Drone Certificate and the European operator number are not valid in the UK. If you want to fly a drone in the UK, you must obtain a “Flyer ID”. This is mandatory for anyone flying a drone weighing more than 100 grams.

Expectations for drone pilots in 2026

We do not expect any changes to the general EU rules:

• In the open category, you may fly up to a maximum height of 120 metres, with the drone always in direct sight.
• You may not fly in no-fly zones.
• For drones with cameras and others weighing 250 grams or more, you must register as a pilot.
• A manufacturer's drone must have a Cx label, and Remote ID is mandatory for C1 labels and above.

It remains important to use an up-to-date drone map.