Drone rules in Europe
Where are you flying?
Every guide is checked against the national aviation authority — registration, insurance, night rules and geo-zones per country.
Check your destination
Local registration, insurance, night rules and geo-zones per country.
Get licensed once
Online course + official exam — most pilots finish in a day.
Fly in all 30 countries
One certificate — valid for 5 years everywhere on this page.
The same rules, everywhere
The EU drone regulation replaced 30 national rulebooks with one. These basics apply in every country on this page.
What still differs per country
- Registration portal, fee and renewal period
- Whether liability insurance is compulsory
- Night-flight exceptions (the Netherlands, for example)
- Geo-zones: national parks, cities and the local zone app
- Local privacy rules for filming people and property
Get licensed once — fly in all 30 countries.
The average pilot finishes the online course and official exam in ~4 hours. Pass today and your official EU certificate lands in your inbox — valid for 5 years everywhere on this page.
The two certificates explained
Before flying a drone of 250 g or more anywhere in Europe, you need the EU Drone License. It consists of two certificates — the basic A1-A3 and the optional A2 — and the same certificates are accepted in all 30 countries.
Certificate A1-A3 — the basic certificate
- Mandatory for drones from 250 g up to 25 kg
- A1: only the lightest drones (C0/C1) may fly close to people
- A3: heavier drones keep at least 150 m from residential, commercial and industrial areas
- Online course + official exam — certificate valid for 5 years in all 30 countries
Certificate A2 — the supplement
- Taken on top of the A1-A3 certificate
- For C2 drones (up to 4 kg): fly as close as 30 m to people — 5 m in low-speed mode
- The choice for real estate, inspections and filming in built-up areas
- Also required, together with A1-A3, before moving into the specific category
Every pilot starts in the open category — planning specific-category (STS) work later? You'll need both certificates first.
Frequently asked questions
Is one drone license valid in all European countries?
Yes. The EU Drone License (A1-A3 certificate, plus the optional A2) obtained in any EASA member state is valid in all 30 countries on this page — the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. You never need a second license to cross a border.
Do I need to register in every country I fly in?
No. You register once as a drone operator in your EASA country of residence and put that operator number on your drone — it is valid in every other member state. Visitors from outside the EU register in the first EASA country they fly in.
Can I fly at night in Europe?
Under the EU rules, yes — your drone needs a green flashing light. A few countries restrict this nationally: in the Netherlands, for example, night flying is not allowed in the open category. Check the country guide before you fly after dark.
Is drone insurance mandatory in Europe?
It differs per country. Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and Poland (from 250 g), among others, require liability insurance; elsewhere it is strongly advised. Our country guides state the insurance rule for each destination.
What if my drone weighs under 250 grams?
You don't need the certificate, but you still register as an operator if the drone has a camera (and is not a toy), and the flight rules — 120 m, line of sight, geo-zones — still apply.
How fast can I get the EU Drone License?
The average pilot finishes the online course and official exam in about 4 hours. Pass today and the certificate lands in your inbox the same day — valid for 5 years in all 30 countries.
