EU Drone Laws 2026: EASA Rules, Class Marks and Categories Explained

Before 2021, every European country had its own law for drones, quadcopters and UAVs, and a licence from one was rarely accepted in the next. That changed when the EU’s common drone rules took effect on 31 December 2020. Today one set of rules, written by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), applies across all 27 EU countries plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

This guide explains the current EU drone laws as of 2026: the three categories, the A1, A2 and A3 subcategories, the C0 to C6 class marks, registration and training, Remote ID, U-space, age limits and insurance. It ends with the changes EASA has proposed and a short note on the UK, which now follows its own rules.

How EU drone law works

Two regulations do most of the work. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 sets the rules for flying, and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 sets the technical requirements and class marks for drones sold in the EU. National aviation authorities run registration, exams and maps of no-fly zones, but the core rules are the same everywhere. A registration or pilot certificate from one EASA country is valid in all the others.

The rules focus on the operation, not the type of aircraft. The same drone can be flown in different categories depending on where and how you fly it:

• Open category: low risk. No authorisation needed. Drone under 25 kg, flown within visual line of sight (VLOS), no higher than 120 m above the ground, away from people as your subcategory requires, and carrying no dangerous goods or dropping anything.
• Specific category: medium risk, for anything outside the Open limits, such as beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights or heavier drones near people. You need an operational authorisation from your national authority, usually based on a risk assessment (SORA), or a declaration under a standard scenario (STS).
• Certified category: high risk, treated like crewed aviation. It covers carrying passengers, transporting dangerous goods and large drones flown over crowds. The drone, operator and pilot must all be certified.

Open category: A1, A2 and A3 and class marks

The Open category has three subcategories based on how close you fly to people. “Uninvolved people” means anyone not taking part in your flight.

• A1, fly over people: you may fly over uninvolved people with the smallest drones but should minimise it, and you may never fly over assemblies (crowds).
• A2, fly close to people: keep 30 m horizontally from uninvolved people, or 5 m with low-speed mode on. No overflight.
• A3, fly far from people: stay where no uninvolved people are present and at least 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.

A drone’s class mark, a label from C0 to C6 printed on it and its box, shows which rules it meets. Classes C5 and C6 are for standard scenarios in the Specific category.

Class	Max take-off mass	Category / subcategory	Pilot competency	Direct Remote ID
C0	< 250 g	Open A1	Read the manual	Not required
C1	< 900 g	Open A1	A1/A3 online training and test	Required
C2	< 4 kg	Open A2 (or A3)	A2 Certificate of Competency for A2	Required
C3	< 25 kg	Open A3	A1/A3 online training and test	Required
C4	< 25 kg	Open A3 (model aircraft style, no automation)	A1/A3 online training and test	Not required
C5	< 25 kg	Specific, STS-01 (VLOS over a controlled ground area in a populated environment)	STS theory certificate and practical training	Required
C6	< 25 kg	Specific, STS-02 (BVLOS over a controlled ground area in a sparsely populated environment)	STS theory certificate and practical training	Required
No class mark (legacy)	< 250 g / < 25 kg	Open A1 if under 250 g, otherwise A3	None under 250 g; A1/A3 test above	Not required by EU law

All Open category flights must stay within VLOS. You can fly with FPV goggles, but only with an observer beside you who keeps the drone in sight. Our guide to FPV flying and equipment covers the gear side.

Legacy drones and the end of the transition period

When the rules started, few drones had class marks, so a transition period let older drones fly under softer limits. That period ended on 1 January 2024. Since then, a drone without a class mark that was placed on the market before 2024, or that you built yourself, is a “legacy” drone and is limited by weight alone:

• Under 250 g: may fly in A1, like a C0 drone.
• 250 g to under 25 kg: A3 only, far from people and built-up areas.

This is why class marks matter when buying. A legacy 600 g drone is stuck in A3, while a C1-marked drone of the same weight can fly in A1. Some manufacturers, including DJI, released firmware and labels that upgraded certain older models to C1 or C2. Sub-250 g drones remain the easiest to fly legally, which is why so many travellers choose one. See our guide to the best budget drones for options.

Registration, pilot training and age limits

Operator registration. You register yourself as an operator, not each drone, with the aviation authority of the country where you live. Registration is required if your drone weighs 250 g or more, or if it has a camera or other sensor that can capture personal data and is not a toy. You get an operator number that must be shown on every drone you fly and entered into its Remote ID system. One registration covers all EASA countries, so you do not register again on holiday.

Remote pilot competency. The training depends on the class and subcategory:

• C0 and legacy drones under 250 g: read the manufacturer’s instructions. No test.
• A1/A3 proof of online training: required for C1, C3, C4 and legacy drones over 250 g. It is a free or low-cost online course and multiple-choice exam run by your national authority.
• A2 Certificate of Competency: needed to fly a C2 drone close to people. It adds a declared practical self-training and an extra theory exam, taken at the authority or proctored online.
• STS certificates: needed for standard scenarios with C5 and C6 drones.

Age limits. The minimum age for a remote pilot is 16. Member states can lower it, to as young as 12 in the Open category. There is no minimum age for flying a C0 drone that is a toy, or for flying under the direct supervision of a qualified adult pilot.

Remote ID, geographical zones and U-space

Direct Remote ID is a broadcast that lets authorities identify a drone in flight. It sends your operator number, the drone’s serial number, its position and height, and the take-off point. It is built into class-marked C1, C2, C3, C5 and C6 drones and must be active with your current operator number. EASA lists approved add-on modules for other drones.

Geographical zones are the national no-fly and restricted areas around airports, military sites, prisons, nature reserves and city centres. Each country publishes its own map, such as dipul in Germany, d-flight in Italy, Géoportail in France and ENAIRE Drones in Spain. Check the local map before every flight abroad. At night, class-marked drones must have their green flashing light switched on.

U-space is the EU’s system for managing larger numbers of drones in busy airspace. Under Regulation (EU) 2021/664, which has applied since 26 January 2023, member states can designate U-space airspace where certified service providers offer network identification, geo-awareness, flight authorisation and traffic information. Progress has been slow. EASA certified its first U-space service provider in May 2025, and the first fully operational U-space airspace opened at San Salvo, Italy, on 1 January 2026.

Insurance

EU-wide, third-party liability insurance is compulsory under Regulation (EC) 785/2004 for drones with a take-off mass of 20 kg or more. For lighter drones, the EU leaves it to each country, and many, including Germany and Italy, require liability cover for every drone. Even where it is optional, it is sensible. Check your home insurance first, then specialist drone policies or membership schemes from model flying associations.

What is changing next

In September 2026, EASA published Opinion No 06/2026, a package of security changes that follows the European Commission’s February 2026 action plan on drone and counter-drone security. It proposes:

• lowering the registration and Direct Remote ID threshold from 250 g to 100 g;
• identity checks on operators before registration is completed;
• a clearer EU framework for national geographical zones;
• alleviations for drones flown within model aircraft clubs.

This is a recommendation to the European Commission, not law. Nothing changes until the Commission adopts amended regulations, which is unlikely before 2027. EASA’s Open category guidance sets out the rules that apply today.

The UK follows its own rules

Since Brexit, the UK is not part of the EASA system, so EU registrations do not carry over automatically and visitors should check the CAA’s requirements before flying. The UK Civil Aviation Authority changed its rules on 1 January 2026. New drones sold in the UK carry UK class marks, UK0 to UK6. EU C-marks are recognised until 31 December 2027. A Flyer ID (a free online test) is now needed for drones of 100 g or more, and an Operator ID for camera drones of 100 g or more. Remote ID applies to UK1, UK2, UK3, UK5 and UK6 drones now and extends to most camera drones of 100 g or more from 1 January 2028. See caa.co.uk for details.

FAQs

Do I need to register a drone under 250 g in the EU?

Yes, if it has a camera and is not a toy. Almost every sub-250 g camera drone, such as the DJI Mini series, needs operator registration, but no pilot test is required for a C0 or legacy drone under 250 g.

Can I fly my drone on holiday in another EU country?

Yes. Your home country’s operator registration and pilot certificate are valid across all EASA countries. You must still follow local geographical zones and any national rules, such as insurance, so check the destination’s drone map before you fly. Our drone photography tips will help you make the most of the trip.

What is the maximum drone height in Europe?

In the Open category the limit is 120 m above the closest point of the ground. Some geographical zones set lower limits, and flying higher requires a Specific category authorisation.

Can I still fly a drone without a class mark?

Yes. Since 1 January 2024, legacy drones under 250 g can fly in A1, and heavier legacy drones up to 25 kg can fly in A3, away from people and built-up areas.