đ In this blog post we are going to overview European countries' drone rules and policies. Turns out drone rules will vary a lot and sometimes in neighbouring countries thus it is important to know while preparing your trip. A number of reasons can trigger institutions and governments to welcome or ban drones and we will try to give some context for those countries not welcoming your drone. Give a đ at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to comment your experience or any updates in The Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
Europe is an exceptional place to fly your drone with a large variety of landscapes to see. From crystal clear waters in the Mediterranean sea to blizzard cold mountains in Switzerland, there is something for everyone. After several months of studying and exploring Europe, we've been able to list all the continent's known drone regulations and laws in place.
As you will see from the map, each country has been given a colour code:
Green = you should be sweet to fly your drone.
Yellow = you will need some kind of paperwork or registration/permission to take off.
Red = drone flying is forbidden or made so hard that it will be hard to take off legally here.
Grey = there aren't sufficient official sources to confirm the country's approach to drones.
*Note that if you're after using a drone for commercial use in Europe, then you should check our Commercial Drone Laws World Map. Making money with a drone or even giving a service saving money to your entourage will often imply you to have a license, thus different requirements apply. In this blog post, we will only focus on the recreational use of drones.
đĄ Smart! Get your drone batteries' firecase today and make sure you're complying with aviation safety rules.
In which European countries can I fly a drone?
The following European countries will welcome your drone should you follow the rules. Note that the max weight or altitude mentioned below is before any registration or declaration of your drone. You may fly higher or fly a heavier drone after complying to one or several registration/licencing step(s) required by the country's aviation authority. To find out what they are, simply click on the country's name.
Albania (max altitude: N/A | max drone weight: N/A)
Andorra (max altitude: 150m | max drone weight: 25kg)
Belarus (max altitude: 100m | max drone weight: N/A)
Cyprus (max altitude: 50m | max drone weight: 3kg)
Estonia (max altitude: 150m | max drone weight: N/A)
Finland (max altitude: 150m | max drone weight: 25kg)
France (max altitude: 150m | max drone weight: 25kg)
Germany (max altitude: 100m | max drone weight: 2kg)
Greece (max altitude: 122m | max drone weight: 4kg)
Iceland (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 3kg)
Ireland (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 1kg)
Italy (max altitude: 70m | max drone weight: 25kg)
Latvia (max altitude: 50m | max drone weight: 500g)
Lithuania (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 300g)
Macedonia (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 5kg)
Moldova (max altitude: N/A | max drone weight: N/A)
Norway (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 250g)
Portugal (max altitude: 120m* | max drone weight: 25kg)
Spain (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 2kg)
Sweden (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 7kg)
The Netherlands (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 25kg)
Switzerland (max altitude: 150m | max drone weight: 30kg)
Ukraine (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 20kg)
đĄ Smart! Water glare is a killer when flying above coastal waters, make sure you have a lens filter if going to the sea.
Additionally, you will be able to fly a drone within the below countries providing that you register and/or apply for a permit (check on the country's post to find out what is needed).
Austria (max altitude: 30m | max drone weight: 250g)
Belgium (max altitude: 90m | max drone weight: 150kg)
Bulgaria (max altitude: N/A | max drone weight: N/A)
Denmark (max altitude: 100m | max drone weight: 25kg)
Hungary (max altitude: N/A | max drone weight: 10kg)
Luxembourg (max altitude: 50m | max drone weight: N/A)
Malta (max altitude: 60m | max drone weight: 25kg)
Monaco (max altitude: N/A | max drone weight: N/A)
Romania (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 15kg)
The United Kingdom (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 20kg)
đĄ Smart! Pack some spare drone batteries, you never know how close is the next power plug overseas. Also make sure you have a travel adaptor to charge everywhere.
Which European countries have forbidden drones?
On the other side, the smallest country of Europe has completely forbidden the use of drones. As you probably guessed, the Vatican is located in the heart of Rome and flying a drone there is quite dangerous due to crowds, urban life and traffic located all around Vatican. The Vatican officially asked the help and support of the Roman police to arrest pilots trespassing. Some have been expelled from Italy with an ban on coming back. Do not fly your drone near the Vatican or even close to Rome city.
We hope you found this information useful and that it will allow you to prepare your trip more safely. Note that this post only refers countries where we found official drone rule references. The countries of Liechtenstein & San Marino have not displayed or don't have clear drone rules as we write this content. But we expect them to follow the rules of Switzerland and Italy respectively. If you're travelling to another destination, always check our 170 drone laws world map before heading overseas!
â Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in a country so we can update information for others in turn.
Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about local drone regulations.
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