🖐 In this blog post we’ll share all law links & known regulation around recreational & commercial drone use in Greece (Athens). Give a 👍 at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in the Greece Drone Discussion Group. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
💡 This article is also available in French
Recreational vs Commercial drone use in Greece
Greece differentiates commercial & recreational drone uses. Both are subject to though restrictions & a strict code of conduct. Additionally, depending on the weight of your drone & where you want to fly your drone, different rules will apply.
✅ In Greece, drone laws fall under management of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) & they can be contacted anytime via:
Email: d4@hcaa.gr
Phone: (+30) 210 891 6476
✅ Greece will differentiate your drone based on its weight:
CAT0 = for drones weighting less than 1 kg
CAT1 = for drones weighting between 1 & 4 kg
CAT2 = for drones weighting between 4 & 25 kg
✅ Greece will also differentiate your drone based on its flight course/purpose:
Open Flight = flights with drones weighting less than 25 kg staying in visual contact & away from people & crowds.
Specific Flight = drone flight likely to pose significant risks on people.
Certified Flight = drone flight that need the same requirement as for a manned flight, you will need permit, license & airworthiness certificates for these.
Can I bring my drone to Greece?
✅ Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within Greece as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
🚨 Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
💡 Smart! Get your drone batteries' firecase today and make sure you're complying with aviation safety rules.
Where can I fly my drone in Greece?
✅ Greece built a detailed drone flight map showing flight restricted areas for recreational use mainly. The map is organised in a 2 main colour scheme to help drone owners to fly responsibly & safely within Greece:
Yellow = zones with restrictions in place
Purple = CTR Control Zones
The map also showcases Greece's airports, weather alerts ☔ & temporary controlled zones, providing 100% accuracy & limiting accident chances.
Greece Drone Fly Map
✅ Greece also set a complete pdf guide about the application's functionalities here.
🚨 You should not fly above or near military installations, archaeological sites & strategic infrastructure. Athens city is pretty much out of question without a permission from HCAA.
🦅 National parks & reserves are on a case by case permission & you might need to check directly with the local park or reserve authorities (note they are not represented in the map).
💡 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 for Greece.
Recreational Drone use in Greece
✅ Good things first, you will not need a permit or a license to fly your drone for recreational use in Greece as long as you keep your flight in an "Open class drone flight" & fly with a drone weighting less than 4 kg (CAT0 & CAT1)
Saying this, within the Greek permitted zones, you will need to follow a few rules:
fly your drone at a maximum of 50 m in all directions away from you. You can raise this limit to 122 m & 500 m respectively by registering yourself (see below how to).
fly a drone that weights less than 4 kg (above you will need a Greek translated license & an insurance covering you for at least 150,000€ for property damage & 1 million € for body injuries).
fly your drone only during daylight & always in sight.
fly your drone away from urban areas* (including streets, power-lines & parking), people & respect individuals' privacy.
fly at least 8 km away from airports, heliports & give priority to all other categories of aircraft. If you see a plane or helicopter during your flight, land immediately.
do not fly your drone over public, military, vital infrastructures.
do not fly near a natural disaster or somewhere emergencies will need to intervene
fly with an activated geo-fencing capability for drones of CAT 1 & 2 (weighting 4 kg+)
*for flights classified as "Specific" (you pose a risk to the people around): you will systematically need an approval from HCAA which you can get if you provide:
A Safety Risk Assessment Plan (include the density of the population area), identifying all the risks & solutions (needs to be in Greek).
A complete description of your drone, its maintenance book & its procedures for the safe conduct of flights.
Your drone pilot qualifications (you will need a license)
An Greek translated insurance contract to cover risks for flight activities (covering you for at least 150,000€ for property damage & 1 million € for body injuries).
**for flights classified as “Certified” (your drone operation is considered as risky as a manned flight operation) you will additionally need a special certificate of airworthiness (CofA) for UAS (if it is registered in another country, your certificate might be accepted by local authorities). If not, it will be granted to you if: you show all the points needed for "Specific flights class & your drone's manufacturer's certifications with a record of your training in drone maintenance.
💡 Smart! Water glare is a killer when flying above Greek coastal waters, make sure you have a lens filter before heading to these Greek islands.
How to register my drone for recreational use in Greece?
✅ If you wish to fly further & higher (up to 500 m away & 122 m high) & you do not hold a Greek Tax Registration Number, you will need to complete this online form (for foreigners) prior your arrival in Greece. To fill it you will need to complete it with:
your full personal details & any qualifications you might hold to fly your drone.
information about your flight & the drone model you will fly then.
once all set, send it to d4@hcaa.gr
📞 You will need to be join-able by the phone number you entered in your application at least up to 30 mins prior your flight in Greece (ideally at all times).
✅ If you do hold a Greek Tax Registration Number, you can use this online portal
🕔 Allow about 3 days to process
What do I risk for flying a recreational drone illegally in Greece?
🚨 The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction and/or if you had any commercial purposes to do such. Fines can reach up to 250,000€
Commercial Drone use in Greece
Greece requires you to have a license as a drone pilot & register your drone to undertake any flight of commercial purpose. Once you obtain your license, you will also need to register prior each flight.
How to obtain my drone license for commercial use in Greece?
First things first, to be eligible you will need to:
have a valid Health Certificate (Class 3 Medical Certificate)
be at least 18 years old
Have a very good knowledge of Greek & English (graduate levels).
The license has 2 parts:
A theory & practical exam (4 successful landings / take off) to learn all about the rules up there; to be valid, these 2 parts need to be undertaken by a certified & registered HCAA flight school in Greece.
Once you've got all this, you can keep in touch by contacting weight.public.relations1@minpress.gr for professional flight matters only.
✅ The license to fly your drone is valid for life unless change of requirements.
How to register my drone for commercial use in Greece?
✅ If you wish to fly further & higher (up to 500 m away & 122 m high) & you do not hold a Greek Tax Registration Number, you will need to complete this online form prior your arrival in Greece. To fill it you will need to complete it with:
your full personal details & any qualifications you might hold to fly your drone.
information about your flight & the drone model you will fly then.
once all set, send it to d4@hcaa.gr
📞 You will need to be join-able by the phone number you entered in your application at least up to 30 mins prior your flight in Greece (ideally at all times).
🕔 Allow about 3 days to process
What do I risk for flying a commercial drone illegally in Greece?
🚨 The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction and/or if you had any commercial purposes to do such. However local authorities specified that fines can reach up to 250,000€ !
Once you got everything in order, you can start flying above Greece's awesome landscapes & create videos like this one:
✅ Please leave a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Greece! Have fun & safe flight! #greece #greek #regulation #rule #rules #law #laws #legislation
💡 You're a local, have a question or want to share a travel experience? Head to our Greece Drone Discussion Group
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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Other resources
Register your drone in Greece (for foreigners only)
Register your drone in Greece (for locals only)
Fees for registration and licensing (in Greek)
Sources
General Regulation for flights of UAVs (HCAA pdf)