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LEGAL FRAMEWORK 2026

Flying a drone in Germany - what is allowed

Licence, registration, insurance and no-fly zones: the obligations of the EU drone regulation, sorted and explained.

Read the rules
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Not legal advice

This guide reflects the situation as of August 2026 and does not replace legal advice. The binding sources are EU Implementing Regulation 2019/947, the German Aviation Act and the Air Traffic Regulations. Regional restrictions may differ - always check the official map before flying.

Four obligations at a glance

The same framework has applied across the EU since 2021. For private flights, four points matter - and three of them apply even to the smallest camera drone under 250 grams.

1. Operator registration

Required for every drone from 250 grams - and for any lighter drone carrying a camera or another sensor capable of capturing personal data. That covers practically every drone in this overview. You receive an e-ID that must be attached to the outside of the aircraft. Cost: 20 euros, valid for five years.

2. Remote pilot certificate from 250 grams

Below 250 grams no certificate is needed. From 250 grams, or from class C1 onwards, the EU competency certificate A1/A3 is mandatory - the so-called small drone licence.

3. Liability insurance

Mandatory for every drone, regardless of weight or use. Standard private liability policies usually exclude drones - a dedicated policy costs roughly 30 to 80 euros a year.

4. Flight rules

Maximum 120 metres above ground, always within visual line of sight, never over crowds and not inside restricted zones. The minimum age for operating on your own is 16.

The drone licence: A1/A3 or A2?

"Drone licence" is a colloquial umbrella term. In fact there are two certificates with different levels of effort - and most hobby pilots only need the first.

THE SMALL ONE

EU competency certificate A1/A3

  • Required from: 250 grams or class C1
  • Procedure: online training followed by an online exam
  • Exam: 40 multiple-choice questions, 75 percent to pass
  • Cost: free of charge at the Federal Aviation Office; private examination centres charge a fee
  • Validity: five years
THE BIG ONE

EU remote pilot certificate A2

  • Required for: C2 drones operated closer to uninvolved people
  • Prerequisite: A1/A3 obtained beforehand
  • Procedure: practical self-training plus an exam at an approved centre
  • Cost: roughly 25 to 80 euros depending on the centre
  • Validity: five years
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Is A1/A3 enough for me?

For every drone up to 900 grams (C1) the small certificate is sufficient. Only if you want to fly a C2 drone such as the Mavic 4 Pro closer than 30 metres to uninvolved people do you need A2. Without A2, C2 aircraft fall under subcategory A3 - 150 metres away from residential, commercial and recreational areas.

EU classes and what they mean

Class Weight Licence Where allowed Examples
C0 under 250 g not required A1: close to people, never over crowds DJI Mini 5 Pro, DJI Flip, Potensic Atom 2
C1 250-899 g A1/A3 A1: avoid overflying uninvolved people DJI Air 3S, DJI Avata 2, Autel EVO Lite+
C2 900-3,999 g A1/A3, plus A2 for proximity to people A2: at least 30 m from uninvolved people DJI Mavic 4 Pro, DJI Mavic 3 Pro
no class mark self-built, legacy models A1/A3 from 250 g A3: 150 m from residential and recreational areas self-built FPV drones

Ready to fly in four steps

1

Register as an operator

Registration is handled online through the Federal Aviation Office portal. You register yourself as the operator, not the individual aircraft - one e-ID covers all your drones. Cost: 20 euros for five years.
2

Attach the e-ID to the drone

The number must be legible on the outside; a fire-resistant sticker is the common solution. Enter it in the drone's remote identification as well, if the model supports it.
3

Obtain the competency certificate (from 250 g)

Work through the online course, then take the 40-question exam. Answer 75 percent correctly and you receive the certificate as a PDF - free of charge at the Federal Aviation Office.
4

Get insured and check the map

Take out drone liability insurance, then check the official map at dipul.de before every flight. It shows no-fly zones, nature reserves and control zones, updated daily.

Where you must not fly

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Fines are substantial

Breaching the altitude limit or entering a control zone counts as an airspace violation and can be fined into the five-figure range. Anyone flying uninsured is personally liable without limit if damage occurs.

Special case FPV: flying with goggles

Wearing goggles means losing direct sight of the aircraft - and that sight is exactly what the law requires. The regulation solves this with a spotter: a second person must stand next to you, keep the drone in view at all times and be able to warn you immediately. Without that spotter, goggle flying is not permitted in Germany.

Self-built FPV drones also carry no C class mark. From 250 grams they therefore fall into subcategory A3: at least 150 metres from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas. In practice that means open countryside rather than a city park.

Do not forget data protection

Beyond aviation law, the General Data Protection Regulation applies. Footage in which people are identifiable may not be published without further consideration, and filming other people's property can violate personality rights - regardless of whether you are flying at a legal altitude. Purely private footage that is never published enjoys more leeway, but not unlimited freedom.

Find the right model

Under 250 grams you skip the licence; above it you gain sensor size and flight time. Our buying guide sorts the models.

To the buying guide Drones under 250 g Camera drones