Drone law across Europe

Traveling with a drone across Europe has become much easier in recent years, but local drone regulations can still vary significantly between countries, regions and protected areas. Even though many European countries now operate under common EASA rules, local restrictions, no-fly zones, national park regulations and registration requirements may still differ depending on the destination.

For landscape and travel photographers, checking drone regulations before departure is just as important as preparing camera equipment or planning locations. Some areas allow recreational drone flights with relatively simple rules, while others require registration, insurance, online certification or special permissions. Restrictions may also apply near cities, airports, coastlines, nature reserves and historical sites.

This guide collects useful sources of information about drone regulations across Europe, including official aviation authorities, airspace maps and local resources that help photographers and drone operators fly legally and safely while traveling.

Notice: drone rules and regulations, zone od flight resrticitons, requirements for insurance and other details are prone to change. Treat the following table as a rough guide and always check with local authorities before flying your UAV.

Country	Drone regulator / authority	Official flight-zone website	Mobile app / flight check-in	Drone insurance requirement
Austria	Austro Control / Dronespace	Dronespace map	Austro Control Dronespace app: quick-check, flight plan and clearance/approval functions.	Liability insurance required for drone operation.
Belgium	Belgian CAA / BCAA-DGTA	Droneguide / skeyes	Droneguide for zones; DAA Planner / DAA Fly for planning and tactical authorisations in skeyes zones.	Liability insurance is generally treated as required; verify current BCAA wording before flying.
Bulgaria	DG CAA Bulgaria	Official geo-zone information	No official universal mobile check-in app confirmed.	EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg; national rules for lighter drones should be checked.
Croatia	Croatian Civil Aviation Agency	Official geo-zone information	Web/portal processes; aerial imaging permissions may be a separate Croatian requirement.	Verify with CCAA. EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg.
Cyprus	Cyprus Department of Civil Aviation	Official geo-zone information	No official universal mobile check-in app confirmed.	Likely required beyond EASA baseline; verify on the DCA Cyprus portal.
Czechia	Civil Aviation Authority Czechia / ÚCL	Official geo-zone information	Official map/web tools are available; no universal check-in app confirmed.	Often reported as not required for Open A1, but required for A2/A3 and Specific. Verify with ÚCL.
Denmark	Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority	Official geo-zone information	Danish drone airspace web/app tools exist; no universal check-in confirmed.	Often treated as mandatory; verify national wording.
Estonia	Estonian Transport Administration	Official geo-zone information	No official universal mobile check-in app confirmed.	EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg; national rules for lighter drones should be checked.
Finland	Traficom	Official geo-zone information	Droneinfo / map services; no universal check-in confirmed.	EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg; national rules for lighter drones should be checked.
France	DGAC / AlphaTango	Géoportail UAS restrictions	Géoportail for zones; AlphaTango for registration, training and administrative processes.	Check insurance status before flying. Insurance is essential for professional work and may depend on operation type.
Germany	Luftfahrt-Bundesamt / LBA	dipul Map Tool	dipul web map; applications via dipul services.	Mandatory liability insurance for drone operators; proof should be available during operation.
Greece	Hellenic CAA	EASA marks “where to fly” information as not fully supplied / TBD.	No official universal mobile check-in app confirmed.	EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg; national rules for lighter drones should be checked.
Hungary	Hungarian aviation authority	Official geo-zone information	MyDroneSpace-style tools are commonly used; verify the current official app requirement before flight.	Often reported as mandatory above 250 g; verify national rule.
Iceland	Icelandic Transport Authority / ICETRA	Official geo-zone information	No official universal check-in app confirmed.	Often reported as required for commercial use; EASA baseline mandatory above 20 kg.
Ireland	Irish Aviation Authority	Official geo-zone information	IAA web systems; no universal check-in confirmed.	EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg; national rules for lighter drones should be checked.
Italy	ENAC	D-Flight	D-Flight web/app ecosystem for maps, registration/QR and operational checks.	Adequate insurance required before flying.
Latvia	CAA Latvia	Official geo-zone information	No official universal check-in app confirmed.	Often reported as mandatory above 250 g; verify with CAA Latvia.
Liechtenstein	Liechtenstein aviation authority	Official geo-zone information	Uses Swiss/Liechtenstein geo-zone data in practice; no universal check-in confirmed.	Verify locally. Switzerland requires insurance from 250 g, but do not assume identical wording for Liechtenstein without checking.
Lithuania	Transport Competence Agency / TKA	Official geo-zone information	No official universal check-in app confirmed.	EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg; national rules for lighter drones should be checked.
Luxembourg	Direction de l’Aviation Civile	Official geo-zone information	No official universal check-in app confirmed.	Often reported as mandatory; verify with DAC.
Malta	Transport Malta Civil Aviation Directorate	Official geo-zone information	No official universal check-in app confirmed.	Often reported as mandatory; verify with Transport Malta.
Netherlands	ILT / Dutch aviation authorities	GoDrone / official map	GoDrone app and website: map, planning/tracking and CTR mission requests.	Verify before flight. EASA baseline mandatory above 20 kg; commercial/specific operations may need cover.
Norway	Civil Aviation Authority Norway	Official geo-zone information	Digital drone planning tools exist; no universal check-in confirmed.	Often reported as mandatory; verify with Luftfartstilsynet.
Poland	Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego / ULC	DroneMap / PANSA	DroneTower is the official PANSA app for notifying flights/check-in.	From 13 November 2025, mandatory OC for drones from 250 g to 20 kg; above 20 kg already covered by EC 785/2004.
Portugal	ANAC Portugal	Official geo-zone information	Web permission systems; no universal mobile check-in confirmed.	Often reported as weight-tiered above 900 g; verify with ANAC.
Romania	Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority	Official geo-zone information	No official universal check-in app confirmed.	EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg; national rules for lighter drones should be checked.
Slovakia	Dopravný úrad / Transport Authority	Official geo-zone information	No official universal check-in app confirmed.	EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg; national rules for lighter drones should be checked.
Slovenia	Civil Aviation Agency Slovenia	Official geo-zone information	Web/forms for some flight notifications; no universal app confirmed.	EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg; national rules for lighter drones should be checked.
Spain	AESA	ENAIRE Drones	ENAIRE Drones web/mobile app checks zones, alerts and NOTAM.	Civil-liability insurance is compulsory for each flight, recreational and professional.
Sweden	Swedish Transport Agency	Official geo-zone information	Web-based drone chart tools; no universal check-in confirmed.	EASA baseline: mandatory above 20 kg; national rules for lighter drones should be checked.
Switzerland	FOCA / BAZL / OFAC	map.geo.admin.ch UAS zones	Official federal web map; third-party Swiss Drone Map app exists, but geo.admin remains the official source.	Liability insurance required for drones of 250 g or more, minimum CHF 1 million.
United Kingdom	UK Civil Aviation Authority	CAA Drone Code / where you can fly	Apps exist, but use CAA/NATS/AIP as authority sources. No universal “check-in every flight” system like Poland.	Third-party insurance is mandatory for commercial/work use; recreational hobby use is generally optional unless other requirements apply.