Drone regulations in Great Britain (United Kingdom)

Verfasst von Francis Markert | Last update on 23.07.2025 | 2 Kommentare

In this post, I’d like to introduce you to the current regulations for operating drones in the United Kingdom.

Since 2019, there are two types of drone registration in the UK.

The first is registration as an operator. If your drone is equipped with a camera and you want to use it in the country, you must register as an operator. An operator is the person or company responsible for the drone. This person must be an adult (at least 18 years old). The registration is possible online and costs £11.79. You can also register as an operator only if you are not flying the drone yourself, for example, if the pilot is your underage child. The Operator ID is valid for one year and must be visibly attached to the drone. We therefore recommend attaching a drone label.

There is also the option to register as a flyer. Registration as a flyer is required if your drone weighs 250 grams or more. To obtain your Flyer ID, you must be at least 13 years old and pass an online test. This is free and tests your knowledge of the safety rules. It consists of 40 multiple choice questions, of which you must answer 30 correctly. You can retake the test as many times as necessary if you do not reach the 75% threshold on your first try. The Flyer ID is valid for five years.

If your drone weighs less than 250 grams and has no camera, you do not need an Operator ID or a Flyer ID. The same exemption applies to toy drones.

You can also check when you need which ID in the following table.

Overview: Drone rules in Great Britain

Additional requirements for drone operations in the UK

Drones in the UK must always be operated within the line of sight. Drone flights at night are only permitted with prior authorization from the CAA.

The permitted distance to airports is strictly regulated. It is based on the respective control zone, which you can find on this page.

You must maintain a distance of 50 meters between your drone and individual people or buildings. For crowds and built-up areas (settlements), a distance of 150 meters must be maintained.

Commercial drone use

To use your drone commercially in the UK, you must apply for a permit. For simple maneuvers, a Standard Permission is sufficient, which you can apply for online. For more complex operations and special permissions, there is the SRG 1320 form.

Good to know:

• While the rules described here apply to England, Scotland, and Wales, the Channel Islands have their own regulations.
• Frequency regulations: 2.4 GHz without power limitation with digital transmission; 5.8 GHz in the range from 5.725 to 5.875 MHz

The drone regulations for the United Kingdom listed here have been researched to the best of our knowledge. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, contact the British Civil Aviation Authority. Alternatively, you can also reach out to the British embassy in your home country for more information on the regulations. Please leave us a comment if you learn any updates and/or have your own experiences flying a drone in the UK!