Drone regulations in Great Britain (United Kingdom)

Verfasst von Francis Markert | Last update on 16.01.2026 | 2 Kommentare

In this post, I’ll introduce you to the current regulations for flying drones in the United Kingdom.

Since 2019, there are two ways to register your drone in the UK.

First, there is the 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 at least 18 years old. Registration is possible online and costs £11.79. You can also register as an operator only, even 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.

You can also register as a flyer. Flyer registration is required if your drone weighs 100 grams or more. To receive your flyer ID, you must be at least 13 years old and pass an online test. The test is free and assesses your knowledge of the drone safety rules. It consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, of which you need to answer 30 correctly. You can repeat the test as many times as needed 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 100 grams and has no camera, you do not need either an operator ID or a flyer ID. The same exemption applies to toy drones.

You can also refer to the table below to check which ID is required in which case.

Overview: Drone rules in Great Britain

Additional regulations for flying drones in the UK

Drones must always be flown within visual line of sight in the UK. Flying at night is only permitted with prior authorization from the CAA. Flashing green lights are mandatory for night flights.

The permitted distance to airports is strictly regulated. The relevant control zones can be found on this page.

A distance of 50 meters must be maintained between your drone and people or buildings. In gatherings of people and built-up areas (settlements), a distance of 150 meters is required. Drones in the UK0/UK1 categories are allowed to fly closer than 50 meters to people and even over them.

New UK classification labels

As of January 1, 2026, all new drones on the UK market must carry UK classification labels (UK0 to UK6). However, EU C-class labels (C0-C6) will be accepted as equivalent until December 31, 2027. Legacy drones purchased before January 1, 2026, can continue to fly based on their weight.

Remote ID

The Remote ID transmits identification and location data during flight. As of January 1, 2026, a new rule applies: UK1, UK2, UK3, UK5, UK6 class drones must have Remote ID enabled!

From January 1, 2028:

• Legacy drones without classification but with a camera must have Remote ID
• All drones with a camera weighing 100g or more must have Remote ID enabled

Commercial drone use

If you want to use your drone commercially in the UK, you need to apply for permission. For simple maneuvers, a Standard Permission is sufficient, which you can apply for online. For more complex operations or special permits, there is form SRG 1320.

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 with no power limit using digital radio; 5.8 GHz in the 5.725 to 5.875 MHz range
• Insurance is mandatory for private flights only if the drone has a take-off weight of 20 kilograms or more. For general drone insurance, visit this page.

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. To be on the safe side, please contact the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Alternatively, you can also inquire at the British embassy in your home country for more information on the regulations. Leave us a comment if you hear any updates or have experience flying your drone in the UK!