Drone regulations in Greece

Verfasst von Francis Markert | Last update on 04.07.2025 | 53 Kommentare

In this article, you will learn what you need to know as a drone pilot in Greece.

Since December 31, 2020, the EU drone regulation has been in effect in Greece. As a result, the rules for remote pilots have been largely harmonized. You only need to register as an operator in one European country (usually the country where you live), and your EU drone license is recognized across borders.

If you want to register in Greece, you can do so via this link.

Overview of the European rules with effectiveness in Greece

In Greece, the regulations of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) apply. The following is a summary of the key facts. For a complete overview, read our article on the new EU drone regulation.

National specificities in Greece

Each country can define certain aspects of its drone regulations. For Greece, the following requirements apply in addition to the European regulations.

Additional Requirements in Greece

You must insure your drone in Greece if you use it for commercial purposes, and also for private purposes if it weighs 4 kg or more. Here you can find aviation liability insurances that are also valid in Greece. You should bring proof of insurance in a translated version to Greece if possible. This can significantly simplify entry or checks during inspections.

Important Specific Rule in Greece: Airspace Usage Permission

Even though EU rules apply in many countries, there are sometimes additional requirements you must meet. Until recently, it was necessary to apply for a permit in Greece if you wanted to use the airspace. Since autumn 2023, this is no longer required if you plan to fly your drone in a free-flying zone.

Free-flying zones are completely unrestricted areas, free of civil, military, safety, archaeological, and other restrictions. Restricted areas are marked in yellow on a map on the DRONE AWARE GR website.

If you want to fly your drone in one of the geographic flight zones, you must fill out this document. You will need coordinates and must submit screenshots of the operation areas. These can be determined using the DRONE AWARE GR application. A guide with further important instructions is available for download here.

Send all files and the completed form to the email address [email protected]. Your email must include the following statements:

I declare, that all flight activities will take place under the Open Category as prescribed in Articles 4 and 22 of (EU) 2019/947.

I declare I do not fly near or over “sensitive structures“. 

Your request will be reviewed and then forwarded step-by-step to multiple authorities for further approval. Due to the short processing window (see below), you should prepare and submit all documents carefully and completely. Otherwise, you might run out of time.

Usually, you receive a response within a short time.

Important tips based on our community’s experience:

• Requests for drone flight permits must be submitted no earlier than 2 weeks (on Monday) before the first flight day and no later than Friday of the planned flight week.
• A screenshot of the login area of the German Federal Aviation Office is also required, showing your name and operator ID (e-ID).
  IMPORTANT: The last 3 digits of the full e-ID are a security feature and must be blacked out before sharing the screenshot. This applies both in the top-right corner of the e-ID and in the green info box.
• Map screenshots should preferably be submitted in image format with a scale of 2 kilometers.
• Your requests are reviewed step-by-step by multiple authorities.

Safety Distances and No-Fly Zones

You must maintain a distance of 8 kilometers from airports. This means that on many Greek islands with airports, you cannot simply fly, as many islands are quite small. Exceptions are possible with written permission from the Greek aviation authority.

No-fly zones apply over military facilities, hospitals, prisons, and other state institutions. You are also not allowed to fly a drone over people, populated areas, parking lots, and roads. No-fly zones can be identified using the free Drone Aware – GR application.

Property owners (this also applies to hotels) must consent to takeoffs from their land. Personal rights must be respected. Flights in nature reserves are only permitted with prior approval. Flights over archaeological sites require permission from the Ministry of Culture. Important: Greeks are very strict about this!

Good to Know

You should strictly follow Greek regulations. In many areas of Greece, there are reportedly police units with trained birds of prey specialized in taking down drones. Apparently, this is intended for anti-terrorism purposes—but you never know.

The drone rules for Greece 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 Greek aviation authority. Alternatively, you can ask the Greek Embassy in Germany for more information. Please leave us a comment if you learn of any updates and/or have your own experience flying your drone in Greece!