Drone regulations in Greece

Last update on 29.08.2023 | 53 Kommentare

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

The EU Drone Regulation has been in force in Greece since December 31, 2020. This has largely harmonized the rules for remote pilots. You only have to register as an operator in one European country and your EU drone license is also recognized across countries.

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

Overview of the European rules that apply 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 peculiarities in Greece

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

Further requirements in Greece

You have to have insurance for your drone in Greece if you use it for business purposes and also for personal purposes if it weighs 4 kg or more. You will find liability insurances that are also valid in Greece here. If possible, you should also take a translated version of the proof of insurance with you to Greece. This can considerably simplify entry or an inspection.

Although EU rules apply in many countries, sometimes there are additional requirements you must meet. For example, in Greece, you have to apply for a permit if you want to use the airspace. This document details the application process if you are a Non-EU or a EU Resident.

You must fill out this form if all of the following 4 conditions apply:

1. You do not have a Greek tax number, i.e. you are in Greece as a visitor.
   
2. You plan to fly your drone in a free flight zone. Free flight zones are completely unrestricted areas, i.e. free from civil, military, security, archaeological and other restrictions. You can view these through the DRONE AWARE GR application.
   Note: HCAA does not approve flight requests in restricted areas.
   
3. The purpose of your flight is for recreational purposes, such as sightseeing or personal photography/videography, and is not for profit.
   Y
4. ou want to fly higher than 160 feet AGL (above ground level) or more than 50 meters away from you.
   Note: If you only want to fly your drone a maximum of 50 feet in any direction, you do not need a permit!

If you meet all the requirements, fill out the form and send it to [email protected] and [email protected]. You will usually receive a response with the permit within a short time.

Safety distances and flight bans

A distance of 8 kilometers must be maintained from airports. This means that you are not allowed to fly on almost any Greek island that has an airport, because many islands are quite small. Exceptions are possible with the written permission of the Greek aviation authority.

Flight bans apply over military installations, hospitals, prisons, and other government facilities. Furthermore, you are not allowed to operate a drone over people, populated areas, parking lots, and roads. No-fly zones can be determined with the free application Drone Aware – GR.

The owners of land (this also applies to hotels) must agree to a take-off on their property. Personal rights must be respected. Flights in nature reserves are only possible with prior permission. For flights over archaeological sites and archaeological sites, permission must be obtained from the Ministry of Culture. Please note that the Greeks are very strict here!

Good to know

You should definitely follow Greek regulations. In almost every city or area in Greece, there is said to be a police squadron of trained birds of prey who are specialized in bringing drones down from the sky. Apparently, this is supposed to be a counter-terrorism operation, but you never know.

We have researched the listed drone regulations for Greece to the best of our knowledge. We can not guarantee the correctness of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, please contact the competent aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also ask the embassy in your country for further information about the regulations. Please leave us a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your copter in Greece!