Drone regulations in Ireland

Last update on 25.04.2021 | 11 Kommentare

Flying drones in Ireland

In this article, we have compiled for you the Irish rules for the use of drones.

The EU Drone Regulation has been in force in Ireland 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 Ireland, you can do so via this link.

Overview of the European rules that apply in Ireland

In Ireland, 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.

Is registration necessary? Registration is mandatory for all drone operators, unless the drone weighs less than 250 grams and is NOT equipped with sensors to collect personal data (e.g. camera, microphone). Drones that fall under the EU Toys Directive are also exempt. The registration is recognized in all countries that have also introduced the EU Drone Regulation.
LabelsAll drones must be visibly marked with the individual registration number (e-ID). If available, the number must also be loaded into the drones remote identification system. More info on drone badges
Drone licence:Depending on the category, pilots must take exams to obtain the EU drone licence. These are recognised in all countries that have also introduced the EU Drone Regulation.
Differentiation by category: Open Category (with three subcategories), Specific Category and Certified Category; no distinction between private and commercial pilots.
Maximum Altitude:120 Meter in uncontrolled airspace in Open Category.
Keep distance to airports
Respect the privacy of other people

National peculiarities in Ireland

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

Is drone insurance mandatory? No. Learn more about drone insurance here.
Minimum age for remote pilots16 years
Resources:IAA: Rules and forms

What else you should know

Many functions are combined in the MySRS portal. You can also complete the training for drone licenses there. You can get the certificates for higher categories (e.g. A2) from flight schools, which are listed here. Older Irish licenses will no longer be recognized.

Drones are allowed to approach an Irish airport up to 5 kilometers.

Drones are not allowed to be operated at national monuments.

We have researched the listed drone regulations for Ireland 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 Ireland!

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About the author

Since January 2015, we travel around the world. In our backpack we carry a camera drone which we use to capture the best places from a bird’s perspective. First we travelled with a DJI Phantom 2. But now we use several drones like the DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ or the DJI Mini 3 Pro. On our blog we share the best tips for you about travelling with a drone. If you have questions about this article or new information, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment!

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Discussions

  • Rich | 13.04.2018

    I’m planning a vacation to Ireland and would like to take my drone. But given the restrictions I’ve read I’m not sure it’s worth taking it. What do you recommend. My drone is a mavic air.

    Reply
    • Francis Markert | 29.06.2018

      I would give it a try.

      Reply
  • Paul | 14.04.2018

    Hi,

    I’m also planning to bring my DJI Spark Ireland and flying with Aerlingus. Is Sparks more easy about the rules and regulation? Do you have any more tips what should I do?

    Thanks,
    Paul.

    Reply
    • Francis Markert | 29.06.2018

      HI Paul, no, there are no significant differences. Enjoy your time!

      Reply
  • Zed | 07.06.2019

    Hi Francis, I’m planning to carry my Spark with me to Ireland, for personal use. Is there any risk of carrying the spark without a registry to pass through security in the airport when arriving in Ireland? Is it allowed or they can retain the drone in security?
    Thanks.
    Zed

    Reply
  • Fergal | 01.02.2021

    Why are you promoting scam sites within your information. The label ordering site you have links to is a scam site, they are offering to register people for 5 times the actual charge. Please remove this.
    If people need to register a drone in europe they have to do it through their local aviation regulator. This is the IAA in the case of Ireland (https://www.iaa.ie/general-aviation/drones/drone-registration).

    Reply
    • Drone Traveller Team | 05.02.2021

      Hi,
      Thank you for your concern! We know the guys who own this site and are in touch with them. We have linked to them mainly because of their drone labels and you may have noticed that the registration service is not available anyway. We wouldn’t call this kind of service a scam because we know of many people who are happy to pay someone to do it for them. Apart from that, we are also working on updating our articles about the rules in the EU countries and will include links to the official drone registration platforms in each country soon, stay tuned!

      Reply
  • rogerio | 06.03.2021

    I am baying the DJI mini 2 I have to register as well? they had 249g

    Reply
    • Drone Traveller Team | 13.03.2021

      Hi,
      Yes, the Mini 2 has a camera so it has to be registered according to the new EU rules, regardless of weight.

      Reply
  • Maurice | 17.04.2021

    Hi I am buying the djibmini 2
    I know I have to register it but is that it do I need to any courses
    And if I want to do some work like inspections or shoot some property fo I need to do courses do go this work thank you

    Reply
    • Drone Traveller Team | 25.04.2021

      Hi Maurice, the requirements for you as a pilot depend on the area where you want to fly. If you stay within the rules of the Open Category, you have fewer restrictions. But we can’t give you a general answer to all of the possible flight scenarios you may be encountering during your inspection works. There are things to consider when flying over residential properties so it might be a good idea to check with your local administration to avoid any problems.

      Reply

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