Drone regulations in Ireland
Verfasst von Francis Markert | Last update on 01.04.2026 | 11 Kommentare
In this article, we have compiled the Irish rules for using drones for you.
Since December 31, 2020, the EU drone regulation has been in force in Ireland. As a result, the rules for remote pilots have largely been harmonized. This means you only need to register as an operator in one European country (in most cases, the country where you live), and your EU drone license will also be recognized across countries.
If you would like to register in Ireland, you can do so via this link. Registration costs approximately €40 and is valid for 2 years.
Overview of the European rules with effectiveness 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.
National specificities in Ireland
Each country can define certain aspects of its drone regulations. For Ireland, the following requirements apply in addition to the European regulations.
What else you need to know
The MySRS portal combines many functions. You can also complete training for drone licenses there. However, certificates for higher categories (e.g., A2) are obtained through flight schools listed here. Older, existing Irish licenses are no longer recognized.
Drones may approach an Irish airport to a maximum distance of 5 kilometers. Maintain a distance of 30 meters from uninvolved persons, vehicles, vessels, and buildings.
Drone flights are only permitted within visual line of sight. Additionally, the horizontal distance between the pilot and the drone must never exceed 300 meters.
In Irish national parks, you need a separate permit from the NPWS (National Parks and Wildlife Service) for drone flights. Some parks completely prohibit drones during the breeding season.
Drones may not be operated at OPW (Office of Public Works) heritage sites. These include national monuments, hundreds of heritage sites, historic castles, monasteries, and more.
The drone regulations for Ireland 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 Irish Aviation Authority. Alternatively, you can also contact the Irish embassy in your home country for further information on the regulations. Please leave us a comment if you learn of any updates and/or have your own experience flying a drone in Ireland!
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.
I would give it a try.
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.
HI Paul, no, there are no significant differences. Enjoy your time!
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
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).
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!
I am baying the DJI mini 2 I have to register as well? they had 249g
Hi,
Yes, the Mini 2 has a camera so it has to be registered according to the new EU rules, regardless of weight.
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
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.