Drone regulations in Spain

Flying Drones in Spain

In this article, we have summarized for you the drone laws in Spain.

Due to its unique culture and fascinating landscape, Spain is a popular travel destination for many. And rightly so! The southern European country has the most diverse drone motives from beaches to mountains, lakes, forests, cliffs and volcanoes.

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

Overview of the European rules that apply in Spain

In Spain, 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 Spain

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

Is drone insurance mandatory? Not mandatory in the Open Category, necessary in the Specific Category. Learn more about drone insurance here.
Minimum age for remote pilots16 years
Contact information

AESA: [email protected]

Further rules for drone pilots in Spain

If you want to obtain a drone license in Spain, you can find information about the Open Category here and the Specific Category here. Permits and licenses already issued (certificado básico, avanzado, práctico) according to Ley 18/2014 and Real Decreto 1036/2017 remain valid until January 1, 2022.

We have researched the listed drone regulations for Spain 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 Spain!

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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!

Discussions

  • Rupert | 31.03.2018

    Hello! Did you travel to ibiza with your drone? Hoping to get some advice how to travel from London to Spain with my DJI Phantom 3 ? Thanks so much

    Rupert

  • Cian power | 26.04.2018

    Hi, i plan on taking a holiday to marbella this year and would like to bring my mavic pro along for the journey, however i am worried about getting the drone confiscated while going through airports. Any advice on how i could prevent this would be much appreciated
    Cian

    • Miguel | 01.08.2018

      Never had any problem in security. Always had the drone in carry-on.

  • Slava | 05.05.2018

    I flew from Amsterdam to Alicante. Dji mavic pro was in luggage and everything went well. Stop being afraid.

  • snikpoh | 29.05.2018

    I’ve been told I need a licence to fly a drone in Spain – is this correct (May 2018)

    • Rory McCarthy | 03.08.2018

      No you only need a licence for commercial drone use in Spain

  • Brett Clark | 06.06.2018

    If I am reading this correctly, you can’t even fly a Mavic Air (430g) over a building or people?

    • kolergy | 10.08.2018

      Whatever the country you are not supposed to fly over people or buildings, this is basic safety.

      • Brett | 07.09.2018

        Adventure video and Construction progress video always requires you fly over people or buildings. People pay money for this

  • Jan | 08.06.2018

    Hi Francis,
    thank you for the informative article, would you by any chance know what commercial license is needed for real estate? I am certified UAV pilot in Czech republic by UCL and am allowed to do commercial work here, however I was asked to photograph several villas around Benidorm.

    Any additional info is very appreciated.

  • Pedro | 29.07.2018

    Jan, you need AESA license for real estate.

  • Sergei | 17.08.2018

    Hi Francis,
    thank you for the article!
    We are going to travel from Genona to Barcelona along South of France. I examined some legislation in Europe, so there is no chance to use drone in towns. So we can use drone in the countryside and make pictures of fields and so on. A what about your recent expirience?

  • Terry | 06.09.2018

    Hi Francis
    I am going to ibiza on Monday 10th phoned airport and they told me I had to put it in the hole and I am concerned my last message mavic pro will get damaged ?

  • KC | 12.09.2018

    Hi am going to bring my DJI spark drone to Ibiza this 17 Sept. should not be an issue right?

    • Francis Markert | 26.10.2018

      Right 🙂

  • Sharon | 24.09.2018

    Does anyone offer a photography service for property sales in the canary islands and what pitfalls would you for see. Any advice please?

    • Arvid Berg | 26.10.2018

      Well, some do, including me, but it is a market where brokers usually takes their own iPhone pictures for you know 1M€ properties and thinks that’s OK.

  • Mike D | 02.01.2019

    Great post, very informative. I am traveling to Tenerife in a few weeks and taking my Spark , I’m guessing i will be ok to fly there using common sence.

    • Francis Markert | 07.01.2019

      Let us know what experiences you have in Spain!

  • Tom | 17.01.2019

    I’ve read somewhere that if you fly a drone in Spain, you need to put a fireproof label on it with some owner data, is that true?

  • Harold | 13.02.2019

    Hello, I am going to Begur in Spain this summer. I can not find anywhere whether you can fly here. Do you know this?

    In addition, you can not be above the beach, can you be on the beach if you are flying above the sea?

  • JMS | 16.02.2019

    Hi. I am going to Costa Blanca and wants to make some movies in the nature. Do you know where I can find a map for legal flying, and nature parks with restrictions / forbidden flying ? We have some salty lakes often with flamingos and I dont know if they er nature park, or if it is legal to fly in the area.

    • Joris | 24.03.2019

      https://drones.enaire.es/
      I haven’t found this link on any English site yet, but thankfully a friendly lady at a visitor information centre helped me out. Hope it helps you all!

  • Peter | 06.05.2019

    Hi, Can i use My Dji Spark in central of Barcelona? Near la sagrada familie and barcelonetta Beach?

    • Joris | 09.05.2019

      The rules above state: “A distance of 150 meters must be maintained to buildings. To persons who are not involved in the flight, maneuver must be kept at a distance of 50 meters.”
      The Sagrada Familia is a building. Both places have lots of visitors, who you should classify as persons who are not involved in the flight. I’ll leave the conclusion to you.

  • Hassan | 07.02.2020

    Hi
    Is there any rouels about drone fishing in Costa del Sol?

  • Steve | 26.03.2023

    I can’t thank you enough for the help your page gave me to register my drone in Spain, I had a digital certificate which made things easier, thank you so much. Now I have my UAS operator’s registration is there anything else I need besides public liability insurance?

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