EU-wide drone regulation: Register as an operator
Last update on 24.08.2021 | 57 Kommentare

Since the end of 2020, most drone operators in Europe have to register due to the new EU regulation. In this article, you will find out all the important information that is known about the registration obligation so far.
There are two types of registration in Europe:
- Registration of the UAV operator
- Registration of the drone
Since only drones that fall into the Certified Category need to be registered, only the registration as a drone operator is relevant for most pilots.
Registration as a drone operator
Registration is required if you want to fly in the Open Category and your aircraft meets at least one of the two conditions:
- Drone weighs 250 grams or more or achieves kinetic energy of more than 80 joules when hitting a human being.
- Drone is equipped with a sensor to collect personal data (e.g. camera) and does not comply with the EU Toy Directive.
Therefore, all owners of a camera drone will have to register. In addition, registration is mandatory for pilots who want to fly a drone in the Specific category.
Where does one register as a drone operator?
For registration, each member state of the European Union must create an (online) platform in which operators can register. The platforms should enable the exchange of information within the EU.
You must register in the system of the country in which you have your residence. For legal entities (especially companies), the country with the main place of business is responsible for registration. Multiple registrations in different EU countries are not possible.
When registering, the following information must be provided:
Natural persons:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Mail address and telephone number
- Number of the insurance policy, if applicable. Here are our tips for drone insurance.
Legal entities:
- Name
- Identification number
- Address
- E-mail address and telephone number
- Number of the insurance policy, if applicable.
- Confirmation of sufficient competence level of the remote pilots
- Operating permits, LUC and acknowledgments of receipt for declarations in the Specific category
After completing your registration you will be assigned a unique registration number. This number must be affixed to all aircraft and loaded into a remote identification system, if available.
Registering a drone in the Certified category
Registration of the drone is only required if the drone is to be used in the Certified category. To register the drone, you must submit the following information to the authorities:
- Manufacturer and model name
- Serial number of the drone
- Name of the operator
- Address, telephone number, and e-mail address
After receiving the information, the competent authority then registers the certified drone.
You can find links to the registration platforms in our articles about drone laws in the countries.
Are there any questions left unanswered? Then write to us in the comments and we will try to help you as much as possible.
If I have obtained (after passing official exam) drone operator license in one EU country but my main place of business/ residence is now in another EU country, which country should I register as drone operator? Isn’t it automatically done already in the country of the authority that gave me the license? If I cannot register twice…, it is a bit confusing.
Hi Tobias,
Be aware that with the new EU-wide regulations, registration and license are two different things and are not done automatically. You only need to register once, online, usually in your country of residence. You do not have to take an exam for that. For certain types of drones and maneuvers, however, you will also need a qualification certificate. It is possible to take the exam to obtain such a certificate in a country you do not reside in.
Hi
Thank you for your helpful article.
I am a resident of Germany. Unfortunately I have been unable to find a website for drone operator registration. I came across the following website but it seems like this will be replaced: https://www.dfs.de/dfs_homepage/en/Drone%20flight/Rules%20and%20regulations/DFS%20drone%20app/
Would you happen to know where an operator in Germany can register?
Thanks in advance
Tanay
Hi Tanay,
you can find the German registration platform here: https://uas-registration.lba-openuav.de/#/registration/uasOperator
good morning , i have the UK A1/A3 Flyer ID registration and i like to know if this is valid in EU.
Hi Stefanos,
the new UK registration was supposed to be recognized by the other EU countries, but because of Brexit, it could take some time until this is 100 percent clear. There is an official website that will be updated with new info: https://info.caa.co.uk/uk-eu-transition/drones/ Until there is clarity, we recommend contacting the CAA of the country you want to fly your drone in just to be safe.
The Spanish registration system does not include British as a nationality in the drop down box. Old and bearded or Eel are in there but not British (or variants). I’m keen to use my drone when on holiday so I need to register my drone in Spain. I already have the CAA and EASA certification. Any thoughts?
Hi Kevin,
This is indeed peculiar and we can only speculate why this might be. We recommend asking the CAA directly.
Hi,
I am planing to visit Malta in August and I am planning to take a DJI Mini 2 which is less than 250g I have the UK A2 Certificate which allow to fly around almost everywhere. I know that due to Brexit, any registration is not valid in EU, I have looked the Civil Aviation in Malta however there is no or little nformation what to do if I want to take the drone. Could you please advise?
Hi Michael,
According to EASA, UK certificates are not yet recognized, see here: https://www.easa.europa.eu/the-agency/faqs/brexit#category-aircraft-operations
Malta may have a different approach, so to be 100 % sure, you could contact them directly at [email protected] An official answer could also help you in case someone asks for proof. Otherwise, you’d have to register in Malta and get a new A1/A3 certificate, which should be enough for the Mini 2. We have links to the registration and training platforms here: https://drone-traveller.com/drone-laws-malta/
I am Uk based and have a gvc and a2coc, I fly a mm2 and m2z. Is it a case of getting an operator id, or do I need to redo my a2coc and gvc for the eu
Hi Tony,
According to EASA, UK certificates are not yet recognized, see here: https://www.easa.europa.eu/the-agency/faqs/brexit#category-aircraft-operations
So you probably have to register and get a certificate again like other non-EU visitors. However, we recommend asking the country you want to travel to first in case they make exceptions.
Where is the link to register my drone open class for Italy
Hi Juan,
We have included the link to the Italian platform in our article on Italy: https://drone-traveller.com/drone-laws-italy/
A small note: According to the EU regulation, you do not register your drone but you register yourself as an operator.
Hi guys,
I live in Australia and am currently vising friends and family in the Netherlands but will be travelling around Europe. I need to pass the exam for A1/A3, but I cannot obtain a licence in the Netherlands because I must be registered as a resident. Would it be possible to register it in another EU country?
I am visiting the Netherlands from overseas, but it appears that you need to be a resident to register your drone and get a licence. This doesn’t see in line with what EASA’s directions. Should I register it in another EU country, and where would be best?
Hi Avdaga,
Normally, the rules state that foreign operators should register in the first EU country they visit. But if this is not possible, we can’t see why you shouldn’t be able to register in another country. We recommend using the registration platform of a country where you understand the language, that will make it easier. The license can also be obtained anywhere.
Hi.I registred my Mavic Mini as ir operator in uk and want travel trough Italy, now i see its not valid in Europe. Tried to find where to registred in Europe, but can not find where it is.So ,can i get my drone trough Italy aeroport with drone in my bag without problem?
Hi Vladislavs,
As we have written above, you will have to register in the first EU country you want to use your drone in. It seems like you want to travel to Italy so you can use the Italian registration platform called D-Flight: https://www.d-flight.it/web-app/
Please also have a look at our article on the drone rules in Italy which contains information specific to the country: https://drone-traveller.com/drone-laws-italy/
Hi , I’ve registered my drone and done the online test in the United Kingdom and was wanting to take my drone to kefilonia in Greece and was wondering if I need to anything extra or will my uk licence do.
Hi Geoff,
Due to Brexit, the UK certifications are not easily transferable and according to EASA, the recognition process has not yet started, see here: https://www.easa.europa.eu/the-agency/faqs/brexit#category-aircraft-operations
This means you will have to register again in an EU country (must be the first one you visit) and get an EU license for A1/A3 or A2 depending on your drone and the areas you want to fly in. You can take the test to get a license in any EU country and we recommend that you choose one where you understand the language as this will make it much easier.
Hi. I will be heading to Greece, Portugal and Italy, and would like to bring and fly my Mavic Air 2 in these countries.
Do you have the platforms for drone operator registration (for non-EU tourists) in these 3 countries?
Hi Danny,
You only have to register in the first country you visit, your registration will be valid in all of the other countries. We have included the links to the registration platforms in our respective country articles, see Greece for example here: https://drone-traveller.com/drone-laws-greece/
I am registered in Italy and I came to Portugal for vacation. (Mavic Air 2, with A2 certificate)
– Do I need some authorisation to be able to fly in Portugal, and where I have to request it?
Hi Artem,
Please see our article on the regulations in Portugal, where you will find information about getting permission to capture aerial images: https://drone-traveller.com/drone-laws-portugal/
Hello,
I will be traveling to Madeira Portugal from the US and would like to use my drone for vacation photos. Portugal appears to have a website for operator registration that is only accessible after having obtained a digital signature (CMD) authorized by the Portuguese Government. This appears to only be available through an in person application, which makes this very difficult. My understanding is this operator number is recognized by all EU member countries. Can this application be accessed through other EU countries where the process is easier?
Thanks
Hi,
It does seem like some countries haven’t provided an easy registration process for non-residents. Technically, the law says that you should register in the first country you visit but we don’t see why someone should get into trouble if they registered somewhere else – as long as it’s an EU country so that the registration is recognized in Portugal. It might be helpful to choose a country whose language you understand.
Hi, like to register my drone and for myself to fly My Mavic Air in EU countries in 2022. May I know which country have application in English. Thanks
Hi Jon,
We don’t have a list for all countries but English is the official language in Malta and Ireland.
Hey, I recently bought a dji mavic air drone and I live in Germany so where should I register for a license, and how much does it cost?
Hi Eva,
you may find the answers to all your questions here: https://drohnen-camp.de/drohnen-gesetze-in-deutschland/
Bought a drone under 250 grams with camera.l can’t seem to get a license online.
Hello,
My country Slovakia does not give out operator ID and it is not possible to register a drone or to obtain the drone license.
There are drone schools in Europe which give out an EU drone license but then you still do not have a drone operator ID and license plate for your drone.
Is there a way for me as a Slovak to get this because my country is being ignorant about this and ignores European laws? I would love to fly legally outside of Slovakia
Thank you in advance
Hi Matus,
I am sorry to hear that! Has the situation changed in the meanwhile? Unfortunately, I don’t see another option for you.
Hi, I have A1,A2,A3 Eu License and my drone is Mavic 2 pro.I’ll travel to Paris for holidays.Can i fly my drone or whole Paris is No FLy Zone?
Thanks
Hi Elias,
We wrote about Paris here: https://drone-traveller.com/drone-laws-france/
I am a UK National who is resident in Spain and I have been trying to obtain an Operator ID for several weeks here in the Canaries. I seem to have hit a brick wall! I have registered with the AESA and received an application and have submitted the application by using my local Ayunamiento but my application seems to have ‘died’, I have tried to call the AESA using the number stated on their website but I cannot get through, the call just fails, I have also sent several emails to the AESA published email addresses but have had no response. I am at a loss now as to what to do and I am becoming increasingly frustrated as I cannot legally fly my drone without a fireproof label on the drone and controller stating my Operator ID. I am thinking that I should carry my application and proof that it has been submitted to the AESA by my local Ayuntamiento with dates etc., would this be an acceptable thing to do as I cannot do anything further to acquire the Operator ID!
Hi Adrian,
Your experiences are unbelievable. Maybe you can try registering in another European country to get your operator ID.
Hi all, I am going to Spain on vacation and would like to register my mini 2 in the open category as an operator. The Spanish website AESA is very difficult to follow and also doesnt have my country of residence on it. How can I go about registering if I dont live in Europe? Any advice would be appreciated!
Hi Stephen,
you could try to register in another European country. It is not the intended way, but if the AESA doesn’t work, you can give it a try.
Hi,
I’ve been reading your guide and the UK still isn’t on the list to choose from, is there a work around for this?
Hi Aaron,
I am sorry for the inconvienience. Here you can find the article: https://drone-traveller.com/drone-laws-great-britain-united-kingdom/
can someone help me? where to register my drone in Germany?
Sure, here you find the link: https://drone-traveller.com/drone-laws-germany/
Hi Team,
I’m a resident of the Netherlands. I’m having hard time to find the links for courses and exams in English. Could you please share the links for the Netherlands? Much appreciation for the help, thanks!
Hi Team, could you please share the links for the license exam(in English) in Netherlands?
You find a link in the article above