Drone laws in Spain (2026)

Last reviewed: 9 October 2026

In short: Spain applies the EU drone rules, with its own rules in Royal Decree 517/2024. Operators register with AESA, and pilots of most drones need AESA's free online A1/A3 certificate.

RuleWhat applies
Operator registrationRecreational flying (open category)The operator (a person resident in Spain, or a company based there) registers with AESA and shows the operator number on the drone. Required if the drone weighs 250 g or more (or can transfer more than 80 joules to a person on impact), or has a sensor that can capture personal data, such as a camera or microphone, unless it is a toy under the EU Toys Directive. [1]
Pilot competencyRecreational flying (open category)Class C0, legacy drones under 250 g and privately built drones under 250 g (below 19 m/s): read the user's manual. Class C1, privately built drones of 250 g or more, legacy drones of 250 g or more, and class C2-C4 drones flown in A3: free online A1/A3 certificate from AESA. Class C2 drones flown in subcategory A2: A2 certificate, which requires the A1/A3 certificate first. [2]
Liability insuranceRecreational flying (open category); Drones of 20 kg or moreYes [3]
Liability insuranceRecreational flying (open category); Flights in subcategory A2 (under 20 kg)Yes [3]
Liability insuranceRecreational flying (open category); Flights in subcategory A1 or A3 (under 20 kg)No [3]
Minimum age to flyRecreational flying (open category)16 years [3]
Minimum age to register as operator16 years [3]
Maximum heightRecreational flying (open category)120 m [1]
Remote IDRecreational flying (open category)Required for drones with a C1, C2 or C3 class mark: they must have direct Remote ID, which broadcasts the operator registration number. [1]

Notes

  • The operator is the person or company that uses the drone. Operators resident in Spain register with AESA, and one operator can be registered in only one EU state. The number must be readable on the drone when it is on the ground.
  • The AESA A1/A3 and A2 certificates are valid for 5 years. The A1/A3 exam is free (40 questions, 75% to pass).
  • Royal Decree 517/2024 (art. 8) requires cover for flights in subcategory A2 and for drones of 20 kg or more, and exempts subcategories A1 and A3 under 20 kg. AESA's overview page 'Do you have a UAS/dron?' still says insurance is needed for every flight, so check with AESA if unsure.
  • Spain lowers the age in the open category. Age 12: subcategory A1 with a non-toy C0 drone or a legacy drone under 250 g. Age 14: A1 with a C1 drone, A2 or A3 with a C2 drone, A3 with a C3 or C4 drone, a privately built drone under 25 kg or a legacy drone under 25 kg. No minimum age for toy C0 drones, privately built drones under 250 g, or when supervised by a certified pilot aged 16 or older.
  • Measured from the nearest point of the ground. Geographical zones near airports, military sites and infrastructure can restrict or prohibit flights, so check the zone before flying.
  • AESA states that direct Remote ID applies to class-marked C1, C2 and C3 drones in the open category since 1 January 2024. Drones without a class mark, such as legacy drones, are not covered by this rule.

Sources

  1. Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea (AESA): Operations with UAS/Drones - Open category (subcategories A1, A2 and A3) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea (AESA): Training of UAS/drones pilots in the 'open' category (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  3. Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE): Real Decreto 517/2024, de 4 de junio, por el que se desarrolla el régimen jurídico para la utilización civil de sistemas de aeronaves no tripuladas (UAS) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.