Drone laws in the United Kingdom (2026)
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026
In short: The UK has its own drone rules, run by the CAA. Pilots need a Flyer ID; the person responsible for the drone needs an Operator ID (18+).
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Operator registrationRecreational flying (open category) | Operator ID required for drones of 250 g to under 25 kg (including UK1–UK4) and for drones of 100 g to under 250 g with a camera (including UK0 with a camera). Not needed for flying only indoors or in a closed netted area. Registrations from other countries are not recognised. [1] |
| Operator registration feeRecreational flying (open category) | £12.34 per year [2] |
| Minimum age to register as operatorRecreational flying (open category) | 18 years [2] |
| Pilot competencyRecreational flying (open category) | Flyer ID required for drones of 100 g or more: a free online theory test, valid for five years. Children under 13 take it with a parent or guardian. [2] |
| Liability insuranceRecreational flying (open category) | No [3] |
| Maximum heightRecreational flying (open category) | 120 m [3] |
| Remote IDRecreational flying (open category) | Mandatory since 1 January 2026 for UK1, UK2 and UK3. From 1 January 2028 for UK0 and legacy or privately built drones of 100 g or more with a camera, and for UK4. [4] |
| EU class-marked dronesRecreational flying (open category) | Until 31 December 2027 an EU C-class drone can be flown as the matching UK class. From 1 January 2028 it counts as a legacy drone and follows the weight rules. [5] |
Notes
- Insurance is optional for recreation or sport. Commercial flying requires third-party insurance.
Sources
- UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA): Registering to fly drones and model aircraft (consulted October 8, 2026) · all sources
- UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA): Flyer IDs and Operator IDs (consulted October 8, 2026) · all sources
- UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA): Where you can fly (consulted October 8, 2026) · all sources
- UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA): Remote ID (RID) (consulted October 8, 2026) · all sources
- UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA): Class marks (consulted October 8, 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.