From Pilots, For Pilots. That’s not a slogan for us. It’s the whole point.
I’m one of the UK lot from the ProDrone Enthusiast Alliance. Picture a worn flight jacket, a half-warm pint, and the kind of opinion you only get after you’ve watched a gimbal explode on landing.
Quick confession: the fastest way to “learn drone laws” is to break one by accident. I once unpacked a drone in arrivals like a proud idiot… and immediately discovered that “customs” is not a vibe, it’s a process.
This is the bar-napkin cheat sheet for the countries we ship to the most. It’s not legal advice. It’s the stuff that actually bites.
If you take one habit from this: check the official map/portal before every flight.
English (UK): United Kingdom (CAA) — 2026 made 100g a problem [+ Click to Expand]
Right. The UK changed the game from 1 January 2026.
UK: 100g is the new “you’re in the system, mate”.
100g threshold + Flyer ID / Operator ID
If your drone is 100g or more, you’re no longer “just messing about”. The CAA expects you to play along with IDs.
- Get your IDs via the CAA: Registering to fly (Flyer ID / Operator ID)
- Use the CAA’s plain-English rules doc: The Drone and Model Aircraft Code
Remote ID timeline
Remote ID is the UK’s version of “your drone has number plates now”.
Remote ID becomes mandatory from 1 January 2028 (unless exempt).
UK airspace checks (don’t trust your memory)
“I flew here last summer” is not a flight plan.
- CAA is the law. Apps are helpers. If you want a quick sanity check tool, Drone Assist exists: Drone Assist (Android)
My embarrassing UK moment
My embarrassing UK moment: I once weighed a drone on a kitchen scale that lied to me. I lost an hour to re-registering because my “99g” was actually “close enough for the CAA’s fine, thanks”. Buy a proper scale or accept your fate.
English (US): United States (FAA) — TRUST first, Remote ID second, ego last [+ Click to Expand]
America is brilliant until it isn’t. The rules are simple on paper and ruthless in practice.
US: no TRUST, no “recreational”. You’re just a bloke with a flying problem.
TRUST (Recreational UAS Safety Test)
If you fly for fun in the US, you need to pass TRUST and keep the proof. Yes, even if you “already know what you’re doing”.
- FAA official TRUST page: The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)
Remote ID
Remote ID is tied to registration requirements. If you’re required to register (or you did register), Remote ID compliance matters.
- FAA Remote ID overview: Remote Identification of Drones
Maps & “Where can I fly?”
Use an official source before you arm the motors.
- FAA B4UFLY info: B4UFLY
- FAA DroneZone registration entry point: How to Register Your Drone
My US “nearly” story
My US “nearly” story: I landed in Florida, charged batteries, and went hunting golden-hour shots. Then I remembered TRUST while I was literally unfolding props. Nothing like doing a safety test in a sweaty car park to really bond with a country.
EU & EASA: one framework, many local traps [+ Click to Expand]
EASA land is the closest thing drones get to “standardised”… and it still finds ways to ruin your day.
EASA: register once (in your first EASA country) and that operator registration is valid across EASA states.
- EASA official “Travelling with drones”: EASA: Travelling with drones
Geo-zones: the real fight
EASA gives the shared rulebook. Each country brings its own geo-zones, maps, portals, local habits, and “we interpret this differently” energy.
Always check the country’s official map/portal the day you fly.
Deutsch (Deutschland): Germany — insurance or get stuffed [+ Click to Expand]
Germany is gorgeous from the air. Germany also treats paperwork like a sport.
Germany: liability insurance is mandatory.
Mandatory insurance (no, your vibes don’t count as coverage)
- Official dipul info: dipul: Minimum age & mandatory insurance
- General dipul hub: dipul: General drone information
Geo-zones & local rules
Use dipul to check zones and requirements. Don’t freestyle it around towns, railways, and anything that looks important.
My German shame
My German shame: I once turned up with everything except proof of insurance. The bloke I was flying with didn’t shout. He just looked disappointed. That’s worse than shouting.
Français (France): France — AlphaTango + Geoportail or you’re guessing [+ Click to Expand]
France is stunning. France also has a strong “do the admin” personality.
France: AlphaTango is the paperwork gate.
AlphaTango portal
- Official AlphaTango page: AlphaTango (official)
Restricted zones map (Geoportail)
- Service-public tool entry (Geoportail restrictions): Géoportail: zones de restriction
My French “flip” story
My French “flip” story: I tried to grab a quiet sunrise shot near a pretty old building. A local jogger clocked the drone, then clocked me, then did the universal hand gesture for “nope”. I packed up like a disciplined child.
Nederlands (Nederland): Netherlands — register properly, check GoDrone, mind privacy [+ Click to Expand]
The Netherlands is organised. The rules are too. Keep up.
Netherlands: use RDW for operator stuff, and check the map before takeoff.
Operator number / pilot licensing (RDW)
- RDW official page: Applying for a pilot licence or operator number
Airspace map (GoDrone)
- GoDrone map: GoDrone
Camera + privacy
Don’t hover outside someone’s window like a seagull with a lens. You’ll earn the wrong kind of attention.
Español (España): Spain — AESA registration + ENAIRE Drones for zones [+ Click to Expand]
Spain is a dream for footage. Spain is also the land of “did you check the geo-zone?”
Spain: AESA handles registration, ENAIRE helps you not do something stupid.
Operator registration (AESA)
- AESA (official): UAS operator registration
Geo-zones / planning (ENAIRE)
- ENAIRE Drones (official page): ENAIRE Drones
- How ENAIRE handles controlled airspace procedures: How to fly drones in ENAIRE-controlled airspace
Italiano (Italia): Italy — D-Flight or you’re not even playing [+ Click to Expand]
Italy will make you fall in love with flying again. Then it’ll make you open a portal, fill forms, and question your life choices.
Italy: D-Flight is the centre of gravity for registration/maps.
D-Flight portal (maps + operator bits)
- D-Flight: D-Flight portal
Norsk / Suomi / Svenska / Dansk: Nordics (Norway / Finland / Sweden / Denmark) — lovely skies, serious maps [+ Click to Expand]
The Nordics are calm until they aren’t. Airports, nature reserves, and “quiet rules” catch visitors out.
Nordics: the map is mandatory reading.
Norge (Norway): Luftfartstilsynet + Avinor
- Luftfartstilsynet no-drone zones: No drone zones (Norway)
- Avinor drone map: Avinor drone map
Suomi (Finland): Droneinfo
- Droneinfo.fi: Droneinfo (Finland)
- Where flying is prohibited: Where is flying prohibited?
Sverige (Sweden): Transportstyrelsen + LFV Dronechart
- Transportstyrelsen drones hub: Drones – unmanned aircraft
- LFV Drönarkartan/Dronechart: LFV Dronechart
Danmark (Denmark): droneregler.dk geo-zones
- Danish geo-zones map: UAS geographical zones (Denmark)
Polski (Poland): Poland — PANSA tools, plus “check-in” culture [+ Click to Expand]
Poland has a very “tell the system what you’re doing” feel, and ignoring that is how you end up explaining yourself.
Poland: check zones, use the official tools, don’t wing it near airports.
Official authority + airspace tools
- ULC (Civil Aviation Authority): ULC Poland
- PANSA DroneMap: DroneMap PANSA
- PANSA UTM (DroneTower ecosystem): PansaUTM
- DroneTower info page: DroneTower (official info)
Čeština (Česko): Czechia — dron.caa.cz + DroneMap [+ Click to Expand]
Czechia is straightforward if you use the right portal. If you don’t, it’s guesswork dressed as confidence.
Czechia: start at dron.caa.cz and plan with DroneMap.
Registration & pilot/operator portals
- ÚCL drone portal: dron.caa.cz
- DroneMap (geo-zones planning): dronemap.gov.cz
Magyar (Magyarország): Hungary — MyDroneSpace is not optional energy [+ Click to Expand]
Hungary has a special talent: making “a quick little flight” become a whole administrative event.
Hungary: MyDroneSpace is the official tool you’ll get asked about.
MyDroneSpace (HungaroControl)
- MyDroneSpace: mydronespace.hu
Română (România): Romania — use AACR’s drone page, don’t trust random blogs [+ Click to Expand]
Romania is EASA land, but local guidance matters.
Romania: check AACR official info before you fly.
AACR (Romanian CAA) drone info
- AACR drone page: AACR: Drone
Български (България): Bulgaria — register via the official DG CAA portal [+ Click to Expand]
Bulgaria isn’t here for your “but I didn’t know”.
Bulgaria: use the DG CAA’s official registration link.
DG CAA UAS info + registration
- DG CAA UAS page (includes registration link): UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (DG CAA)
Ελληνικά (Ελλάδα): Greece — DAGR map is your best friend [+ Click to Expand]
Greece is cinematic. Greece also has areas where you’ll need approvals, and the line isn’t always obvious without the map.
Greece: check DAGR before every flight.
DAGR (Drone Aware Greece) airspace platform
- HCAA info page: Where you are allowed to fly a UAS in Greece
日本語 (日本): Japan — 100g registration, Remote ID reality, permits exist [+ Click to Expand]
Japan is polite, precise, and absolutely not the place for “I’ll just send it”.
Japan: 100g+ must be registered, and Remote ID is part of the world you’re entering.
Registration portal (MLIT)
- MLIT registration portal (English): Unmanned Aircraft Registration WebPortal
DIPS2.0 (procedures + permissions awareness)
- DIPS2.0 (English): Drone/UAS Information Platform System 2.0
Practical warning
Japan has controlled concepts around where/when/how you fly (built-up areas, night, events, etc.). If you’re doing anything beyond the boring basics, assume you need to read, apply, or both.
العربية (Gulf): UAE / Saudi — airports are easy, customs is the boss fight [+ Click to Expand]
The Gulf is where optimism goes to die at the “Nothing to declare” sign.
Gulf travel rule: check entry, clearance, and registration before you pack the drone.
UAE: registration + flight approvals
- UAE Drones official portal: drones.gov.ae
- GCAA UAS registration info: GCAA: UAS Registration
Saudi Arabia: GACA UAS portal (and yes, customs clearance is mentioned)
- GACA UAS portal: Unmanned Aircraft Registration (GACA)
My Gulf humiliation
My Gulf humiliation: I once thought “I’ll sort it on arrival” was a plan. It wasn’t. It was a comedy sketch starring me, a polite official, and a drone that suddenly belonged to “later”. Do the portal work first.
ProDrone Promise
We’re not here to sell you mystery-kit and wish you luck.
Our promise: we only push drones we’d fly ourselves — and we’ll tell you when a country’s rules make your plan a bad idea.
If you want something that’s actually worth owning (and easier to keep legal), browse the gear we’re happy to put our name on:
Got a trip coming up, a weird use case, or you’re not sure which rules apply?