UK CAA rules
Do I need a drone licence?
There is no UK 'drone licence' as such: what you need is registration, and it turns on weight and camera, not on whether you fly for fun or for money. Under 100g nothing is compulsory; from 100g you need the free Flyer ID test; and from 100g with a camera you also need a paid Operator ID. Answer three questions to see your position.
Question 1
How much does your drone weigh, in grams?
Take-off mass as you fly it: battery, camera and any accessories included. The figure is on the box or the maker's spec page.
Email me this result
We will send you these figures and a link back to them. One email, nothing else unless you tick the box.
What this checks
- Operator ID and Flyer ID registration under UK CAA rules
- The 100g Flyer ID threshold and the camera test for the Operator ID
- Open category flying: A1 (Over People), A2 (Near People) and A3 (Far from People) distances
- UK class marks (UK0 to UK4), European C marks and legacy drones
- Airports and flight restriction zones (FRZs)
- Fun vs paid flying, and why it no longer changes the requirements
- Drones over 25kg and the Specific category
Drone Licence Checker is an independent information site operated by Ellul Solutions Ltd. It is not affiliated with the Civil Aviation Authority or any government body, and nothing here is legal advice. UK drone rules, fees and class mark transitions change frequently, confirm the current position on the CAA's own pages before flying.
UK drone registration and category requirements by drone
Last updated
What each class of drone requires under UK CAA rules, the same logic the checker applies. Registration turns on weight and camera; where you may fly turns on class mark or weight; flying for payment changes neither.
Taken from the CAA's Open category guidance at caa.co.uk/drones, specifically the registration requirements, class marks and where-you-can-fly pages, all read on 15 August 2026. Fees and class mark transition dates are quoted as the CAA published them on that date.
| Your drone | Flyer ID | Operator ID | Where you can fly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 100g | Recommended, not required | Optional | A1 by weight: over uninvolved people but never crowds, in sight, below 120m |
| 100g to under 250g, no camera (UK0 without a camera) | Required | Optional | A1: residential and built-up areas allowed, never over crowds |
| 100g to under 250g with a camera (UK0 with a camera) | Required | Required, £12.34/yr | A1: residential and built-up areas allowed, never over crowds |
| 250g to under 25kg (UK1 to UK4) | Required | Required, £12.34/yr | UK0/UK1 in A1; UK2 in A2 with an A2 CofC, otherwise A3; UK3/UK4 in A3 |
| 250g to under 2kg with no class mark (legacy) | Required | Required if it has a camera | A2 with an A2 CofC, keeping 50m from uninvolved people; otherwise A3 |
| Any drone near an airport / in an FRZ | As per weight | As per weight | Only with permission from the aerodrome's air traffic unit |
| 25kg and over, or UK5/UK6/C5/C6 | Required | Required | Specific category only, under a CAA operational authorisation |
- A UK Flyer ID is required from 100g, not 250g: below 100g the CAA only recommends it. The Operator ID is required from 100g where the drone has a camera, and for every drone of 250g or more.
- The UK Operator ID costs £12.34 a year and needs the holder to be 18 or over; the Flyer ID theory test is free and lasts five years.
- In the Far from People (A3) subcategory a UK drone must stay at least 50m from uninvolved people, 150m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas, and 50m from individual buildings.
- Any new model of drone placed on the UK market from 1 January 2026 must carry a UK class mark; European C class marks may be flown as the equivalent UK class until 31 December 2027.
Cite this page
“UK drone registration and category requirements by drone”, Drone Licence Checker, https://dronelicencechecker.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-15). Taken from the CAA's Open category guidance at caa.co.uk/drones, specifically the registration requirements, class marks and where-you-can-fly pages, all read on 15 August 2026. Fees and class mark transition dates are quoted as the CAA published them on that date.
Need a qualification, or just a straight answer?
Tell us what you fly and where, and we'll introduce you to a CAA-recognised drone training provider for the A2 CofC or GVC, or point you at the right rule.
The questions we get
Do I need a licence to fly a drone in the UK?
There is no UK drone licence as such. You need a Flyer ID, a free theory test, for any drone of 100g or more, and an Operator ID (£12.34 a year) for any drone of 250g or more, or of 100g or more with a camera. Paid flying does not change the requirements.
Does a drone under 250g need to be registered?
From 100g to under 250g the Flyer ID is required. The Operator ID is required as well if the drone has a camera, and optional if it does not. Below 100g the Flyer ID is only recommended and the Operator ID is optional.
How much does drone registration cost?
The Operator ID costs £12.34 and lasts one year; you must be 18 or over to hold one. The Flyer ID theory test is free, lasts five years, and one Operator ID covers all your drones.
Is commercial drone flying different from hobby flying?
Not for registration or category. Since 2020 UK rules turn on weight, class mark and where you fly, not payment. One real difference: if you fly commercially you must have third party insurance, whereas recreational flyers may choose.
Where can't I fly a drone?
Never in restricted airspace, including an airport's flight restriction zone, without permission; never above 120m (400ft); never over crowds; and always within direct visual line of sight. Check an airspace app such as NATS Drone Assist before every flight.
What happens if I fly unregistered?
The CAA states plainly that it is against the law to fly without the required IDs, that you can be fined for breaking the law when flying, and that in the most serious cases you could be sent to prison. We do not quote a fine figure because the CAA does not publish one.
What is a UK class mark?
A label (UK0 to UK6) showing which standards the aircraft meets. Any new model placed on the UK market from 1 January 2026 must carry one, and it decides which Open subcategory the drone may fly in. Older drones use their European C mark until 31 December 2027, or their weight.
Sources
- CAA, registering to fly drones and model aircraft (ID requirements by weight)
- CAA, get an Operator ID (fee and age)
- CAA, get a Flyer ID
- CAA, where you can fly (A1 and A3 rules and distances)
- CAA, class marks
- CAA, introduction to more advanced flying (A2 rules)
- CAA, the Drone and Model Aircraft Code
- NATS Drone Assist (airspace restrictions map)
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