From 1 January 2026 any new model of new drone and model aircraft placed on the market must now have a UK class mark, from UK0 class to UK6 class. If you got your drone or model aircraft before 1 January 2026, it's unlikely to have a UK class mark. You can still fly it, but you must follow the regulations based on the weight of your drone or model aircraft. If the drone has a C class mark on it, the manufacturer has declared that it meets the European class standards. A C class drone can be flown until 31 December 2027 as if it is the corresponding UK class. For example, you can fly a C0 class drone as if it is a UK0 class drone. From 01 January 2028, older drones weighing 100 grams or more that have a camera may require modification to remain legal to fly, as they must be equipped with Remote ID functionality.
The class mark determines what you can do with the drone and whether a Flyer ID and Operator ID are required.
The requirements are based on the weight or class of your drone or model aircraft. It is against the law to fly a drone or model aircraft without having the required IDs. You can also be fined for breaking the law when flying. In the most serious cases, you could be sent to prison. The person or organisation that is responsible for a drone or model aircraft must register to get an Operator ID. The Flyer ID is for the person flying the drone. The operator and flyer need not be the same person but often are. The operator ID is valid for 12 months, but flyer ID lasts for 5 years.
Drone users must take a theory test on the Civil Aviation Authority website to get a Flyer ID if their drone weighs over 100g. This requirement was previously set at 250g. An Operator ID may also be required. You must label every drone or model aircraft that requires an Operator ID. It is against the law not to do this.
Registration requirements for drones and model aircraft:
|
Weight of drone or model aircraft |
Class |
Flyer ID |
Operator ID |
|
250g to less than 25kg |
UK1, UK2, UK3, UK4 |
Required |
Required |
|
100g to less than 250g; with a camera |
UK0 with a camera |
Required |
Required |
|
100g to less than 250g; without a camera |
UK0 without a camera |
Required |
Optional |
|
Less than 100g |
Not applicable |
Recommended |
Optional |
There are specific rules for those under 18 or under 13 with these drone users also requiring a Flyer ID, but a parent or guardian must have an Operator ID. Whilst young people under 18 can fly and take their Flyer ID test on their own, children under 12 must be supervised by someone aged 16 or over to fly and children under 13 must have a parent or guardian with them when taking their online Flyer ID test.
There are three flight categories called Open, Specific and Certified.
Open category - Most drone use will be covered by the Open category, which is for what are considered low-risk flights. This category is split into three subcategories based on the weight or class of the drone and the distance it can be flown from people. The subcategories are A1, A2 and A3.
Open sub-category requirements and distances
|
Sub-category |
Weight or class of drone or model aircraft you can fly |
Distance from people and places |
|
Over People (A1) |
Less than 250g or C0 or UK0 or UK1 class. From 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2027, you can also fly a C1 class drone or model aircraft. |
You can fly closer to people than 50m, including people who are not involved in what you’re doing. You can fly over people, including people who are not involved in what you’re doing. |
|
Near People (A2) |
UK2 class. Until 31 December 2027, you can also fly a C2 class drone or model aircraft. Less than 2kg and not UK2 or C2 class. |
You must not fly within 30m of people unless they’re involved in what you are doing, or you fly in low speed mode. If you fly in low speed mode, you can reduce this distance to 5m from people. You must not fly over people who are not involved in what you're doing. You must not fly within 50m of uninvolved people. You must not fly over people who are not involved in what you're doing. |
|
Far from People (A3) |
UK2, UK3 or UK4 class. UAS that is privately built and less than 25kg. UAS that was placed on the market before 1 January 2026 and less than 25kg. Until 31 December 2027, you can also fly a C2, C3 or C4 class drone or model aircraft. |
You must not fly within 50m of uninvolved people. You must not fly over people who are not involved in what you're doing.
You must not fly within 150m of residential, recreational, commercial or industrial areas. |
The guidance summarises the key points of the Drone Code covering Open A1 and A3 categories. A Flyer ID allows you to fly in the Over People (A1) and Far from People (A3) sub-categories.
If you want to fly in the Near People (A2) sub-category, you must get the A2 Certificate of Competence.
This Drone Code does not cover flying C5/UK5 or C6/UK6 class drones or those weighing 25kg or more. You must get authorisation from the CAA if you want to do more advanced flying.
The Specific category - covers a wide range of flying activities (known as operations) that are more complex than allowed in the Open category. The Specific category is the next step for people who want to carry out anything other than basic flying. It can be used to carry out operations for work, for a hobby, or both. Flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) falls within this category and must never be undertaken without the necessary authorisation from the CAA.
The Certified category - is the highest-risk classification for drone operations, with standards equivalent to manned aviation. It covers complex activities like carrying passengers, large drones over crowds, or transporting dangerous goods.
There is a basic set of regulations for flying unmanned aircraft within the UK. Operating within these ensures a person remains in the 'Open Category', meaning that there is no need for an authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to fly. The basic requirements for flying in the Open Category are described below. All flying of drones must follow the Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which states that "an unmanned aircraft must always be flown in a safe manner, both with respect to other aircraft in the air and also to people and properties on the ground."
The person flying the drone must:
You can fly closer to people you are with you and are involved in what you are doing, such as friends, family or colleagues out flying with you.
You can also fly closer and over people if the drone is below 250g or UK0, UK1, C0 class. The same applies for C1 class drones until 31 December 2027. The Code also notes that the 50m minimum distance from people may need to be increased in poor weather, when flying at high speeds and at greater heights. It also states that "if you fly higher than 50m, you should keep the same distance horizontally. For example, keep 80m away if you fly at a height of 80m."
A crowd is any group of people who cannot move away quickly because of the number of other people around them.
As for proximity to people, drones below 250g, or UK0, UK1 can be flown in residential, recreational, commercial and industrial areas. The same applies for C1 class drones until 31 December 2027.
Restricted airspace means that you cannot fly in these places unless you've got permission from the relevant authority. These include around airports, critical infrastructure and military installations.
From 1 January 2026, you must add your Remote ID and switch on the Remote ID
function before flying. The system transmits the identity and location of the drone when in-flight and can be received by anyone using a Remote ID receiver. The CAA provides every operator with a Remote ID. Failure to comply with Remote ID requirements could result in prosecution.
Report any dangerous incidents, near misses or suspicious activity
The Drone codes states that if you witness or are involved in a serious incident or near miss involving a drone or model aircraft, you must report the incident to the Civil Aviation Authority. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can give your details. A serious incident includes anything that did, or could have, put any of the following in danger: people, property, buildings, equipment or aircraft. The CAA website has more guidance on what must be reported.
Trespass
Drone operators must be aware of their responsibilities regarding operations from private land and any requirements to obtain the appropriate permission before operating from a particular site. They must ensure that they observe the relevant trespass laws and do not unwittingly commit a trespass whilst conducting a flight. There may be restrictions at some Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Byelaws may also restrict where drones may be flown.
Privacy and data protection
Drone operators should be aware that the collection of images of identifiable individuals, even inadvertently, when using surveillance cameras mounted on an unmanned aircraft, may be subject to the General Data Protection Regulation. The Drone Code states that a person flying a drone should “make sure they can be clearly seen so people can see who is responsible for the drone. It states that the person should let people know before any recording or taking pictures begins and notes that “you must never fly over groups, crowds, or any people who are not with you”.
Liability Insurance
If you fly a drone or model aircraft that weighs less than 20kg for fun, recreation, sport, or as a hobby, you can choose whether or not to have insurance. If you fly for any other reason, you must have third party liability insurance. For example, you must have insurance if you get paid to take pictures or record video or carry out surveys; or use your drone for work, such as on a farm, park or estate. If your drone or model aircraft is 20kg or more, you must always have third party insurance, no matter what you use your aircraft for.
Police powers
The laws on flying drones are part of the Air Navigation Order 2016. The most important sections of the rules for drones are articles 265A to 265F, which are the rules on Drone Operators, Drone Pilots and Flight Categories.
The police have a wide range of powers to deal with drone misuse under part 3 of the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021. The police can make you land your drone; stop and search people or vehicles to find drones or drone equipment; confiscate and keep drones or drone equipment found during a search; require you to show registration details and other information (for both pilots and operators) and evidence of permission to fly where necessary (for example to fly near an aerodrome). They can also check a drone to understand which rules apply to it. Drone pilots could face fines for offences such as not having or displaying a flyer ID, not being able to provide proof of permissions and exemptions and, of course, for flying dangerously and/or in restricted locations. In serious cases they could face prosecution and imprisonment.