UK Drone Laws, Licensing and Permits: 2026 Update

We are a UK drone services company specialising in construction, property and land surveying, not a training provider. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed drone laws rule changes that start on 1 January 2026. This page summarises the key areas to watch so clients and visitors understand what is changing and what remains under review. We are validating our existing guidance against the latest CAA material and will update this page in full before 1 January 2026.

What is changing from 1st January 2026

Remote ID becomes mandatory on a phased basis. You must have Remote ID enabled when you fly. The obligation applies from 1 January 2026 or 1 January 2028 depending on your aircraft’s class and where you fly. The CAA has dedicated guidance that explains which aircraft and categories are in scope.
UK class marks for new models. Any new drones placed on the UK market from 1 January 2026 must carry a UK class mark (UK0 to UK6). Older models without a UK class mark can still be flown by following the rules that apply to your aircraft.
A2 CofC terminology maps to Near People (A2). The A2 Certificate of Competency remains the route for flying in the Open category A2 context, which from 2026 is described as the Near People (A2) sub-category.
Transitional allowances. From 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2027, a C1 class drone may be flown in the Over People (A1) sub-category, subject to the published conditions.

Training and qualifications

We do not provide pilot training. For qualifications, the CAA recognises A2 CofC for Open category flying and a framework for the Specific category that includes the GVC and Remote Pilot Certificates. Training must be completed with a CAA-approved provider. The CAA maintains the provider directory and explains the qualification routes. Pricing and course schedules are set by those recognised providers and may be updated as the new framework beds in. We will add links and guidance here as the CAA and providers publish more detail.

Ongoing validation and next steps

We are currently checking our full Drone Laws UK content against the CAA’s Drone Code, Remote ID programme and Remote Pilot Qualifications pages. If the CAA issues clarifications, we will reflect them here so that clients and readers have a clear, up-to-date view before the changes take effect on 1 January 2026. For official updates as they are released, follow the CAA’s news and update feeds for drones.

If you are unsure of whether your flight will be legal always check the official CAA website for the most up to date guidance.

Read the Law on Drones Under 250g Here

Find Out More

Drone Laws UK 2025

Current Drone regulations in the UK in 2025 are based on the guiding principle that “UAS operating in the UK must meet at least the same safety and operational standards as manned aircraft when conducting the same type of operation in the same airspace (CAP 722 – Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace – Guidance)

While this seems a simple principle, most drones do not have the inbuilt safety factors of manned aircraft, and are generally not operated by highly trained pilots so, as drone use becomes increasingly popular, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have the unenviable task of creating a system of regulation which maintains the safety and security of the public while allowing the growth of an industry which requires the ability to scale operations at volume.

UAS operations in the UK are regulated under 2 separate frameworks –

The Air Navigation Order 2016 (as amended, within the framework of the Civil Aviation Act 1982)
The Basic Regulation – UK Regulation (EU) 2018/1139

These regulations come with guidance from the CAA in the form of CAP722 (Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace – Guidance). This guidance, however, can be a bit of read so we will use this page to explain as clearly as possible the requirements of operating your drone safely and legally in the UK in 2025.

We will be focussing on the regulations for drones between 250g and 25kg. If your drone weighs less than 250g (eg, the very impressive DJI Mini 5 Pro), then please read our post about the rules for these sub-250g drones

Drone Laws On Registration

All persons operating a UAV in the UK weighing between 250g and 25kg need to do these 2 things in order to fly legally (see under 250g drones post for info regarding smaller drones…. Operator ID is required for these drones but no requirement for a Flyer ID currently)

1) The person responsible for the UAV must register as an operator to get an Operator ID. At the time of writing, there is an £11.79 fee for this and you must be 18 or over to register for an Operator ID. If your child intends to fly a drone which requires an Operator ID then they must had someone over 18 apply for an Operator ID. Operator ID is valid for 12 months. In order to keep your Operator ID number at the end of 12 months you will need to renew prior to expiration or you will be allocated a new number (and have to change it on all your drones/paperwork)

2) Any person intending to fly a drone (even if it’s not yours) must pass an online theory test and get a Flyer ID. Anyone under the age of 13 is still required to get a Flyer ID but must have someone over 18 with them to take the test. Your Flyer ID is valid for 5 years.

Here is a link to the Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Service

The UK Drone Laws require that all of your drones must be labelled with your Operator ID Number (not your Flyer ID) and the label must be:

visible from the outside, or within a compartment that can easily be accessed without using a tool
clear and in block capitals taller than 3mm
secure and safe from damage
on the main body of the aircraft

You can download the most up-to-date drone code from the CAA.

Check Out the Latest Drone Code Here

Drone Code

Changes to UK Drone Laws 2025

Changes in January 2021 removed the requirements of a PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operations) placing the focus less on whether your operations are commercial/non-commercial and more on the risk involved. This is determined by the type of drone you are flying and where you intend to fly it.

The Permission for Commercial Operations was replaced by an Operation Authorisation (OA) which requires a CAA application and submission (and maintenance) of an Operations Manual in order to demonstrate how your drone operations will be carried out safely and with due regard to current legislation.

In order to apply for the new Operational Authorisation, the drone operator requires a General Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) Certificate (GVC).

The GVC allows pilots to fly drones up to 25kg in built up areas (sort of) and is largely aimed at drone pilots operating commercially, and is essential for operations in the Specific Category (more below)

There are now 3 categories of operations providing a framework related to the level of risk involved in the flight.

These categories are Open, Specific and Certified.

Open Category

Low-risk operations will not require any authorisation, but will be subject to strict operational limitations.

The Open Category is made up of 3 subcategories, determined by the type of flying you are intending to carry out and the drone you are using:

A1
Flying “over”people

A1 flights can only be conducted with drones with a MTOM of less than 250g. Flight overhead people (but not open-air assemblies) is allowed.

Drones with a MTOM of 500g or less may be flown in A1 under ‘Transitional’ rules, but may not be deliberately flown overhead people and the pilot must hold an A2 CofC.

A2
Flying “close to”people

Operations in subcategory A2 can only be conducted with C2 Class drone or a ‘legacy’ drone with a MTOM under 2kg. Remote Pilots must hold an A2 Certificate of Competency.

With a C2 drone flight may be within 30m of uninvolved people and 5m in slow flight mode. Legacy drones may fly within 50m of uninvolved people.

A3
Flying “far from” people

This category covers the more general types of unmanned aircraft operations, including model aircraft with a MTOM up to 25kg.

The intent is that the unmanned aircraft will only be flown in areas that are clear of uninvolved persons and will not be flown in areas that are used for residential, commercial, industrial or recreational purposes.

Drone Classifications To Come Into Effect in 2026

So, hopefully if the drone has been designed to meet the standards and compliant with the requirements of the new system then there should be a route open to classification for legacy drones……. we’ll update this as soon as we have any further clarification

Very small unmanned aircraft, including toys, that:

are less than 250g maximum take-off mass
have a maximum speed of 19m/s (approx. 42.5 mph)
are unable to be flown more than 120m (400ft) from the controlling device

Are either less than 900g maximum take-off mass, or are made and perform in a way that if they collide with a human head, the energy transmitted will be less than 80 Joules

have a maximum speed of 19m/s (approx. 42.5 mph)
designed and constructed so as to minimise injury to people

The standards also cover other aspects such as noise limits, height limits and requirements for remote identification and geoawareness systems.

Less than 4kg maximum take-off mass

Designed and constructed so as to minimise injury to people
Equipped with a low-speed mode’ which limits the maximum speed to 3m/s (approx. 6.7 mph) when selected by the remote pilot

The standards also cover other aspects such as noise limits (but different from C1), height limits and requirements for remote identification and geoawareness systems, plus additional requirements if it is to be used during tethered flight.

Drones that possess automatic control modes (such as found in typical multicopter ‘drones’) which are less than 25kg maximum take-off mass

The standards also cover other aspects covering height limits and requirements for remote identification and geoawareness systems. There are also additional requirements if it is to be used during tethered flight, but there is no specified noise limit (because the aircraft is intended to be flown ‘far from people’).

Drones that Unmanned aircraft that do not possess any automation, other than for basic flight stabilisation (and so are more representative of a ‘traditional’ model aircraft) which are less than 25kg maximum take-off mass

Until January 2026 if your drone doesn’t have a class marking, you may fly it in the following categories:

Drones under 250g are authorised to be flown in the sub category A1 (as well as A2 and A3)
Drones less than 2kg are authorised to be flown in the sub category A2 and A3, however you are required to maintain a 50 meters distance from people and are required to pass the A2 theory exam (A2 Certificate of Competency or ‘A2 CofC’).
Drones of MOTM (Maximum Take Off Mass) of 2kg or greater are only authorised to be flown in the A3 subcategory.

After 1 January 2026, ‘legacy’ unmarked drones are still authorised to fly in the following categories:

Privately built drones with a MTOM (Maximum Take Off Mass) of 250g are still authorised to be flown in the sub category A1.
All other drones are only authorised to be used in the sub category A3

The full requirements for flying in the Open category are shown in the CAA factsheet CAP2012.

How Does the EU Drone Classification Work ?

The EU have had drone classification in place for a while now and here are some examples of the classifications of current DJI drones:

Mini 4 Pro – Class C0
Air3S / Air3 – Class C1
Avata 2 – Class C1
Mavic 3 Classic – Class C1
Mavic 3 Enterprise / Thermal – Class C2
M4E /M4T – Class C2
Matrice 350 RTK – Class C3

It would make most sense for similar classifications for the same drones in the UK, so let’s see what happens….. we will keep you informed as changes occur!

UK Specific Operation Risk Assessment (UK SORA)

It is likely that you have heard that the CAA have introduced UK SORA as a methodology for risk quantification, with the intention of reducing the inherent subjectivity in assessing risk.

If you are an Operational Authorisation (OA) or Operational Safety Case (OSC) holder then you should definitely have heard about this as the CAA sent a letter in February 2025 explaining the new process… read about it here.

For drone operators operating under an Operational Authorisation based on PDRA01 (Pre Defined Risk Assesment 01) then there are currently no changes to your operating procedures and application process. This may change in March 2026, which is the next expected update by the CAA but for now, carry on as you were!

For Operational Safety Case (OSC) operation applications, the new methodology replaces CAP722A and allows the applicant to assess their risk mitigation strategy via an online calculator prior to making the decision to move forward with the full application.

If you are currently operating under an OSC, this is still valid until your renewal is due, at which point you will be required to apply using SORA methodology.

The SORA application takes into account Remote Pilot Competence and Airworthiness of the UAS you are intending to use (a new SAIL mark will be attributed to drones, determining it’s safety level…. SAIL means Specific Assurance and Integrity Level)

This is a big period of transition and the CAA are happy to support operators in navigating this new process so we will keep this updated as it becomes integral to operating your drone

Full Requirements for Flying in the Open Category

Drone Code

Specific Category

For medium-risk operations, operators will have to require an authorisation from the national aviation authority on the basis of a standardised risk assessment (PDRA – Pre-Defined Risk Assessment) or a specific scenario (Standard Scenario) STS. Pilots will require a GVC (General VLOS Certificate) to apply for operational authorisation (See Below for GVC details)

Certified Category

In the case of high-risk operations, classical aviation rules will apply. To ensure operational safety flights falling under the Certified category with require certification of the UAS, licensing of the pilot and to be carried out by an approved operator.

While these changes may cause some initial confusion for pilots used to the previous regulations, it means that drone pilots will be able to fly commercially with fewer restrictions based on the risk of the operation where the flights are of lower risk.

Make Sure Your Individual Flight Has The Correct Permissions

Once you have all of the above requirements in place, Each Individual Flight requires its Own Permissions:

Landowner – you must have the permission of the landowner in order to take – off and land on their property.

Local Authority – individual authorities often have specific requirements in order to carry out a flight within their jurisdiction. There may also be local bylaws which regulate your flight in addition to the Drone Code so always check with the local authority to ensure you are abiding by their requirements.

Police – always inform the local police in advance of the location, date and time of your flight. If any additional information is needed they will let you know and issue you with a Log Number for your records.

CAA – the Civil Aviation Authority oversee and regulate UK civil aviation. If your flight can be carried out within the requirements of the Open category or within the remit of your Operational Authorisation there is no need to contact them for general flying. If different permissions are required (ie. You need to reduce the distance to buildings etc) then you may need to apply to them for an Operational Safety Case (OSC) which will then require that you provide evidence that you will be able to carry out the flight without compromising safety.

Rail Network – if your flight brings your drone in close proximity to the railway you will need to inform Network Rail of your intended flight path. Flights within 50m of the railway are not permitted and NR has a list of companies who are permitted to carry out this work, with whom they will put you in touch if required.

Local ATC – you must not fly your drone in the vicinity of an airport. If your flight plan takes you within the airspace controlled by the airport you should contact the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and request permission to fly. Providing that your flight is deemed safe and any mitigation is put in place then it may still be possible to carry out your flight.

Nuclear Facilities – Nuclear Facilities will be surrounded by a Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) and it is illegal to fly in this space without permission. You will be required to gain permission from an authorised person at the Facility and pass this to the CAA who will grant you temporary permission to carry out the flight.

Prisons, Military Bases, Sport Stadiums etc.– many sites are surrounded by restriction zones which restrict flights in that airspace. It is always recommended to check the airspace around the site you are planning to fly as soon as possible in your planning process in order to ensure you have the time to gain all the permissions which may be required.

Controlled airspace – Class G Airspace is classified as “uncontrolled”, all other airspace is considered “Controlled” ie. Under the control of the direction of Air Traffic Control.

According to the CAA “any authority or regulatory body should be able to identify the specific laws, regulations or bye-laws that empower it to regulate the use of UAS, or more usually, the land from which they are operated, much as the CAA has set out the regulations that it applies”

UK Drone Laws on Indoor Flying

If you are flying your drone indoors without any possibility of the drone escaping outdoors into general aviation then you are not required to follow these regulations. You are however, responsible for Health and Safety regarding your drone flight.

Drone Safety Map for Flight Planning

Flight Planning Maps