Basic Requirements
When you're new to flying drones,the legislation and conflicting information from different peoples interpretation of the rules can be extremely confusing.
This page will hopefully clarify things for you.
As of 1st January 2026, the UK has transitioned to its own UK Class Markings (UK0 - UK6). If you are flying a drone weighing 100g or more, you likely have legal obligations.
The Two IDs You Need
- Flyer ID: Proves you passed the theory test.
- Cost: Free
- Validity: 5 years | Required for: Anyone flying 100g+
- Required for: Anyone flying 100g+
- Operator ID: The "license plate" for the person responsible for the drone.
- Cost: ~£11.79/year
- Validity: 1 year
- Required for: Owners of 100g+ drones with cameras.
Note: You must label your drone with your Operator ID in letters at least 3mm high.
Drone Compliance & Registration
Use the table below to determine the requirements for your specific aircraft.
I've added thew DJI Air 3S as a named example. Note that the DJI Air 3S is a UK1/C1 aircraft.
| Drone Type | Class Mark | Flyer ID | Operator ID | Remote ID (RID) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sub-250g (New) | UK0 / C0 | Required | Required* | Required NOW |
| DJI Air 3S (Sub-900g) | UK1 / C1 | Required | Required | Required NOW |
| Legacy (Old Stock) | None | Required | Required* | Req. by Jan 1, 2028 |
| Private/Custom Built | None | Required | Required | Req. by Jan 1, 2028 |
*Only required if the drone has a camera and is not a "toy".
Where Can You Fly? (Open Category - A1)
Drones in the UK0, UK1, C0, and C1 classes typically fall into the A1 Subcategory:
- Over People: You can fly over uninvolved people, but you must never fly over crowds.
- Built-up Areas: You can fly in residential, commercial, and industrial areas (subject to local bylaws and flight restriction zones).
- Height Limit: Maximum 120m (400ft) from the closest point of the earth's surface.
- Line of Sight: You must keep the drone in your Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) at all times. Note this is VISUAL Line of Sight and not just Line of Sight. You must be able to see your drone when in flight at all times.
Night Flying: If flying at night, your drone must now have at least one flashing green light visible from the ground to help others identify it as a drone.
Crowds: A "crowd" is not defined by a number of people. In terms of drone flying, a crowd is classed as a gathering of people that cannot disperse quickly or rapidly enough to avoid injury from an out of control drone. This could be a few people in a tight space or hundreds of people in a concert or park for example.
For the full official rules, always refer to the CAA Drone Code and the CAA CAP 722 documents.