Everything you need to know about Spanish Drone Laws in 2026

Spanish Drone Laws in 2026: A Complete and Updated Guide

European Regulation and Royal Decree 517/2024

Flying drones in Spain is something we’re more than used to; so before to take off, you must to know all about Spanish drone laws.

However, keeping up to date with the latest drone regulations can be a challenge. But don’t worry! This article is your essential guide.

Here you’ll find answers to all your questions about the current legislation for flying a drone in Spain, incorporating the fundamental changes from the last Royal Decree 517/2024.

What is the Spanish drone law in force in 2026?

Drone regulations in Spain are currently governed by a dual system that combines European Regulations RE 2019/947 and RD 2019/945 with national legislation. It’s so important to understand this hierarchy:

The European Laws: The main regulations come from the European Union, through the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The two key regulations are:
– ‘Reglamento de Ejecución’ (EU) 2019/947: This establishes the flight rules, defines the operational categories (Open, Specific, and Certified), and sets the training requirements for pilots.
– ‘Reglamento Delegado’ (EU) 2019/945: This defines the technical requirements for drones, introducing the class marking system (from C0 to C6) which classifies them according to their risk.
The Spanish Laws: Royal Decree 517/2024 is the Spanish regulation that complements and develops the European framework. It adapts the rules to the specific characteristics of Spain, regulating key aspects such as liability insurance, minimum pilot ages, flight zones, and additional training. This law repeals a large part of the previous RD 1036/2017.

At One Air, we keep a close eye on all the news as it unfolds. The information in this article is up to date and based on AESA communications and current legislation.

Do I need a certificate to fly a drone in Spain?

Yes, for most drones you need a certificate that proves a minimum level of training.

Please note! This is a certificate, not a licence. The colloquial term ‘licence’ actually refers to the training certificates issued by AESA. The requirements vary depending on the risk of the operation:

Open Category: To fly drones in the open category, you will generally need an AESA certificate.
– A1/A3 Certificate: This is obtained by passing a free online exam on the AESA website. It’s required to fly class C1, C3, C4 drones, or legacy drones (without class marking) weighing more than 250 grams.
– A2 Certificate: This allows you to fly closer to people with class C2 drones. It requires having passed the A1/A3 exam and also completing self-practical training and an additional theoretical exam at AESA.
Specific Category: To fly in the specific category and operate within the European standard scenarios (STS), you need more advanced theoretical and practical training, which culminates in obtaining the Level 3 (STS) certificate.

What should you know before flying a drone in Spain?

Yes, for most drones you need a certificate that proves a minimum level of training.

Open Category: To fly drones in the open category, you will generally need an AESA certificate.
– A1/A3 Certificate: This is obtained by passing a free online exam on the AESA website. It’s required to fly class C1, C3, C4 drones, or legacy drones (without class marking) weighing more than 250 grams.
– A2 Certificate: This allows you to fly closer to people with class C2 drones. It requires having passed the A1/A3 exam and also completing self-practical training and an additional theoretical exam at AESA.
Specific Category: To fly in the specific category and operate within the European standard scenarios (STS), you need more advanced theoretical and practical training, which culminates in obtaining the Level 3 (STS) certificate.

General limitations for dron flights

Visual Line of Sight: The drone must always remain within the pilot’s visual line of sight (VLOS), except for authorised operations in the specific category (e.g., BVLOS).
Maximum Height: You must never exceed 120m in flight altitude above the point on the ground directly below the drone (AGL).
Flight Zones and Airports: Attention! The old ‘8 km rule’ has been eliminated. RD 517/2024 establishes a detailed system of UAS geographical zones with variable distances and heights around airports, airfields, and heliports. It is mandatory to consult the ENAIRE Drones map before each flight.
Third-Party Liability Insurance: Important change! Insurance is no longer mandatory for everyone. RD 517/2024 establishes the following rules:
– It is NOT mandatory for operations in subcategory A1 and in subcategory A3 with drones weighing less than 20 kg.
– It IS mandatory for operations in subcategory A2 and in all Specific and Certified category operations.
Drone Identification:
– Operator Registration with AESA: You must register as an operator on the AESA website to get your operator number. This number must be visibly marked on the drone (the plate does not need to be fireproof).
– Aircraft Registration with the Ministerio del Interior: RD 517/2024 adds the obligation to register the aircraft itself in a specific register of the Spanish Ministerio del Interior.
Data Protection: You must protect people’s right to privacy and honour, complying with Data Protection Law if you record images.

You must not fly over people and, in addition, you must safeguard the Right to Honour and Privacy.

Spanish laws for drones under 250 gr.

There’s a mistaken belief that flying a drone under 250 grams in Spain is exempt from any regulations, but that’s completely wrong.

While the current legislation is much more permissive, you must still comply with the following:

You don’t need a training certificate to fly a Class C0 drone or a legacy one (without a class label) under 250g. You are only required to read and understand the manufacturer’s manual.
If the drone has a camera (which almost all do), you must register as an operator with AESA and put your registration number on the drone.
You must not exceed 120 metres in height above the ground.
You cannot fly in National Parks, wildlife conservation areas, Biosphere Reserves, and other protected natural areas without specific authorisation.
You must respect the UAS geographical zones published on the ENAIRE Drones map.
Since you operate in subcategory A1, third-party liability insurance is NOT mandatory.
New drones must have a C0 marking. Legacy drones without a class marking purchased before January 1st 2024 can continue to fly in this category indefinitely.

Even if your drone weighs less than 250 grams, you must follow certain rules.

You must fly with common sense

When flying a drone in Spain, or anywhere else, it is necessary to follow not only the regulations but also common sense. It is of vital importance to ensure the safety of the airspace and people to fly responsibly and prudently.

Similarly, it is essential to fly in good weather conditions (no rain, no fog, no wind) and not to fly the aircraft beyond the visual range.

Try to keep up to date with the various restrictions that the Spanish AESA is implementing. At Grupo One Air, we will keep you informed of all the news.

Electronic ID is NOW mandatory

From January 1st 2024, the remote identification system (Remote ID or Electronic ID) is mandatory for certain flights.

This system, which transmits real-time data such as the operator’s registration number and the drone’s position, is mandatory for:

Drones with Class C1, C2, and C3 markings that operate in the open category.
Drones with Class C5 and C6 markings.
All operations in the specific category.

Class C0 drones and those under 250g are exempt. If your drone is an older model and doesn’t have it built-in, you might need an add-on module to comply with the requirement.

Operational categories in Spanish drone regulations

The regulations classify operations into three categories based on their risk level:

Open Category: Very low-risk operations. They do not require prior authorisation. It is divided into three subcategories: A1, A2, and A3.
Specific Category: Medium-risk operations. They require authorisation from AESA (based on a SORA risk analysis) or an operational declaration if they comply with a standard scenario (STS).
Certified Category: High-risk operations, such as the transport of people or dangerous goods. They require the certification of the drone, the operator, and a licence for the pilot.

Flights in the specific category: the end of Spanish STS

If you are a professional operator, pay attention: operational declarations based on national standard scenarios (STS-ES) expire on 31 December 2025.

As of 30 August 2024, no new declarations for these scenarios can be submitted. The future is the European standard scenarios (STS-01 and STS-02), which require drones with class C5 and C6 markings respectively.

How to know where to fly drones in Spain

With so much information, the key question is: where can I fly my drone in Spain? The answer lies in a single official tool.

ENAIRE Drones: The Official and Mandatory Platform

Royal Decree 517/2024 designates ENAIRE as the sole provider of information on UAS geographical zones in Spain.

This means that the ENAIRE Drones website (and app) is no longer just a recommendation, but the official source that must be consulted before each flight.

On its interactive map, you can:

View all restricted or prohibited flight zones.
Find out the applicable height limits in each zone.
Identify zones with active aeronautical notices (NOTAM).
Plan your flight path safely and legally.

For more complex procedures, such as requesting an aeronautical safety study (EARO), you’ll need to use the ENAIRE Planea platform.

Different drone regulations if you travel outside of Spain

Remember that each country has different legislation on air safety, so if you are going to fly a drone, you must consult the specific regulations and you will have to ask permission from the relevant bodies.

If you have already read our post about the Drone Law in the USA, you will know everything you have to do if you want to fly your drone in the American country. But what about the rest of the destinations?

International Drone Laws Map

On this collaborative map, you can see the status of drone regulations in all countries of the world. It’s a great resource as a first contact with the legislation of the country you’re interested in.

Click on the image to go to the map
(Opens a new window)

But remember, it’s not official information, just a compilation made by users, so the next thing you should do is consult the current regulations, which you can access from the map itself in most cases by clicking on the detailed information for each country.

Future changes to Drones Law in Spain

If you are more or less up to date with the drone industry in Spain, you already know that possible updates to UAS regulations are constantly being published.

Given the speed at which the sector is advancing, and with the emergence of new technological advances in the field of drones, the regulations must be adapted to all possible problems as soon as possible. We recommend you this post with all the information about U-Space, the European project for the creation of the UTM.

And remember that, at One Air, we will keep you informed of everything related to changes in the regulations so that you can fly your drone safely.

Spanish Drone Laws in 2026: A Complete and Updated Guide

What is the Spanish drone law in force in 2026?

Do I need a certificate to fly a drone in Spain?