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United Kingdom · Drone test

Do you need a drone licence in the UK?

Yes, if your drone or model aircraft weighs 100g or more and you fly it outdoors: you need a Flyer ID to fly it, and whoever is responsible for it needs an Operator ID if it weighs 250g or more, or 100g or more with a camera. Whether you need a drone licence comes down to the drone’s weight or class mark and its camera, and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recommends a Flyer ID even below 100g.

  • Not neededIDs for flying only indoors
  • Fine or prisonWhat flying without the IDs can lead to
  • Weight, class mark, cameraWhat decides which IDs you need
Where to study

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Which IDs you need, by drone weight

WeightClassFlyer IDOperator ID
250g to under 25kgUK1, UK2, UK3, UK4RequiredRequired
100g to under 250g, with a cameraUK0 with a cameraRequiredRequired
100g to under 250g, no cameraUK0 without a cameraRequiredOptional
Under 100gNot applicableRecommendedOptional

The Flyer ID is for whoever flies; the Operator ID is for whoever is responsible for the drone, usually the owner. If you’re responsible for drones but never fly them, you can be an operator without a Flyer ID. Even when you don’t need to register, the Drone Code’s rules still apply.

How to get both IDs →

Do you need a drone licence for every kind of flying?

The Flyer ID covers the Over People (A1) and Far from People (A3) sub-categories of the Open Category. Flying in the Near People (A2) sub-category also needs the A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC), and anything outside the Open Category, including any drone of 25kg or more, needs an authorisation from the CAA.

The A1 and A3 sub-categories →The A2 CofC →Authorisations for work and larger drones →

When you don’t need a Flyer ID or Operator ID

  • You only fly indoors, or somewhere the aircraft can’t escape, such as a closed netted area.
  • You’re the observer, standing next to the pilot: an observer doesn’t need a Flyer ID.

Penalties for flying without the right IDs

The CAA says it’s against the law to fly without the IDs you need, that you can be fined for breaking the law when flying, and that in the most serious cases you could be sent to prison. An operator whose drone is flown by someone without the right competence certificate, such as a valid Flyer ID, may be liable to prosecution too.

Sources: CAA and 5 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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Everything else, in one place

OverviewCoursesGet your IDsCostDrone CodeFlying rulesA2 CofCCommercialRegulations

Where you can fly

No-fly zonesHeight limitAbroad

Which rules apply

Do you need one?Under 250gA1 and A3