Which drone licence do I need?

October 21, 2026

Most hobby pilots need either no drone licence at all or the basic A1/A3. A look at your drone tells you which applies to you.

The answer in three steps

Look for the class label on the drone or its packaging: C0, C1, C2, C3 or C4. The label is what counts, not the weight.
Class C0? Then you do not need a drone licence.
Class C1, C2, C3 or C4? Then you need the A1/A3. You only need the A2 in addition if you want to fly a C2 drone closer to people.

In short: C0: none. C1 to C4: A1/A3. C2 close to people: add A2.

And if there is no class label?

Then it depends on when the drone came onto the market:

Placed on the EU market before 1 January 2024 (older drones): under 250 g no licence; 250 g or more the A1/A3, and only flights far away from people.
Placed on the market after that: this drone may not fly in the open category at all, however light it is. This often affects cheap imports. Only privately built drones are exempt.

Tip when buying: Look for the C label. Then it is immediately clear what applies.

The table: your drone, your licence

Your drone	Licence	Where you may fly
Class C0 (under 250 g)	none	also over individual people (better avoided), never over assemblies of people
Privately built, under 250 g and under 19 m/s maximum speed	none	same as C0
No class, under 250 g, placed on the market before 2024	none	same as C0
Class C1 (under 900 g)	A1/A3	no planned overflight of uninvolved people; if it happens unexpectedly, as short as possible; never over assemblies of people
Class C2 (under 4 kg)	A1/A3	far away from people and built-up areas (A3 rules)
Class C2 (under 4 kg)	A1/A3 and A2	also closer to people: no overflight of uninvolved people, at least 30 m distance; at least 5 m only with low-speed mode switched on and after assessing the weather, the drone’s performance and the segregation of the overflown area
Class C3 or C4 (under 25 kg)	A1/A3	far away from people and built-up areas
Privately built, 250 g to under 25 kg	A1/A3	far away from people and built-up areas
No class, 250 g to under 25 kg, placed on the market before 2024	A1/A3	far away from people and built-up areas
No class, placed on the market from 2024	–	not at all in the open category

“Far away” means: no uninvolved person may be endangered, and you keep at least 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.

The licences briefly explained

A1/A3 (EU proof of competency): the basic licence. Learn online, answer 40 questions online, at least 75 % correct. In Germany from the Federal Aviation Office (LBA), fee €25.
A2 (EU remote pilot certificate): the advanced licence for flying C2 drones close to people. It requires the A1/A3, plus practical self-training and an additional theory exam at an examination centre designated by the LBA. LBA fee €30, plus the examination centre’s costs.
STS: only for flights in the specific category under EU standard scenarios, for example for commercial operations. You do not need it for flights in the open category.

All three are valid for five years and throughout the EU as well as in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

No licence needed: really nothing at all?

Correct, no licence. But you still need three things:

Registration and an ID plate as soon as the drone has a camera or microphone, except for toys. Your operator ID then goes on the drone (What goes on the plate?).
Liability insurance (Drone insurance).
The manufacturer’s instructions, which you should know; the regulation requires it.

Watch the weight: What counts is the take-off weight, including the battery and everything attached to the drone. A larger battery or accessories can take a drone over 250 g. Then the rules for heavier drones apply. The manufacturer’s instructions tell you what applies with your accessories.

From what age?

In Germany from 16. Children may fly without a minimum age if the drone is a class C0 toy or a privately built drone under 250 g, or if a remote pilot aged 16 or over with the appropriate certificate supervises them directly. Normal class C0 camera drones are generally not toys within the meaning of the EU Toy Safety Directive; the minimum age of 16 applies to them.

Don’t mix them up: licence number and operator ID

Your drone licence shows your personal pilot number. It does not go on the drone. What goes on the drone is the operator ID (e-ID) from your registration as an operator. The difference explained

Always carry your licence

When flying, carry your certificate with you, on paper, on your phone or as a sturdy credit-card-sized card. We print A1/A3, A2 and STS.

Sources (as of 28 October 2026)

As of October 2026. This overview is not legal advice; Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945 and the information provided by the German Federal Aviation Office are authoritative.

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