RULES BY COUNTRY
Drone rules in Germany
The open-category framework is European, but each Member State keeps control over decisive points — and that is where the nasty surprises hide. Here is what actually applies in Germany, verified against national official sources.
At a glance
Operator registration
- Registration applies to the operator, not to the aircraft: it is mandatory from 250 g, or at any weight if the drone carries a camera or a sensor capable of capturing personal data. Only a toy without a sensor is exempt.
- Competent authority: Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA).
- Cost: €20.
- The operator registration number you receive must be displayed on each of your drones.
Remote pilot training
- The A1/A3 proof of completion is obtained through online training and an online exam. Cost: €25.
- The A2 certificate requires the A1/A3 proof, self-declared practical self-training, then an additional theoretical exam taken at an approved centre. Cost: €30.
- These credentials are valid for 5 years and recognised throughout the European Union.
Night flying
Night flying is allowed in the open category, provided the drone is fitted with a flashing green light. All other rules remain the same as by day, starting with visual line of sight.
Insurance
Third-party liability insurance is mandatory for EVERY drone, with no mass threshold — including the lightest ones. Proof of cover must be carried on every flight.
Minimum age
- Minimum remote pilot age: 16.
Remote identification
There is no national electronic signalling requirement: remote identification follows solely from the drone's class (C1, C2, C3).
Geographical zones
The general 120 m ceiling can be lowered, and some zones are prohibited or conditional: airports, military sites, protected natural areas, sensitive locations. These restrictions change — check the official tool before every flight.
dipul — Digitale Plattform Unbemannte LuftfahrtPenalties
Breaches of the rules are punishable by fines. We do not publish an amount: the per-offence schedule could not be established from an official source, and the figures circulating elsewhere are not verifiable.
What is specific to Germany
- The operator registration number must be physically affixed to the drone, even when it has already been entered into the remote identification function.
- Proof of insurance must be carried on every flight: flying without it is an administrative offence.
- Flying over residential property is prohibited without the owner's consent, unless the drone weighs 250 g or less with no recording capability, or you fly at a height of at least 100 metres.
- Distances to observe: 1.5 km from the boundaries of airfields, and 1 km from those of airports — the latter zone falling under the specific category.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fly a drone at night in Germany?+
Night flying is allowed in the open category, provided the drone is fitted with a flashing green light. All other rules remain the same as by day, starting with visual line of sight.
Do you have to register your drone in Germany?+
Registration applies to the operator, not to the aircraft: it is mandatory from 250 g, or at any weight if the drone carries a camera or a sensor capable of capturing personal data. Only a toy without a sensor is exempt. Competent authority: Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA). Cost: €20.
Is insurance mandatory in Germany?+
Third-party liability insurance is mandatory for EVERY drone, with no mass threshold — including the lightest ones. Proof of cover must be carried on every flight.
How old do you have to be to fly a drone in Germany?+
Minimum remote pilot age: 16.
Does my drone need electronic signalling in Germany?+
There is no national electronic signalling requirement: remote identification follows solely from the drone's class (C1, C2, C3).
See also
Taking your drone abroad in Europe: your operator registration and your training stay valid everywhere. Geographical zones, night flying, insurance and minimum age do not.
Official sources
- Drohnen — Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA)
- Digitale Plattform Unbemannte Luftfahrt (dipul)
- § 43 LuftVG — obligation d'assurance
- § 21h LuftVO — zones géographiques
Information provided for guidance, based on the official sources listed. It does not replace checking geographical zones and temporary restrictions before every flight.
And for your drone specifically?
This page covers the national framework. To find out YOUR exact obligations in Germany, run the calculator.
Calculate my obligations