Belgium BE
EU baseline plus Belgian extras: civil liability insurance is mandatory for almost all Open-category flying (private drones under 900 g are the only exemption), and the droneguide.be map is the official geozone reference.
Your plan
Choose your home country (top right) to see steps tailored to you.
1 thing to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Belgium
Free registration via the FPS Mobility / DGTA e-desk (eLoket), required from 250 g or with any camera/sensor (toys excluded). You'll need a liability insurance policy number to complete registration unless you qualify for the sub-900 g private-use exemption. Free. Allow about 1 day before your trip.
Open official page - Remote ID may apply
Direct Remote ID is required for C1, C2 and C3 class drones and in some geographical zones.
- Bringing your drone in
Personal luggage from outside the EU: goods up to €430 (air/sea travel) or €300 (land travel) are duty- and VAT-free. Above that, customs duty (tariff-code dependent) and 21% VAT apply. Batteries: Carry-on only. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100–160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares).
- Before each flight
Max 120 m above ground, always in visual line of sight · Never fly over crowds or assemblies of people · Check the droneguide.be map (operated by air navigation provider skeyes) for UAS geographical zones before every flight
Open official page
Flying
- Max 120 m above ground, always in visual line of sight
- Never fly over crowds or assemblies of people
- Check the droneguide.be map (operated by air navigation provider skeyes) for UAS geographical zones before every flight
- Civil liability insurance is mandatory for Open-category flying, with one exemption: private (non-commercial) use of a drone under 900 g
- Class-marked (C1/C2/C3) drones need a flashing green light at night
Commercial use: The Open category covers most low-risk commercial work. Riskier flights need an operational authorisation or a standard-scenario declaration in the Specific category from the DGTA.
Official airspace mapRegistration & classes
| Registration | Yes (from 250 g or camera) Free registration via the FPS Mobility / DGTA e-desk (eLoket), required from 250 g or with any camera/sensor (toys excluded). You'll need a liability insurance policy number to complete registration unless you qualify for the sub-900 g private-use exemption. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Yes (online, from 250 g) EU A1/A3 online certificate. Online training + 40-question multiple-choice exam, valid 5 years. The A2 certificate (extra exam) allows C2 drones closer to people. |
| Remote ID | Some classes Direct Remote ID is required for C1, C2 and C3 class drones and in some geographical zones. |
| Insurance | Depends Mandatory for Open-category flying except private (non-commercial) use of drones under 900 g, per the Royal Decree of 26 December 2022. Must cover bodily injury and property damage to third parties. Drones of 20 kg or more need specific aviation cover under EU Regulation 785/2004. |
| Foreign registration accepted | Depends EASA registrations and certificates are valid in every EASA state. Residents of non-EASA countries register in the first EASA state where they plan to fly. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| C0 | < 250 g | Subcategory A1: may overfly uninvolved people (never crowds). No test; register if it has a camera. |
| C1 | < 900 g | A1: avoid overflying people. A1/A3 certificate and Remote ID required. |
| C2 | < 4 kg | A2: 30 m from people (5 m in low-speed mode) with the A2 certificate; otherwise A3. |
| C3 / C4 | < 25 kg | A3 only: far from people and 150 m from residential, commercial and industrial areas. |
| No class mark | any | Under 250 g → A1. 250 g and more → A3 only (legacy transition ended 1 Jan 2024). |
Import & export
- Personal luggage from outside the EU: goods up to €430 (air/sea travel) or €300 (land travel) are duty- and VAT-free. Above that, customs duty (tariff-code dependent) and 21% VAT apply.
- CE marking is required for sale in Belgium/EU; personal imports of non-CE radio equipment can be seized at customs.
- Batteries: Carry-on only. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100–160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares).
- No customs within the EU. The duty rate on drones from outside the EU depends on the tariff (HS) code.
Export
- EU dual-use regulation applies to professional drones with long range or high payload.
Costs
| Operator registration | Free Validity: Set nationally |
|---|---|
| EU A1/A3 online certificate | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + 21 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Start flying in Belgium Residents
- Get liability insurance
Required unless your drone is under 900 g and used purely privately. You'll need the policy number for registration.
- Register on the DGTA e-desk
Free registration via FPS Mobility's eLoket; required from 250 g or with any camera/sensor. Open
- Pass the A1/A3 test
Free online training and exam via the Belgian drone portal, valid across the EU for 5 years.
- Label your drone
Put your operator registration number on the drone.
- Check droneguide.be before every flight
Confirm your planned location is not a restricted geozone. Open
Sources
- EASA – Civil drones (Open category) · accessed 23 Sept 2026
- FPS Mobility – Drone Portal · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- skeyes – droneguide.be geozone map · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−10
- Pilot test (online)−10
- Remote ID−4
- Mandatory insurance−3
- Visitors must register locally−5
- Duty + VAT ≈ 26 %−16
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works