Spain ES
EU baseline plus Spanish extras: flights over urban environments or crowds need advance notification to the Ministry of Interior, and the ENAIRE Drones map is the mandatory pre-flight reference.
Your plan
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1 thing to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Spain
Free online registration via the AESA electronic office (sede electrónica); operator certificates issued after 25 June 2024 expire 3 years from issue. Some sources also mention a separate Ministry of Interior aircraft register introduced by RD 517/2024, but the exact scope of that register could not be confirmed — treat as unverified. 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 · Consult the ENAIRE Drones map before every flight; ENAIRE is the sole official provider of UAS geographical-zone information in Spain
Open official page
Flying
- Max 120 m above ground, always in visual line of sight
- Never fly over crowds or assemblies of people
- Consult the ENAIRE Drones map before every flight; ENAIRE is the sole official provider of UAS geographical-zone information in Spain
- Flights over 'entorno urbano' (built-up areas: consolidated town centres, residential/commercial/industrial areas, or public recreational areas such as beaches, parks and gardens) or over concentrations of people require notifying the Ministry of Interior at least 5 business days in advance (RD 517/2024, Art. 40)
- 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 (STS) declaration in the Specific category under RD 517/2024, in force since January 2026.
Official airspace mapRegistration & classes
| Registration | Yes (from 250 g or camera) Free online registration via the AESA electronic office (sede electrónica); operator certificates issued after 25 June 2024 expire 3 years from issue. Some sources also mention a separate Ministry of Interior aircraft register introduced by RD 517/2024, but the exact scope of that register could not be confirmed — treat as unverified. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Yes (online, from 250 g) EU A1/A3 online certificate. Free online A1/A3 course and exam through the AESA electronic office. |
| Remote ID | Some classes Direct Remote ID is required for C1, C2 and C3 class drones and in some geographical zones. |
| Insurance | Depends (min. EUR 300,000 (where required)) Not legally required for A1 or A3 sub-category flights with drones under 20 kg. Mandatory for A2 sub-category flights and for all Specific- and Certified-category operations, and generally required in practice for professional/commercial work, with a typical minimum cover of €300,000. |
| 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 Spain/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: 3 years from date of issue |
|---|---|
| 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 Spain Residents
- Register as an operator with AESA
Free registration via the AESA electronic office; certificate valid 3 years. Open
- Pass the A1/A3 exam
Free online course and exam through the AESA portal. Open
- Check insurance needs
Not mandatory for A1/A3 under 20 kg, but required for A2 and Specific/Certified operations (typically €300,000 cover).
- Check the ENAIRE Drones map
Confirm your planned location is not a restricted UAS geographical zone. Open
- Notify the Ministry of Interior for urban flights
If flying over a built-up area or a crowd, submit the notification at least 5 business days ahead.
Sources
- EASA – Civil drones (Open category) · accessed 23 Sept 2026
- AESA – Registro de operador de drones (UAS) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- AESA – Curso de formación y examen A1/A3 · 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