Greece GR

EASA rules apply, checked through the DAGR (Drone Aware Greece) zone map, but Greece's dense archaeological heritage means sites like the Acropolis, Delphi and Knossos are prohibited without a rare Ministry of Culture filming permit, and night flying is widely reported as restricted.

Draft: not yet reviewedUpdated 24 Sept 2026Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA / ΥΠΑ)

37Fly score

83Import score

55Combined

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 Greece
Registration fee not confirmed from primary sources; process is online via the HCAA/YPA UAS registration system. Non-EU visitors not already registered in another EASA state must register in Greece before flying, by contacting the HCAA in advance. Allow about 14 days 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
EU traveller allowance: goods up to €430 (air/sea) or €300 (land) from outside the EU are duty- and VAT-free; above that, import VAT (24%) and possibly duty 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 · Flying over archaeological sites, monuments, ports, hospitals and military installations needs prior HCAA authorisation; major sites like the Acropolis, Delphi and Knossos are effectively no-fly without a special Ministry of Culture filming permit (reported at roughly EUR 500 for the Acropolis alone), which is rarely granted outside professional documentaries
Open official page

Flying

VisitorsPermit needed

Max altitude120 m

Line of sightRequired

Night flightsRestricted

Max 120 m above ground, always in visual line of sight
Never fly over crowds or assemblies of people
Flying over archaeological sites, monuments, ports, hospitals and military installations needs prior HCAA authorisation; major sites like the Acropolis, Delphi and Knossos are effectively no-fly without a special Ministry of Culture filming permit (reported at roughly EUR 500 for the Acropolis alone), which is rarely granted outside professional documentaries
Unauthorised flights over protected archaeological sites can bring fines reported up to EUR 250,000 and equipment confiscation
Night flying is widely reported as restricted/requiring special exemption, stricter than the EASA baseline - not independently confirmed on the primary HCAA page, so treat with caution and check current HCAA guidance before any night flight
Check the DAGR map before every flight for yellow/magenta zones (airports, archaeological sites, other restricted areas)
Flight notification forms for restricted areas should be submitted at least 5 working days in advance

Commercial use: The Open category covers most low-risk commercial work away from restricted zones. Any aerial filming near archaeological sites needs both a Ministry of Culture/Ephorate of Antiquities permit and a separate HCAA application - budget significant lead time and expect refusal for most non-professional requests.

Official airspace map

Registration & classes

Registration	Yes (from 250 g or camera) Registration fee not confirmed from primary sources; process is online via the HCAA/YPA UAS registration system. Non-EU visitors not already registered in another EASA state must register in Greece before flying, by contacting the HCAA in advance.
Pilot test	Yes (online, from 250 g) EU A1/A3 online certificate. Standard EASA A1/A3 online training and exam (75% pass mark, up to 3 attempts); certificate valid across the EASA area for 5 years. Fee not confirmed.
Remote ID	Some classes Direct Remote ID is required for C1, C2 and C3 class drones and in some geographical zones.
Insurance	Depends Not confirmed as mandatory for pure Open-category hobby flying, but required for commercial operations and Specific/Certified-category flights. Typical hobby policies cost around EUR 60-150/year.
Foreign registration accepted	Depends EASA operator registration and A1/A3 certificates from other EASA states are valid in Greece; visitors already registered elsewhere do not need to re-register. Non-EASA visitors must register directly with the HCAA before arrival (reported contact: the HCAA UAS office), with at least 2 weeks recommended for processing. Any plan to photograph a major archaeological site from the air should assume 'permit' rather than 'allowed' - applications go through the Ministry of Culture/Ephorate of Antiquities as well as the HCAA and are rarely approved for casual tourism.

Import & export

ImportAllowed (with customs)

Customs dutyVaries

VAT / sales tax24 %

Radio certificationNo

EU traveller allowance: goods up to €430 (air/sea) or €300 (land) from outside the EU are duty- and VAT-free; above that, import VAT (24%) and possibly duty apply.
CE marking required for sale in the EU/Greece.
Batteries: Carry-on only. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100-160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares).
No customs within the EU single market.
Duty rate on drones imported from outside the EU depends on the TARIC tariff code; not separately confirmed for Greece.

Export

EU dual-use export controls apply to professional drones with long range, autonomy or heavy payload capacity.

Costs

Operator registration	Unknown Validity: Set nationally
EU A1/A3 online certificate	Unknown
Import taxes	? % duty + 24 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep.

Guides

Start flying in Greece Residents

Register as an operator
Register online through the HCAA/YPA UAS system. Open
Pass the A1/A3 test
Standard EASA online training and exam, valid across the EASA area for 5 years.
Check the DAGR map before every flight
Identify yellow/magenta restricted zones - airports, archaeological sites, ports, hospitals and military sites. Open
Apply well ahead for archaeological sites
If you need aerial footage of a monument or ruin, apply to the Ministry of Culture/Ephorate of Antiquities and the HCAA in advance - expect a long process and a good chance of refusal.
Get insurance for commercial work
Mandatory for commercial, Specific or Certified-category operations.

Sources

EASA – Civil drones (Open category) · accessed 23 Sept 2026
HCAA - Where you are allowed to fly a UAS in Greece · accessed 24 Sept 2026
HCAA - Authorization Request for UAS (drone) flights (PDF) · accessed 24 Sept 2026

How the score is built

Fly score 37

Operator registration−10
Pilot test (online)−10
Remote ID−4
Mandatory insurance−3
Night flight restricted−3
Visitors need a flight permit−20
Visitors must register locally−5
Long lead time (14 days)−8

Import score 83

Duty + VAT ≈ 29 %−17

Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works