Hungary HU
Hungary layers a strict national regime on top of EASA: every drone with a camera must be registered regardless of weight, the MyDroneSpace app is used to check/notify flights, flying over populated areas needs a special airspace request weeks in advance, and 300 m buffers apply around critical infrastructure.
Your plan
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1 thing to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Hungary
Any drone fitted with a camera must be registered regardless of weight, stricter than the EASA baseline of 250 g. Exact registration fee not confirmed - treat as unknown until verified with the authority. Allow about 40 days before your trip.
- 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 (27%, the EU's highest standard rate) 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 · Every drone with a camera must be registered regardless of weight - stricter than the EASA 250 g threshold
Open official page
Flying
- Max 120 m above ground, always in visual line of sight
- Never fly over crowds or assemblies of people
- Every drone with a camera must be registered regardless of weight - stricter than the EASA 250 g threshold
- Flying over any populated/residential area requires a temporary designated ('occasional') airspace, applied for through the military aviation authority - reported lead time of roughly 35-40 days, so it is not realistic for short tourist trips into towns or villages
- No-fly buffer of 300 m around critical infrastructure, state facilities, the National Assembly and other protected/heritage sites designated under Act LXXXIV of 2024
- No Drone Zones (prohibited without authorisation) around Budapest (LHBP), Kecskemét (LHKE), Szolnok (LHSN), Pápa (LHPA) and near Bácsbokod aerodrome; inside the Budapest CTR but outside the LHBP No Drone Zone, flights up to 40 m AGL are allowed without permission
- The MyDroneSpace app is the official tool to check airspace status and log/notify flights before take-off
Commercial use: The Open category applies as elsewhere in EASA, but commercial shoots over populated areas or near protected sites in practice need the same advance airspace authorisation as any other flight there, making Hungary one of the more restrictive EASA states for real-world flying.
Official airspace mapRegistration & classes
| Registration | Yes (all drones) Any drone fitted with a camera must be registered regardless of weight, stricter than the EASA baseline of 250 g. Exact registration fee not confirmed - treat as unknown until verified with the authority. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Yes (online, from 250 g) EU A1/A3 online certificate. Standard EASA A1/A3 online training and exam required from 250 g; exact fee (if any) not confirmed for Hungary. |
| Remote ID | Some classes Direct Remote ID is required for C1, C2 and C3 class drones and in some geographical zones. |
| Insurance | Yes (min. Graded by weight: reported around HUF 3,000,000 (approx EUR 8,500) per event for drones 250 g-4 kg, rising for heavier drones (figures up to HUF 6,000,000 reported); not required by law for sub-250 g tourist drones but recommended.) Liability insurance is mandatory for drones of 250 g or more, with cover tiered by weight class. Confirm exact current thresholds with the authority before relying on the figures above. |
| Foreign registration accepted | Depends EASA operator registration and A1/A3 certificates from other EASA states are recognised, but Hungary's camera-drone registration rule (any weight) and the 35-40 day lead time for flying over populated areas apply to visitors just as to residents. Practical tourist flying is largely limited to unpopulated areas away from the 300 m critical-infrastructure buffers and airport No Drone Zones unless a special airspace request is filed well in advance. |
Import & export
- 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 (27%, the EU's highest standard rate) and possibly duty apply.
- CE marking required for sale in the EU/Hungary.
- 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 Hungary.
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 + 27 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Start flying in Hungary Residents
- Register your drone
Register with the Hungarian Civil Aviation Authority - required for any camera drone regardless of weight.
- Pass the A1/A3 test
Standard EASA online training and exam, valid across the EASA area for 5 years.
- Get insurance
Mandatory from 250 g, with cover tiered by weight class; confirm current minimums with your insurer.
- Set up MyDroneSpace
Create an account and check airspace status before every flight. Open
- Apply early for flights over populated areas
If you need to fly over a town or village, submit the occasional-airspace request to the military aviation authority roughly 35-40 days ahead - this cannot be done last-minute.
Sources
- EASA – Civil drones (Open category) · accessed 23 Sept 2026
- HungaroControl AIS - UAS Airspace Restrictions · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- CMS Law - Hungary changes rules for drone operations · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−15
- Pilot test (online)−10
- Remote ID−4
- Mandatory insurance−6
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−5
- Long lead time (40 days)−8
- Duty + VAT ≈ 32 %−19
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works