EASA Open Category Explained: Flying a Drone Legally Across the EU

The EU has the cleanest, most reasonable drone framework in the world — and almost nobody who's flying recreationally seems to understand it. This is the plain-English version, written by someone who actually files paperwork in three EU countries.

The three categories

Every drone flight in EU airspace falls into one of three categories, defined by risk to people on the ground:

• Open Category. Low risk. No prior authorization needed. Covers almost all recreational and small-commercial flying. This is the category you care about.
• Specific Category. Medium risk. Requires an operational authorization from your national civil aviation authority, or compliance with a pre-defined "STS" scenario. Used for things like flying over crowds, beyond visual line of sight, or with heavier aircraft.
• Certified Category. High risk. Cargo drones, passenger drones, dangerous goods. Not relevant to anyone reading this.

Open Category subcategories: A1, A2, A3

Inside Open, there are three subcategories. The right one for any given flight depends on the drone's weight class and how close you intend to fly to people.

• A1 — fly over people (but not crowds). Drones under 250g (like a DJI Mini) or class-marked C0/C1. You can overfly individual uninvolved people incidentally; you cannot overfly assemblies of people.
• A2 — fly close to people. Drones up to 2kg, class-marked C2. Minimum 30m horizontal distance from uninvolved people (5m in low-speed mode). Requires the A2 Certificate of Competency — an online exam plus a practical self-declaration.
• A3 — fly far from people. Drones up to 25kg. Must be flown at least 150m horizontally from residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational areas. The "in the middle of a field" rule.

What every pilot has to do

1. Register as a UAS operator. Done once, with the civil aviation authority of the EU country where you legally reside. You get an operator ID that's valid across all EU member states. In Germany it's the LBA, in France the DGAC, in Poland the ULC, in Spain AESA. The process is online and costs €25–50.
2. Display the operator ID on the drone. A sticker on the body. It must be readable without tools.
3. Pass the A1/A3 online training and exam. Free, online, takes a couple of hours. You get a certificate valid for 5 years across the EU.
4. If you'll fly under A2: take the additional A2 exam at an accredited body. Cost varies (€30–150).
5. Carry third-party liability insurance. Mandatory in many EU states. ~€60/year for sub-250g; higher for bigger drones.

Where you cannot fly, regardless of category

Every member state designates additional geographic zones — airports, military bases, nature reserves, prisons, government buildings, certain national parks. These are published on each country's official drone map. The most useful ones:

• Germany: DIPUL maptool
• France: Géoportail drones layer
• Spain: ENAIRE Drones
• Poland: PansaUTM map
• Italy: D-Flight

Common myths that get pilots fined

Most enforcement I've seen at airports and on beaches comes from one of these mistakes:

• "I'm under 250g so the rules don't apply." The weight class changes which subcategory you fall into — it doesn't exempt you from registration, no-fly zones, or the 120m ceiling.
• "I have a permit in Germany, so I can fly anywhere in the EU."Your operator ID is portable. National geographic restrictions are not. You still have to check the local map.
• "It's a tourist area, so the rules are looser." The opposite. Cities, harbors, monuments, and beaches all have specific local restrictions.
• "FPV racing drones don't count." They do. Privately-built drones fall into the "legacy" / transitional category and have stricter rules.

The practical workflow I use

Before any commercial shoot, my checklist is the same:

1. Operator ID + A1/A3 cert + A2 cert in the camera bag (digital copies on phone).
2. Insurance certificate accessible offline.
3. Local geo-zone map checked the morning of the flight.
4. If the client is a hotel or municipality, written consent on file before flying over their property.
5. Pre-flight log entry in my flight book — date, location, duration, max altitude. Required for commercial work in most member states.

Setting this up once, properly, takes about a weekend. After that you fly with confidence anywhere from Lisbon to Helsinki.

EASA Open Category FAQ

Do I need a licence to fly a drone in the EU?

For any drone over 250g, or any drone with a camera (regardless of weight), yes. You need to register as an operator with your country's civil aviation authority, complete the free online A1/A3 course and exam, and label your drone with your operator number. If you plan to fly closer than 30m to people you also need the A2 Certificate of Competency, which is a paid theory exam through an approved entity.

Is my A1/A3 certificate valid across all EU countries?

Yes. EASA rules harmonised drone regulation across all EU member states plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Your operator number and pilot competency certificates from any member state are valid everywhere in the zone. Local rules on where you can fly (nature parks, city centres, airport zones) still vary — always check the country's UAV geographic-zone map before you launch.

What does the C-class marking on a drone mean?

The C-class marks (C0 through C6) are EASA's product categories, and they determine which subcategory of Open you can fly in. A C0 drone (under 250g, speed-limited) can fly in A1 near people. A C2 drone (under 4kg, with a low-speed mode) needs the A2 certificate to fly close to bystanders. As of 2024 you can no longer place a new uncertified "legacy" drone on the EU market — new aircraft must carry a C-marking to be legally sold or imported.

Do I need drone insurance in the EU?

Legally, only in some member states (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland all require third-party liability cover). Practically, everywhere — if you're doing commercial work, insurance is what any professional client will ask for before the shoot. €1M coverage costs around €200–400 a year through specialist brokers.

Can I fly in national parks in Europe?

Almost never without a specific permit. The Puez-Odle (Dolomites), Tre Cime, and every UNESCO natural site I've encountered prohibit recreational drone use entirely. Some parks issue commercial permits with 30–90 days' notice — factor that into any shoot involving protected areas.

For a flight-by-flight example of how this looks in practice, see the Costa del Sol drone route. Looking for an EASA-compliant drone pilot for a specific shoot? Get in touch.