UK Drone Operating Categories (2025)
Find out which category you fall under before you fly. The rules you must follow depend on your drone, how and
where you fly it, and the risk posed to other people.
Always check the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website for the latest requirements and guidance.
Open Category Low Risk
Who is this category for?
For most recreational flyers, hobbyists, and many straightforward commercial users.
- No Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) authorisation is needed if you fly according to published rules set out in the Drone & Model Aircraft Code.
- Always keep your drone below 120 m (400 ft) above ground level (AGL) and within your unaided visual line of sight (VLOS).
- You must have an Operator ID if your drone has a camera and/or is 250 g or above.
- You must have a Flyer ID to fly drones weighing 250 g or more.
- Never fly over crowds or within Flight Restriction Zones (FRZs) unless you have specific permission.
Open Category Subcategories
- Drone weight: Less than 250 g.
- Qualification requirements: Operator ID (if the drone has a camera), Flyer ID recommended.
- Where you can fly: Over people (but never over crowds), in all areas including residential and commercial spaces.
Key rules:
- Never fly over assemblies or groups of people.
- Respect privacy and follow the Drone Code at all times.
- Drone weight: Less than 2 kg.
- Qualification requirements: Operator ID, Flyer ID, and A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC).
- Where you can fly: In built-up areas, but you must not intentionally fly closer than 50 m horizontally to uninvolved people and must never fly over them.
Key rules:
- You can fly in residential, commercial, recreational, or industrial areas.
- Never intentionally fly closer than 50 m horizontally to uninvolved people and never fly over them.
- Never fly over assemblies or groups of people.
- Respect privacy and follow the Drone Code at all times.
- Drone weight: Less than 25 kg.
- Qualification requirements: Operator ID, Flyer ID.
- Where you can fly: Far away from people and built-up areas.
Key rules:
- Stay at least 150 m away horizontally from residential, commercial, recreational, or industrial areas.
- Never fly near or over uninvolved people.
- Never fly over assemblies or groups of people.
- Respect privacy and follow the Drone Code at all times.
Specific Category Moderate Risk
Who is this category for?
For operations with greater risk than allowed in the Open Category, including commercial operations in urban areas, heavier drones, or flights closer to people.
- CAA Operational Authorisation is required before you can fly.
- Used for business, industrial, or complex operations such as surveying, inspection, or media work in cities.
- Standard operations: Most VLOS work in built-up areas is covered by 'Pre-Defined Risk Assessment 01 (PDRA-01)'.
- Custom operations: If your flight isn't be covered by a standard PDRA-01, you must apply via the UK SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) process.
- UK SORA applies to activities like Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), flying swarms, flying closer to people than 50m, dropping items/crop spraying, and other non-standard operations.
- Note: UK SORA replaced the previous Operating Safety Case (OSC) system in April 2025.
- Pilot competency: You need the right qualification for your operation, such as a General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC) or a Level 1 Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC-L1), RPC-L2, RPC-L3 or RPC-L4.
- Safety management: A risk assessment and appropriate safety management system are required.
Examples:
- Operating in towns or cities with heavier drones.
- Flying closer to uninvolved people than Open Category allows.
- Specialised work such as industrial inspection, infrastructure surveys, or BVLOS operations.
Certified Category High Risk
Who is this category for?
For operations equivalent in risk to manned aviation, such as very large drones over crowds, passenger transport, or carriage of high-risk dangerous goods.
- Full CAA certification is required for the aircraft, operator, and remote pilots - this is the same as for manned aviation.
- Generally applies to very complex operations run by specialist organisations.
Examples:
- Drones with a characteristic dimension greater than 3 metres flying over large assemblies of people.
- Drone passenger or air taxi services.
- Carriage of high-risk dangerous goods (e.g. hazardous chemicals) over built-up areas.
Note: Very few UK operators fall under the Certified Category. If you are unsure, you are almost certainly not in this category.
Key Points to Remember
- Operator ID: Needed by anyone responsible for a drone with a camera or over 250g.
- Flyer ID: Needed by anyone who flies a drone weighing 250g or more, or any drone with a camera.
- Follow the Drone & Model Aircraft Code: This sets out safety and privacy requirements.
- Never fly above 120 m (400 ft) or outside VLOS unless you have specific CAA authorisation.
- Check for local restrictions: You must get permission to fly in FRZs or sensitive locations.