Drone Laws in Spain

Spain Drone Regulations

According to Spain’s national aviation authority, the State Agency of Air Security (AESA), flying a drone is legal in Spain, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

If you’d like to contact AESA directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: drones.aesa@seguridadaerea.es / +34 91 396 80 00

Why fly a drone in Spain? To get great aerial shots like these!

General Rules for Flying a Drone Within the European Union

Spain is a part of the European Union and therefore must abide by the drone regulations put in place by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In addition to these regulations, Spain also has regulations that are country-specific.

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone within the European Union.

There are three operational categories that determine drone regulations based on the weight of the drone and the intended operation. This section will only cover the Open Category, to see all European Union laws and categories, click here.

A drone can be operated in the “Open “category if:

• The drone has one of the class identification labels 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.
• The drone was purchased before 1 January 2023, with no class identification label as above.
• The drone has a maximum take-off mass of less than 25 kg (55 lbs).
• The remote pilot keeps the drone at a safe distance away from people.
• The drone will not be operated directly over people unless it has a class identification label or is lighter than 250 g (0.55 lbs). (Please refer to subcategories of operations: A1, A2, and A3 to find out where you can fly with your drone).
• The remote pilot will maintain a visual line of sight (VLOS) or the remote pilot will be assisted by a UA observer.
• The remote pilot will not operate the drone above 120m (400ft).
• The drone will not carry any dangerous goods and will not drop any material.

General Rules for Flying a Drone in Spain

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Spain.

• Regional authorities have the ability to issue their own drone regulation, so it’s a good idea to do local research before flying.
• A permit is required for commercial drone flights.
• Liability insurance is required for commercial drone pilots.
• Drones may be flown up to 120 meters (394 feet) above the ground.
• Drones may only be flown during the day. For drones with a take-off weight of less than 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds), flights may also be carried out at night as long as a flight altitude of 50 meters (164 feet) above the ground is not exceeded.
• Drones must always be flown within the visual line of sight. During FPV flights a second visual observer must monitor the drone with the eye and be in direct contact with the pilot.
• Drones must have a fireproof identification plate on both the aircraft and the remote controller. The identification plate must include the owner’s name, phone number, address, and serial number.
• Drone pilots must maintain a distance of at least 8 kilometers (5 miles) to airports in uncontrolled airspace, or 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) on approved BVLOS flights.
• Drone pilots must maintain a distance of 150 meters (492 feet) from buildings, and a distance of 50 meters (164 feet) or more from people not involved in the flight.
• For flights in national parks, you need permission from the AESA. The use of drones in no-fly zones must be approved by the Spanish Ministry of Defense (processing time is approximately one week).
• Drones may be flown in urban areas/people if the drone weighs less than 250 grams and if it is being operated under 20 meters (65 feet AGL).

For more information on Spain’s drone laws, see this page on the AESA website. Another helpful resource to consult is ENAIRE, the leading air traffic control provider in Spain. They offer drone pilots and operators tools to consult the NOTAM and the ENAIRE drone map to help plan recreational or professional drone flights.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in Spain? Send us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in Spain can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Spain? Here you go: