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Flying a Drone in Spain as an EU Visitor: Rules, Zones and Permits
In short
- If you are registered as a drone operator in another EU or EASA country, you do not register again in Spain, and your A1/A3, A2 or STS certificate is valid.
- Before every flight, check the ENAIRE Drones map for geographical zones.
- Near airports, inside controlled airspace or above 60 m in it, you need coordination with ENAIRE: allow at least 15 days.
- In towns and cities, notify the Ministry of the Interior at least 5 calendar days before you fly.
- National parks and protected areas need the managing body’s authorisation; most national parks ban leisure flights.
- Specific category flights (STS, PDRA, SORA) need a cross-border procedure with AESA.
Spain is one of the most rewarding countries in Europe to fly a drone: coastlines, mountains, islands and historic cities. It also has one of the most layered sets of local rules. EU regulations apply here as everywhere else, but Spain adds its own national framework, Royal Decree 517/2024, which defines the geographical zones, the coordination with air traffic services and the notification to the police authorities. This guide walks you through everything a pilot from another European country needs to know, step by step.
Do I need to register again to fly in Spain?
No. Under EU rules you register once, as a UAS operator, in the country where you live (or where your company has its main place of business), and that registration is valid in every EASA country. Registering in more than one country is not allowed, so you do not register with AESA, the Spanish aviation safety agency.
What you must do is display your operator registration number on every drone you fly and, for drones with a C1, C2 or C3 class label, load it into the drone’s Remote ID system. Spain’s 2024 decree had also created a national register of the drones themselves, but the Supreme Court annulled it in June 2025, so there is currently no separate Spanish aircraft registration.
Is my drone pilot certificate valid in Spain?
Yes. EU pilot certificates (A1/A3, A2 and STS) are recognised in the 27 EU member states plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, 31 countries in total. The same Open category limits apply in Spain as at home: a maximum height of 120 m, visual line of sight and the subcategory rules of your certificate. If you do not have a certificate yet, our A1/A3 course is online and asynchronous, and the A2 and STS courses build on it.
Do I need drone insurance in Spain?
Royal Decree 517/2024 makes third-party liability insurance compulsory in these cases:
- Drones with a maximum take-off mass of 20 kg or more, under the general EU aviation insurance rules.
- Drones under 20 kg flown in subcategory A2, in the Specific category or in the Certified category.
For A1 and A3 flights under 20 kg the decree does not make it compulsory, but AESA recommends cover for every operation, and we do too. If you rely on a policy from your home country, check in writing that it covers operations in Spain and the required limits.
Where can I fly? Geographical zones in Spain
The single most important tool is the ENAIRE Drones map (also available as an app), published by the Spanish air navigation service provider. It shows the geographical zones in force at any location. AESA explains how each zone works in its guide to UAS geographical zones. The main types:
| Zone | What applies |
|---|---|
| Aerodromes and airports | Coordination with the aerodrome and the air traffic service provider. Around public airports the zone extends to 6 km (up to 45 m) and 10 km (45 to 900 m); smaller distances apply to heliports and restricted-use aerodromes. |
| Controlled airspace | Free to fly only in visual line of sight, at or below 60 m and outside aerodrome zones. Anything else needs coordination with ENAIRE (see below). |
| Urban areas | Allowed with conditions: Open category distances from buildings and people, no flights over assemblies of people, and a prior notification to the Ministry of the Interior. |
| Critical infrastructure | Safety buffers around power lines, plants and similar facilities. You need the permission of the owner or manager. |
| Military areas | Express permission from the Ministry of Defence or the facility manager. |
| Protected natural areas | Flights must be coordinated in advance with the body that manages the area. Many national parks ban leisure flights entirely. |
Zones can change, and temporary restrictions are added for events, so check the map on the day of each flight, not only when planning. For a deeper look at the national framework, read our article on the Spanish Royal Decree on UAS.
Flying in controlled airspace or near airports
Spain has a lot of controlled airspace around its airports, and on the coast and the islands it covers many of the places visitors want to fly. You can fly in controlled airspace without coordination only if all three conditions are met: visual line of sight, no higher than 60 m above the ground, and outside the aerodrome zones. Otherwise, the flight must be coordinated with ENAIRE through its Planea platform:
- Strategic phase: you submit an operational risk evaluation and mitigation study (EARO).
- Pre-tactical phase: you submit the activity form for the specific flights, which ENAIRE’s coordination department confirms.
ENAIRE asks for requests at least 15 days in advance, providers can take up to a month to coordinate a complete application, and you receive the final confirmation at least 72 hours before the flight. Outside ENAIRE’s area, coordination is with the relevant air traffic service provider or aerodrome manager. Our article on when to coordinate in controlled airspace in Spain goes into more detail.
Flying in towns, cities and over people
This is the rule most visitors miss. Before flying in an urban area, operators who must be registered (which includes most drones with a camera, even under 250 g) have to send a prior notification to the Ministry of the Interior at least 5 calendar days before the flight. It is done online through the Ministry’s electronic office, and one notification can cover all your flights within a 5-day window.
The usual Open category limits also apply: no flights over assemblies of people, and minimum horizontal distances from buildings that depend on your drone’s class (for example 30 m for a C2 drone, or 5 m in low-speed mode). Flights over assemblies of people are only possible in the Specific category, with an AESA authorisation and the Interior notification.
Beaches, islands and national parks
Beaches are usually inside urban zones or busy with people, so the Interior notification and the distance rules normally apply, and some municipalities add local restrictions in summer.
The Canary and Balearic Islands follow the same national rules, but their airports create large zones around Palma, Ibiza, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and many coastal areas are protected Natura 2000 sites. Check the map carefully before planning a shot.
National parks generally prohibit leisure flights. Ordesa y Monte Perdido, for example, bans them in the park and its peripheral protection zone, and Teide in Tenerife does not allow recreational flights. Professional, scientific or filming work can sometimes be authorised by the park’s managing body, so plan several weeks ahead.
Professional and Specific category flights in Spain
If your operation falls outside the Open category, for example flying over people, beyond visual line of sight or with a heavier drone, you are in the Specific category. Since 1 January 2026 the old Spanish national standard scenarios no longer exist, and only the EU standard scenarios STS-01 and STS-02 apply.
As a foreign operator, you complete a cross-border procedure with AESA under Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2019/947: you submit your STS declaration or your operational authorisation from your home authority, together with how you will comply with Spain’s local conditions. A Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) is valid across the EU. PDRA and SORA applications go through AESA’s electronic office. We prepare STS operations manuals and operational authorisations for operators across Europe.
Privacy and data protection
Spain applies the GDPR and its own data protection law strictly. If your drone records people, vehicles or private property in a way that identifies them, you are processing personal data. Avoid filming identifiable people without consent, do not publish footage of private homes, and read the Spanish data protection authority’s guide on drones and data protection.
What are the fines?
Drone infringements are sanctioned under Spain’s Aviation Safety Act (Law 21/2003). For non-commercial operators, serious infringements are fined between €45,001 and €90,000, and very serious ones up to €225,000; for professional operators the amounts are much higher. Police and data protection authorities can add their own penalties. In practice, most problems come from flying in an unchecked zone or skipping the Interior notification, both easy to avoid.
Your pre-flight checklist for Spain
| Step | Who | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Check geographical zones | ENAIRE Drones map | Every flight |
| Notify flights in urban areas | Ministry of the Interior | At least 5 calendar days |
| Coordinate controlled airspace or aerodrome zones | ENAIRE (Planea) or the aerodrome | At least 15 days; up to 1 month |
| Fly in a protected natural area | Park or area managing body | Several weeks |
| Specific category operation | AESA cross-border procedure | Plan well in advance |
| Insurance | Your insurer | Before the trip |
Tired of the paperwork? Let us handle it
Based in Barcelona
We take care of your permits in Spain
Spain is our home market. Tell us where and when you want to fly, and we check the zones, coordinate with ENAIRE and the airports, file the Ministry of the Interior notification and request the park authorisations, so you can focus on the flight.
Tell us about your flight and we will take it from there
Pilots
Need your EU certificate before the trip?
Our A1/A3, A2 and STS courses are online and asynchronous, from an Official Designated Training Entity, and valid in 31 countries.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fly my drone in Spain with my EU registration?
Yes. Your operator registration from your EU or EASA country of residence is valid in Spain, so you do not register again with AESA. Display your operator number on the drone and load it into its Remote ID if it has a C1, C2 or C3 class label.
Is my A1/A3 certificate valid in Spain?
Yes. EU pilot certificates (A1/A3, A2 and STS) are valid in all 31 EASA countries, including Spain.
How do I check where I can fly a drone in Spain?
Use the ENAIRE Drones map or app, which shows every geographical zone in force. Check it on the day of each flight, because temporary restrictions are added for events.
Do I need to notify the police before flying in a Spanish city?
Yes. Operators who must be registered have to notify the Ministry of the Interior at least 5 calendar days before flying in an urban area. It is done online, and one notification can cover your flights within a 5-day window.
Can I fly a drone on a beach in Spain?
Often only with conditions. Many beaches are in urban zones or crowded, so the Interior notification and the distance rules apply, flights over groups of people are not allowed in the Open category, and some municipalities add local bans in summer.
Can I fly a drone in Spanish national parks?
Leisure flights are generally prohibited in national parks such as Ordesa y Monte Perdido and Teide. Professional or scientific flights may be authorised by the park’s managing body.
Is drone insurance mandatory in Spain?
It is compulsory for drones of 20 kg or more and for flights in subcategory A2, the Specific category or the Certified category. For other flights it is strongly recommended. Check that a foreign policy explicitly covers Spain.
Can someone handle the permits for me?
Yes. EU Drone Port is based in Barcelona and handles flight coordination in Spain: zone checks, ENAIRE coordination, Ministry of the Interior notifications and protected area authorisations.