Can I fly a drone in Cyprus?
Yes — but you must register as an operator and check the airspace. Drone operations follow EU Regulations 2019/947 and 2019/945, overseen by the Civil Aviation Department. The open category (OPEN) covers drones under 25 kg flown within visual line of sight (VLOS) at a maximum height of 120 m. The operator (not the drone) registers online at drones.gov.cy, and the registration number is displayed on the drone. Subcategories A1/A3 need online training and a 40-question exam. No-fly zones and the area 8 km around airports are off-limits. Mainly: yes, with operator registration.
📋 The rules
- EU rules 2019/947 apply (Civil Aviation Dept)
- Open category: height up to 120 m, within line of sight
- Register the operator at drones.gov.cy
- Registration number on the drone
- A1/A3: online training + 40-question exam
🔓 Exceptions
- Drone under 250 g: no exam, but register if it has a camera
- Keep at least 8 km from airports/heliports
- Legacy drones pre-2023 without CE class: transitional rules
⚠️ Penalties & fines
You must keep at least 8 km from airports/heliports and not fly in no-fly geo-zones; the maps are published at drones.gov.cy. The maximum height is 120 m. Flying unregistered or in prohibited zones draws administrative fines and possible seizure of equipment. Beware a myth: "you register the drone" is false — in the Open/Specific categories you register yourself as the operator, not the device; only the Certified category registers the aircraft. Before flying, check the airspace at drones.gov.cy.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Must I register to fly a drone?
Yes, as an operator. In the Open and Specific categories you register online at drones.gov.cy as a UAS operator, and your registration number must be displayed on the drone. You don't register the device but yourself as the operator.
Do I need an exam?
For the A1/A3 subcategories of the open category you must complete online training and pass a 40-question exam. The certificate is valid for 5 years. For a drone under 250 g, reading the manual suffices, but operator registration still applies if it has a camera.
Where am I banned from flying?
Flying is prohibited in no-fly geo-zones and within 8 kilometres of airports and heliports. The zone maps are published at drones.gov.cy. Always check the airspace before each flight.
What's the maximum height?
In the open category, the maximum flight height is 120 metres, and the flight must stay within visual line of sight. The A1, A2 and A3 subcategories set the distances from people and buildings depending on the drone's weight.
What about old drones?
Drones bought before 1 January 2023 without a CE class label can fly in the open category under transitional rules. In any case, the operator must be registered and observe the height limits and no-fly zones.
🔎 Common searches
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