🚁 Can I fly a drone in Belgium?

Q: Must I register a DJI Mini?

Yes — it has a camera, so operator registration and the A1/A3 exam are mandatory (as a light drone it may fly closer to people though).

Q: May I fly over my own garden in town?

Only outside geozones — check map.droneguide.be; many cities restrict the airspace, and the 120 m/VLOS rules still apply.

Q: Where do I see where flying is allowed?

map.droneguide.be — the official map of no-fly and restricted zones, with authorisation requests built in.

Q: May I film people?

Not targeted without consent — GDPR and image rights apply from the air too; filming the neighbours is the classic complaint.

With conditions

Quick answer

Yes — but nearly every drone needs registration, and Belgium is wall-to-wall geozones. Under EU rules you must register as an operator with the civil aviation authority once your drone has a camera or weighs 250 g or more, and pass the online A1/A3 exam. Flying happens in the open category: max 120 metres, always within sight, never over crowds. The Belgian reality: geozones everywhere — cities, airports, military domains, nature areas, prisons and nuclear plants are banned or restricted; check map.droneguide.be before every flight. In built-up areas the subcategories rule: light drones (A1) may fly closer, heavier ones (A3) keep 150 m from buildings. Fines run from hundreds to thousands of euros.

📋 The rules

Operator registration (BCAA) + A1/A3 exam for cameras or ≥ 250 g
Open category: max 120 m, visual line of sight
Check geozones at map.droneguide.be before each flight
A3 drones: 150 m from residential/commercial areas
Never over crowds; operator ID stickered on the drone

🔓 Exceptions

Toy drones < 250 g without cameras: no registration (flight rules remain)
Geozone flights: only with authorisation (skeyes/Defence via droneguide)

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Flying unregistered or in banned zones: administrative and criminal fines (hundreds to thousands of euros), possible seizure; privacy breaches (filming gardens) add data-authority complaints on top.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-06-20

❓ Frequently asked

Must I register a DJI Mini?

Yes — it has a camera, so operator registration and the A1/A3 exam are mandatory (as a light drone it may fly closer to people though).

May I fly over my own garden in town?

Only outside geozones — check map.droneguide.be; many cities restrict the airspace, and the 120 m/VLOS rules still apply.

Where do I see where flying is allowed?

map.droneguide.be — the official map of no-fly and restricted zones, with authorisation requests built in.

May I film people?

Not targeted without consent — GDPR and image rights apply from the air too; filming the neighbours is the classic complaint.

🔎 Common searches

What people search to land here:

“drone rules belgium”
“droneguide map belgium”
“drone registration belgium”
“a1 a3 exam belgium”
“fly drone brussels”