Can I fly a drone in Belgium?
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)
- Light drones (A1) may fly closer to people than A3 ones — never over a crowd
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Flying unregistered or in a banned zone: administrative and criminal fines running from hundreds to thousands of euros, with seizure of the aircraft a real prospect. Around airports, military domains, prisons and nuclear plants it turns serious fast. The privacy bill sits apart from the aviation rules: deliberately filming gardens or neighbours draws complaints to the data protection authority. And without your operator number stickered on the drone you are neither compliant nor identifiable. The 120-metre ceiling and line of sight still bind you.
📎 Official sources
- Federal Mobility Service · Drone geozones (NL/FR) →
- Skeyes · You & your drone →
- VRT NWS · Registration duty and no-fly zones (NL) →
❓ Frequently asked
Must I register a DJI Mini?
Yes — it carries a camera, so operator registration and the A1/A3 exam are mandatory. As a light drone it may fly closer to people, but never above a crowd. Registration is per operator, and the number goes on the aircraft.
May I fly over my own garden in town?
Only outside a geozone: check map.droneguide.be, because many cities restrict the airspace. The 120-metre ceiling and the line-of-sight rule apply above your own garden too. Some geozones are temporary.
Where do I see where flying is allowed?
At map.droneguide.be — the official map of no-fly and restricted zones, with authorisation requests built in. Check it before every flight, since some zones are temporary. Some zones need a skeyes or Defence authorisation.
May I film people?
Not in a targeted way and not without consent: GDPR and image rights apply from the air as well. Filming neighbours or their gardens is the classic complaint to the data protection authority.
Does my operator number go on the drone?
Yes: you register as an operator with the civil aviation authority and stick that number on the aircraft. Without registration and number you are in breach, even below 120 m and in sight.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “drone rules belgium”
- “droneguide map belgium”
- “drone registration belgium”
- “a1 a3 exam belgium”
- “fly drone brussels”
- “drone 250 grams registration”