Can I fly a drone wherever I want in Malta?
You can fly a drone, but not where and how you like — Malta is one of the strictest places in the EU. The EU (EASA) rules in the "Open" category apply, with a maximum height of 120 metres. You must register as an operator with Transport Malta (TM-CAD) unless the drone is under 250g and has no camera; registration costs €25 a year on the tmcad.idronect.com portal, and for drones over 250g you must pass the A1/A3 online exam. The point that catches everyone out: all of Malta's airspace is controlled, so every flight needs authorisation from TM-CAD through the portal, with the date, location and height. There are prohibited zones (airports, hospitals, embassies, heritage sites, nature reserves) and distances from people and buildings. The myth: that a small drone under 250g "needs nothing" — even if you escape registration, you still need the airspace authorisation.
📋 The rules
- The EU (EASA) rules in the Open category apply, with a maximum of 120 metres above ground and keeping the drone in sight.
- You must register as an operator with TM-CAD (€25 a year) unless the drone is under 250g and has no camera or microphone.
- For drones over 250g you must pass the A1/A3 online exam and carry the operator number on the drone.
- Because all of Malta's airspace is controlled, every flight needs authorisation from TM-CAD submitted in advance with the date, location and height.
- There are prohibited or restricted geographical zones — airports, military bases, hospitals, embassies, heritage sites and reserves — and distances from people and buildings.
🔓 Exceptions
- A drone under 250g with no camera generally does not need registration, but it still falls under the need for airspace authorisation and the prohibited zones.
- The A1/A2/A3 sub-categories set how close you may go to people; small drones can fly closer, while larger drones must keep away (e.g. 150m from residential areas).
- Professional use or a restricted zone may require authorisation in the "Specific" category with an additional risk assessment.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Flying without registration or without the airspace authorisation, or in a prohibited zone, can bring enforcement action by Transport Malta and the police, confiscation of the drone and fines. Flying near an airport or over a crowd is particularly serious and can bring heavier penalties because of the risk to aviation safety and to people. Beyond that, if the drone injures someone or causes damage, you are civilly liable, and without proper insurance the cost falls on you. If the drone has a camera and films identifiable people or the neighbours' property, you also enter the privacy and GDPR rules of the IDPC, and the footage can become a separate complaint. The practical tip: before you fly, register, check the zone map on the TM-CAD portal, submit the flight request, and stay away from people, buildings and sensitive zones.
📎 Official sources
- Transport Malta · drones (registration, training and authorisation) →
- Transport Malta · geographical zones (where you cannot fly) →
- TM-CAD · registration and flight-request portal (iDronect) →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I have to register a small drone with a camera?
Yes, drones with a camera must be registered even if they are under 250g, because the exemption only applies to drones under 250g with no camera or microphone. Registration costs €25 a year with TM-CAD, and you must carry the operator number on the drone.
Can I fly the drone over the beach or countryside without authorisation?
No, because all of Malta's airspace is controlled, so every flight needs authorisation from TM-CAD submitted in advance. You also have to check the zone map, because many open places are near restricted zones such as airports or nature reserves.
How high can I fly the drone?
In the Open category the maximum is 120 metres above ground, and you must keep the drone within your sight. Near tall obstacles there can be different rules, and in almost every case you need the airspace authorisation before you fly.
What are the zones where I cannot fly?
Transport Malta has defined restricted zones around airports, military bases, hospitals, embassies, heritage sites and nature reserves. The TM-CAD portal shows an interactive map, and if you want to fly in a restricted zone you must meet conditions and get a specific permission.
What happens if I fly without registering or without authorisation?
You can face enforcement action, confiscation of the drone and fines, and the penalty is worse near an airport or over a crowd. If the drone causes damage or films people without a legal basis, civil liability and a privacy complaint can also be added.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “drone laws malta”
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