Can you fly your drone in Australia?
Whether you can fly depends on your drone, your registration and exactly where you fly. Here is what applies: key rules, no-fly zones and the official sources, in one place.
Regulator
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
Framework
CASR Part 101 (CASA-administered)
Pilot credential
Remote Pilot Licence
KEY RULES
- Max 120 m above ground level (AGL)
- Minimum 30 m from any uninvolved person — never fly over people
- Drones over 250 g: do not fly within 5.5 km of a controlled airport or in a runway approach/departure path out to 7 km (7–8.5 km: max 90 m). Drones 250 g or less may fly up to 45 m above ground within 5.5 km, but never over or in approach/departure paths, inside the airport boundary, or where they create a hazard to aircraft.
- Within 5.5 km of an airport without a control tower, or within 1.4 km of a helicopter landing site: if you become aware of a crewed aircraft or helicopter, don't launch — move away from its path and land as soon as possible
- Never fly over or near emergency operations (police, ambulance, search and rescue, firefighting) or areas affecting public safety
- Recreational flying: daylight hours only (civil twilight to civil twilight). Night flying requires RePL + ReOC authorization
- Always maintain visual line of sight (VLOS)
- Only fly one drone at a time
- No registration required for recreational drones (any weight under 25 kg, standard rules apply)
- Flying for work (any weight, incl. under 250 g): register the drone (free up to 500 g; AUD 40 per drone over 500 g) and hold operator accreditation or a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL). Over 2 kg, a RePL and ReOC are generally also required. Drones registered abroad cannot be registered in Australia — for work flights, get CASA permission via myCASA
- National park rules vary by state — check before flying (some ban drones entirely)
No-fly zones and restrictions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence or certificate to fly a drone in Australia?
In Australia, drones under 2 kg flown recreationally need no licence but must follow CASA's standard operating conditions; flying for work (any weight, even under 250 g) needs operator accreditation or a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL), and over 2 kg generally a RePL plus ReOC. Register drones flown for business. Full requirements and official sources below.
Can I fly a drone as a tourist or foreign visitor in Australia?
Yes — recreational flyers, tourists included, need no registration, licence or accreditation in Australia, whatever the drone weighs. Follow CASA's standard rules: max 120 m, 30 m from people, and for drones over 250 g no flying within 5.5 km of controlled airports; check state park bans. Only commercial flying triggers registration. Rules for foreign pilots can change, so always double-check with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) before you travel, and see the official sources below.
What are the most important drone rules in Australia?
The short version: Max 120 m above ground level (AGL). On top of that: Minimum 30 m from any uninvolved person — never fly over people. Also: Drones over 250 g: do not fly within 5.5 km of a controlled airport or in a runway approach/departure path out to 7 km (7–8.5 km: max 90 m). Drones 250 g or less may fly up to 45 m above ground within 5.5 km, but never over or in approach/departure paths, inside the airport boundary, or where they create a hazard to aircraft. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Australia, so always check the official sources.
Where am I not allowed to fly a drone in Australia?
What you need to avoid are the restricted zones — typically around airports, prisons, military areas and protected nature areas. You'll find the official map for Australia under Sources below, and the DroneKoll app shows current NOTAMs (temporary airspace restrictions) for Australia.
Who regulates drone flying in Australia?
Drone flying in Australia is regulated by Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The airspace itself is managed by Airservices Australia. You will find both organisations' official pages under Sources below — those are the links worth bookmarking.
Good to know
OFFICIAL SOURCES
- CASA — Drone rulesOfficial CASA rules for recreational and commercial drone flyingcasa.gov.au
- OpenSky — Airspace mapCASA-verified airspace data with real-time restrictionswing.com
- CASA — RegistrationRegister your drone for commercial use via the myCASA portalcasa.gov.au
- drones.gov.au — Local rulesState, territory and local drone rules with interactive map of 7,600+ restricted areasdrones.gov.au
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- CASA — Operator accreditation (free)Free online accreditation for commercial drone use under 2 kgcasa.gov.au
- CASA — Remote Pilot Licence (RePL)Full licence for commercial operations with drones over 2 kgcasa.gov.au
- ok2fly — Flight planningAlternative flight planning tool for Australian airspaceok2fly.app
Always check official CASA sources before flying. This page is a guide — not a legal authority. State, territory and national park rules may add restrictions beyond CASA regulations.
The app
The whole picture, up to date — in your pocket
DroneKoll shows weather and current NOTAMs on the map — with a flight log and checklists built in.
More in the app:Interactive zone map · Flight log · Planning & measuring · Pre-flight checklists · Flying abroad
