DroneKoll

Can you fly your drone in Greece?

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

Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA)

Framework

EU 2019/947 (EASA Open Category) + national enforcement framework

Pilot credential

Remote Pilot Certificate

BASIC RULES (EASA OPEN CATEGORY)

  1. In the open category, the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance from the closest point of the earth's surface — not simply straight down, so near a slope the ground beside you may also count. Within 50 m of a tall artificial obstacle (over 105 m), the maximum height may be increased up to 15 m above the height of the obstacle at the request of the entity responsible for the obstacle.
  2. You must register as a drone operator if your drone weighs 250 g or more (or could transfer more than 80 J of kinetic energy on impact) — this applies even to toys. Below 250 g, registration is still required if the drone has a sensor able to capture personal data, unless it qualifies as a toy under the EU Toy Safety Directive. Pilot training/certificate requirements are separate and depend on the drone's class and subcategory.
  3. Your operator registration number must be affixed to all your drones and entered into the remote identification system (Remote ID), if the drone has one. Registration in Greece is renewed after 3 years.
  4. Visitors from non-EU/EASA countries: if your drone requires registration (see above) and you are not already registered in another EASA state, register in Greece before flying (without a Greek tax number (AFM): a special application with a passport on the HCAA website). Residents of another EASA state register in their country of residence. Training and pilot certificates from non-EU countries are not recognised in the EU.
  5. Third-party liability insurance is required for every drone used professionally, as well as for privately used drones of 4 kg and above (national legislation).
  6. In Greece the minimum age is 16 — no age requirement applies to flying a class C0 drone that is a toy in subcategory A1, a privately built drone under 250 g, or under the direct supervision of a certified pilot.
  7. Areas such as the Acropolis, Delphi and Olympia fall within Yellow/Magenta zones — flights are permitted under conditions or fully prohibited depending on the specific area, and prior approval from the HCAA is required at least 5 working days in advance.
  8. In the open category, keep the drone within your direct visual line of sight, with the naked eye (glasses/contact lenses are allowed; binoculars or a screen do not count) — or with the help of an observer, with clear and effective communication between you at all times, so that you monitor the airspace together and avoid collisions. Follow-me mode is a separate exception, permitted up to 50 m from the pilot.
  9. Do not fly over assemblies of people. Rules for uninvolved persons depend on subcategory, class mark and operating conditions; check the official matrix.
  10. There is no single EU-wide distance you must keep from airports. Restrictions near airports are published as geographical zones (Article 15), whose shape and size vary from airport to airport. Before flying near an airport, airfield or heliport, check the official drone zone map; flying within a control zone (CTR) normally requires prior permission from air traffic control.
  11. Night flight is permitted under the EASA open-category baseline when the required green flashing light is used, unless a current geographic zone or national rule imposes a stricter condition.
  12. Island airports: Check the DAGR map carefully—many islands have large control zones (CTR).

No-fly zones and restrictions

Current NOTAM data in the app · rules & checklists
Open the official drone map ↗

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence or certificate to fly a drone in Greece?

Two separate things are easily confused here. Registration as a drone operator is required as soon as your drone weighs 250 g or more, or has a camera or sensor able to capture personal data — so it covers many sub-250 g drones too, unless they qualify for the toy exemption. The remote pilot's certificate of competency (Remote Pilot Certificate) is something else: you need it once your drone weighs 250 g or more, or carries a C1 or higher class mark. A camera drone under 250 g therefore needs registration, but no exam. You get the certificate by passing an online theory test with Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), and it is then valid across the whole EASA area, not just here.

Can I fly a drone as a tourist or foreign visitor in Greece?

Yes — EU drone rules apply to visitors too. If you are already registered as a drone operator in another EASA country, that registration and your A1/A3 certificate (also A2) are valid in Greece as well. Coming from outside the EASA area, you register once — in the first EASA country where you plan to fly, here with Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA). Every designated archaeological site in Greece is a no-fly zone without prior permission — this covers many famous tourist spots such as the Acropolis. Check the DAGR map before flying, and expect filming permits to involve the Ministry of Culture.

What are the most important drone rules in Greece?

The short version: In the open category, the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance from the closest point of the earth's surface — not simply straight down, so near a slope the ground beside you may also count. Within 50 m of a tall artificial obstacle (over 105 m), the maximum height may be increased up to 15 m above the height of the obstacle at the request of the entity responsible for the obstacle. On top of that: You must register as a drone operator if your drone weighs 250 g or more (or could transfer more than 80 J of kinetic energy on impact) — this applies even to toys. Below 250 g, registration is still required if the drone has a sensor able to capture personal data, unless it qualifies as a toy under the EU Toy Safety Directive. Pilot training/certificate requirements are separate and depend on the drone's class and subcategory. Also: Your operator registration number must be affixed to all your drones and entered into the remote identification system (Remote ID), if the drone has one. Registration in Greece is renewed after 3 years. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Greece, so always check the official sources.

Where am I not allowed to fly a drone in Greece?

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 Greece under Sources below, and the DroneKoll app shows current NOTAMs (temporary airspace restrictions) for Greece.

Who regulates drone flying in Greece?

Drone flying in Greece is regulated by Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), which handles both the rules and the airspace. Their official pages are linked under Sources below — that is where changes appear first.

Good to know

OFFICIAL SOURCES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Before every flight, always check the official sources of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) and the DAGR map. This page is a guide — not a legal authority. Greece follows EASA regulations with national additions, including, among other things, submitting an application to the HCAA at least 5 working days in advance for flights in yellow/magenta DAGR zones where flying is permitted under conditions.

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

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Drone rules in nearby countries