DroneKoll

Can you fly your drone in Poland?

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

Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego (ULC)

Framework

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

Pilot credential

Drone Pilot Qualifications

KEY RULES (EASA OPEN CATEGORY)

  1. In the open category, the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance to the closest point of the Earth's surface — not simply straight down, so near a slope the terrain 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 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 is considered a toy under the EU Toy Safety Directive. Pilot training/certificate requirements are separate and depend on the drone's class and subcategory.
  3. From 13 November 2025, the operator of a drone with a take-off mass from 250 g to 20 kg must have compulsory third-party liability (OC) insurance (minimum sum insured: the equivalent of 50,000 SDR per occurrence) — also for recreational flights.
  4. In Poland, as of 27 February 2025, the minimum age for the open category is 14; the free online training and exam are valid for 5 years. Younger people may fly under the direct supervision of a pilot aged at least 14 who holds the required competency (exceptions: a C0 toy drone in A1 and a privately built drone below 250 g).
  5. Every drone flight in Poland — regardless of mass or location — must be reported to PAŻP before take-off via Check-In in the DroneTower app (Art. 156a(2) of the Aviation Law, Prawo lotnicze). In some places, including parts of DRA-R CTR zones around controlled aerodromes, a mission approved by PAŻP is also needed (Kreator Misji KSID on drony.gov.pl) — you then take off only after the TWR controller's acceptance in DroneTower.
  6. DRA-R CTR zones around controlled aerodromes, open category: closer than 1 km from the aerodrome — no flights; 1–6 km — above 30 m AGL only with A2 competency (drones > 0.9 kg also with an approved mission), maximum 50 m AGL; beyond 6 km — maximum 100 m AGL. In a CTR, at least A1/A3 competency is required (also for drones < 250 g). Different rules apply in the Rzeszów CTR (EPRZ). Check exact boundaries and conditions in DroneTower or DroneMap.
  7. Warsaw: the city centre is covered by the permanent EPP21 WARSZAWA II zone — drone flights only with the zone manager's permission; check conditions and contact details in DroneTower.
  8. In the open category, you must keep the drone within your own unaided sight (glasses/contact lenses are fine; binoculars or a screen don't count) — or fly with the help of an observer, maintaining clear and effective communication with each other at all times to jointly scan the airspace and avoid collisions. “Follow-me” mode is a separate exception, allowed 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. Restricted DRA-R zones are divided by the likelihood of obtaining permission: DRA-RH (high), DRA-RM (medium), DRA-RL (low) — not by height (ULC President's Guidelines No. 4/2025, Wytyczne nr 4/2025 Prezesa ULC). Check drony.gov.pl before flying in a restricted zone.
  11. C1, C2 and C3 class drones must fly with remote identification (Remote ID) switched on and up to date, broadcasting the operator number; this does not apply to classes C0/C4, or to drones without a class mark placed on the market before 1 January 2024 or privately built (in A1 below 250 g or in A3).
  12. 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.
  13. National parks may be covered by DRA-R geographical zones — flights only with the zone manager's permission; check the zones in DroneTower before flying (this also applies to Natura 2000 sites and nature reserves).

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 Poland?

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 (Drone Pilot Qualifications) 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 Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego (ULC), 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 Poland?

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 Poland as well. Coming from outside the EASA area, you register once — in the first EASA country where you plan to fly, here with Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego (ULC). Every drone flight in Poland — any weight, even sub-250 g — must be checked in via PANSA's DroneTower app before takeoff, and since 13 November 2025 liability insurance has been mandatory for drones of 250 g to 20 kg, recreational flying included.

What are the most important drone rules in Poland?

The short version: In the open category, the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance to the closest point of the Earth's surface — not simply straight down, so near a slope the terrain 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 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 is considered a toy under the EU Toy Safety Directive. Pilot training/certificate requirements are separate and depend on the drone's class and subcategory. Also: From 13 November 2025, the operator of a drone with a take-off mass from 250 g to 20 kg must have compulsory third-party liability (OC) insurance (minimum sum insured: the equivalent of 50,000 SDR per occurrence) — also for recreational flights. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Poland, so always check the official sources.

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

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

Who regulates drone flying in Poland?

Drone flying in Poland is regulated by Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego (ULC). The airspace itself is managed by PANSA. You will find both organisations' official pages under Sources below — those are the links worth bookmarking.

Good to know

OFFICIAL SOURCES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Before flying, always check official sources from the ULC (Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego, the Civil Aviation Authority) and PANSA DroneMap. This page is a guide — not a legal authority. Poland applies EASA regulations with national supplements.

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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