As of mid-2025, Vietnam allows drones under 250 grams flown purely for fun without a permit, such as the DJI Mini series. All drone flights require a flight permit issued by the Ministry of National Defense, specifically the Department of Operations, with applications due at least 7 working days before the flight date. Vietnam does…
Read more
Austro Control is Austria’s aviation regulator for unmanned aircraft, enforcing EU drone rules under the Austrian Aviation Act, with policy aligned to the EU framework since 2021. Austria follows the EU Open, Specific, and Certified categories, with the Open category limited to drones under 25 kg flown in visual line of sight at up to…
Read more
Spain fully adopted the EU drone framework in 2021 (EU Regulations 2019/947 and 2019/945), eliminating the recreational vs professional distinction and regulating all flights by risk category. The Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea (AESA) regulates drones nationwide; operator registration is mandatory for drones weighing 250g or more or with a camera, completed online with an…
Read more
In the Netherlands, the open category limits are a maximum altitude of 120 meters, must be flown in Visual Line of Sight, with specific bystander distances (roughly 50 meters for 1–2 kg drones and 150 meters from residential/urban areas), and a maximum take-off weight of 25 kg. All drones with cameras or weighing 250 g…
Read more
Venice’s historic center is effectively a no-fly zone that requires explicit ENAC and local authorities’ authorization, with the D-Flight map marking Venice in red as prohibited. The EU/ENAC altitude limit is 120 m (400 ft) above ground level, but in Venice’s restricted zones the practical limit without a permit is 0 m. Drones must stay…
Read more
The Open category rules cap drone altitude at 120 meters and require no special permit if you meet the Open-category conditions (weight, VLOS, no dangerous goods). Online registration with the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) is mandatory for operators of drones 250 g or heavier, or any drone under 250 g with a camera or data sensor, with…
Read more
India bans unlicensed satellite communication and navigation devices, including Thuraya and Iridium phones and Garmin InReach, under the Indian Telegraph Act (1885) and Wireless Telegraphy Act (1933), with penalties up to three years in prison or ₹5 million in fines, and limited DoT licensing for Inmarsat devices. The 2008 Mumbai attacks involved a Thuraya satellite…
Read more
Drones are legal in Saudi Arabia but are strictly regulated, with both recreational and commercial use requiring adherence to GACA regulations. Drones weighing 250 grams or more must be registered with GACA, with a certificate valid for 3 years and a unique registration ID affixed to the drone. All drone pilots must hold a GACA…
Read more
Under Law 216 of 2017, Egypt requires a Defense Ministry permit to own or operate a drone, effectively banning recreational use without authorization. Importing or bringing a drone into Egypt without prior approval is illegal, and customs routinely confiscate unapproved drones on entry. Only the smallest “toy” drones are exempt from permits, defined as ≤150…
Read more
Drones weighing over 0.55 pounds (250 grams) must be registered with the FAA for $5 every three years, via the FAA Drone Zone, and drones under 250 grams used recreationally are exempt from registration but commercial use still requires it. FAA rules cap small drones at 400 feet AGL, require visual line of sight at…
Read more
