Do I need to register my drone and get a drone licence in Germany?

What registration, licence and compulsory insurance cost in Germany, as of October 2026.

Registration and licence are often confused, but they concern different roles. The operator registers: the person who owns the drone and decides how it is used. The operator receives a number, the e-ID, and puts it on every drone they own.

The licence is needed by whoever flies the drone. If you fly yourself, both apply to you. If you lend the drone to a friend, your e-ID stays on it, but your friend needs his own certificate if the drone weighs 250 grams or more.

What counts is the take-off weight and the class that newer drones carry as a label from C0 to C4. Older models without a class are called legacy drones and are classified by weight.

The camera is the point many people miss: even a 249 gram drone has to be registered as soon as it can film. You do not need a licence for it, though.

You register using the online form of the Federal Aviation Office, pay EUR 20 and receive your e-ID. Each operator gets just one number, even with several drones. The form is currently only available in German.

The number must be clearly legible on every drone, and with many newer models also entered in the app so the drone broadcasts it in flight. Do this before your first flight, not afterwards.

On the learning platform of the Federal Aviation Office you work through an online course and then take the test: 40 questions, at least 75 percent correct. Allow three to six hours. You get the certificate straight away as a file; it costs EUR 25 and is valid for five years, renewal costs EUR 15.

The advanced A2 certificate builds on it. You take the theory exam at an approved test centre and declare practical self-training. It is only worth it if you want to fly a class C2 drone closer to people, for example when filming in built-up areas.

If you fly a small drone under 250 grams without a camera, such as a beginner model for the garden, neither registration nor licence applies. The same goes for flying only indoors.

Liability insurance, however, stays: in Germany it is mandatory for every drone flown outdoors, whatever its weight and whether it has a camera. Anyone who only looks at weight and licence tends to forget exactly this point.

Even with a licence the maximum height is 120 metres above ground, and you must not fly over crowds. No-fly zones around airports, hospitals or government buildings remain closed; check them before every flight on the federal map.

Breaking these rules risks more than a fine. After damage your insurer can reduce its payment or reclaim money if you flew without the required certificate or in a no-fly zone.