Drone Laws in Hungary

Last updated on August 8th, 2023 at 12:05 pm

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in Hungary

Drone Regulator in Hungary: Hungary’s General Directorate for Air Transport (GDAT)

EU Nations Drone Regulator and Regulations: European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

For a full explanation of EASA regulations simplified, please read our explainer: The rules for drone flyers in the European Union (Europe Drone Laws Simplified)

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UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Hungary

The Hungarian agency responsible for drone safety, GDAT, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details, go to the link above.

As of 31st December 2020, national drone rules will be replaced by standard European regulations. This reform aims to create a truly harmonized drone market in Europe with the highest level of safety. In practice, it means that once a drone Οperator has received authorization from its state of registry, he/she will be allowed to circulate freely in the European Union. According to the level of risk involved, this new legal framework will introduce three categories of drone operations: Open, Specific, and Certified.

Drone operations are to be conducted according to the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (as amended).

Are drones allowed in Hungary?

According to GDAT, drones are allowed in Hungary, subject to GDAT and EASA regulations. Read on for details.

Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Hungary

Drone operators must register all drones in Hungary.

Following registration, you must adhere to the following rules.

• Drones may fly up to 50 meters (170 feet) above ground or sea level in the Open category and up to 120 meters (400 feet) in the Specific category. (The Department of Civil Aviation may grant exemptions to operators of specific category drones.) 
• Direct visual contact with the drone is required, and the operating distance should not exceed 500 meters. 
• Avoid flying too close to residential areas or populated areas. 
• Maintain a safety buffer zone of one kilometer around residential areas. 
• Unless the owner/person consents, a safety distance of 500 meters from isolated buildings, people, vehicles, animals, and structures is required. 
• Avoid flying near airports and heliports. Stay A minimum of eight (8) kilometers away from airports and three (3) kilometers from heliports for safety. 
• At no time is it permissible to fly a drone at night. 
• There shall be no flying over, within, or near military installations, public utility installations, archaeological sites, or public or private facilities.

Open Category

Given the low level of risk, neither prior authorization by the competent authority nor a declaration by the drone operator is required. The drone’s total takeoff mass must be less than 25kg and be operated within a visual line of sight at a maximum altitude of 120m.

Specific Category

Considering the moderate level of risk involved, flights in this category require authorization before the operation. The permission is given considering the mitigation measures identified in an operational risk assessment, except in specific standard scenarios where an operator declaration is sufficient.

Certified Category

Given the inherent dangers, certification of the drone and a licensed remote pilot are required. If your drone can carry people, you fall under the Certified category!

EASA Summary of Drone Flight Operation Requirements

Note for foreign operators

Operator Registration (Non-EU Residents)

• If you are coming from a non-EU country and this is the first time you will fly your drone in an EU country, you MUST register as an Operator with the GDAT: The application for drone registration.
• Upon registration, you will receive a unique Operator Registration number which you MUST attach to your drone. If you have several drones, the same number must be attached to all of them.
• You are not allowed to fly in NO FLY ZONES, and you must keep away a minimum of 8km distance away from airports/heliports.
• If you have already conducted operations in another EU country before going to Hungary, you must not register again. You always register to the first non-EU country you have conducted flights.

Remote Pilot Certificate (Non-EU Residents)

• If you want to fly your drone in Hungary and live in a non-EU country, you must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate from an EU country.
• You can get the A1/A3 Certificate by registering with the online Remote Pilot School.
• The online training and exam are required for those who want to fly a drone in the ‘Open’ category in subcategories A1/A3.
• The pass mark is 75%, and you have three attempts to pass.
• Once you pass your exam, you will receive your remote pilot certificate. Its validity will be five years.
• You must have your Remote Pilot Certificate in your possession whenever you plan to perform drone operations in Hungary and present it when the authorities ask.

Insurance

The weight of your drone is used to determine the insurance requirements. The figures are as follows:

• Below 2 Kg – Insurance cover worth 10,000 Euros
• Between 2 – 10 Kg – Insurance cover worth 17,000 Euros
• Anything above 10 Kg – Insurance cover is 33,000 Euros

How to register as a drone pilot or operator in Hungary?

According to European Regulation (EU) 2019/947, registration is mandatory for UAS operators (not for UAS themselves).

The UAS Pilot, also known as the Remote Pilot (RP), is the person physically behind the UAS flight controls. They are fully responsible for the safety of the flight throughout operations.

The UAS Operator is the person or company who oversees operations and gives flight instructions. This person or legal entity bears all responsibility for the operations of the drone (s) on their behalf. Very often, in the OPEN category and as individuals, the Pilot and the Operator are the same people.

Who should register?

As part of the OPEN category, registration is compulsory for operators:

• UAS that has a mass of 250 g or more; 
• UAS that has a mass of less than 250 g but:
  • can operate at speeds greater than 90km / h 
  • are equipped with a camera or a microphone, if these UAS are NOT toys * 

* A UAS is a toy when a manufacturer intends it for children under 14 and meets the minimum safety criteria required to be so named. Compliance with these standards naturally limits the capabilities of the UAS (size, weight, non-dangerous spare parts, no powerful motor, etc.): see Directive 2009/48 / EC of 18 June 2009 on the safety of toys

Under the SPECIFIC category, registration is compulsory for all operators.

Natural persons can only register in the country where they reside.

Legal persons must register in the country where their principal place of business is located.

Registration can only be done in one Member State at a time.

How do you register in Hungary for drone operations?

The operator registration procedure begins at a site to be provided by GDAT.

This UAS operator registration number is valid for one year and must be renewed periodically following the same procedure. The operator always uses the same number unless the latter is permanently deregistered from the register.

Penalties

Drone flights without proper authorization fall into one of three misdemeanor categories. The fines range between 0 and 300,000 euros. A portion of the new laws in June will attempt to standardize issuing fines. For example, authorities can pursue criminal charges if a drone pilot threatens or endangers someone’s life.

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Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Hungary

Not used for commercial purposes

You must:

• Adhere to fundamental safety obligations 
• Maintain a safe distance from people and property

You must not:

• Fly At night
• Fly over private property without the owner’s consent,
• Operate above populated areas, industrial areas, urban areas, other restricted areas, or obstruct manned aircraft. 
• Fly higher than 100 meters 
• Endanger other people’s lives

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Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Hungary

They are utilized commercially in connection with business activity.

You must:

• Acquire a license and apply for a permit to fly 
• Within 21 working days of receiving an individual assessment, authorization to operate is issued. 
• Possess insurance covering losses of up to one million euros. 

You are not permitted to: 

• Operate solely using manual flight controls 
• Attempt to obstruct manned aircraft or to fly in restricted areas

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What you must know about Hungary No Fly Zones or No Drone Zones

You need to know if you can operate your drone, under what limitations, whether authorizations are required, and how to get those authorizations.

We encourage you to read our explainer for more details on this topic here: Explainer – What You Must Know About No Fly Zones or No Drone Zones

Useful published information on flying drones in Hungary

•  Where you are allowed to fly a drone in Hungary
• Register as drone operator in Hungary
• Online drone pilot training and tests in Hungary
• Apply for an authorisation to fly in Hungary

Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in Hungary…

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NOTE: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), Small UAS, Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and drone are interchangeable terms unless specified. Model Aircraft, toy, remote-controlled, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.

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Traveling with a Drone?

Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.

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