Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Republic of Ireland
Irish Aviation Authority (IAA)
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)
UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Ireland
The Ireland agency responsible for drone safety, IAA, 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.
Flying and operating drones in Ireland is subject to European Union Regulation 2019/947. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) supervises and implements the Regulation in Ireland. 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, they will be allowed to circulate in the European Union freely. 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 Ireland?
According to IAA, drones are allowed in Ireland, subject to IAA and EASA regulations. Read on for details.
Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Ireland:
Drone operators must register all drones in Ireland. 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 IAA 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 it must 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 is capable of carrying 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.
- 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 aways a minimum of 8km distance away from airports/heliports.
- If you already conducted operations in another EU country before going to Ireland, 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 Ireland and live in a non-EU country, you must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate issued 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 3 tries in total to pass.
- Once you pass your exam, you will receive your remote pilot certificate. Its validity will be 5 years.
- You must have your Remote Pilot Certificate in your possession whenever you plan to perform drone operations in Ireland and present it when asked by the authorities
How to register as a drone pilot or operator in Ireland?
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 an individual, the Pilot and the Operator are the same person.
Who should register?
As part of the OPEN category, registration is compulsory for operators:
- UAS that have a mass of 250 g or more;
- UAS that have a mass of less than 250 g but:
- are able to 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 the age of 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 Ireland for drone operations?
The operator registration procedure begins at the online IAA registration link
This UAS operator registration number is valid for one year and must therefore be renewed periodically following the same procedure. The operator therefore always uses the same number unless the latter is permanently deregistered from the register.
Drone Permit and Registration
Obtaining a drone permit in Ireland is a simple process. First, you will need to visit the Ireland Civil Aviation Authority’s official website and register your drone. Drones weighing more than 1kg but less than 25kg must be registered with the aviation office. Additionally, light drones that flew more than 15 meters above the ground must be registered.
You can easily register online if you are at least 16 years old. A fee of 30 Euros will be charged to process the registration, which can be paid via credit card.
When registering for a drone permit to fly in Ireland, ensure that you meet the following requirements:
- Valid drone insurance.
- A proof of remote pilot license, such as FAA Part 107.
- Your contact information and details.
- Your drone model, serial number, and type.
Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Ireland
Important Steps for Flying a Drone In Ireland
- Create an account on MySRS. The first step is easy, sign up with your email address. After that, you need to “Verify your identity”. This helps streamline all your future interactions with the IAA. You will only have to do this once!
- Take Online Training. You should take the online training first. It is free and only takes about 15 minutes. You will watch a short video and then answer 40 simple questions. This will give you a “Proof of Online Training” certificate.
- Register as Drone Operator. The new regulations require that you register as a Drone Operator. You no longer register the drone itself, rather you yourself become an operator. Think of it like you’re now a mini drone airline!
- Remote Pilot Competency. If your drone is above a certain weight, or you wish to do a certain type of drone flying, you will require an additional pilot competency certificate. You will apply to begin this training on MySRS but you will be required to actually attend a designated UAS training organization “DUTO” to complete the training. This is not an approval to actually fly the drone. Depending on the size of your drone or the type of flying you want to do, your online training may suffice, or you may require additional training. Just like a pilot!
See general EASA rules above.
Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Ireland
Important Steps for Flying a Drone Commercially In Ireland
- Create an account on MySRS. The first step is easy, sign up with your email address. After that, you need to “Verify your identity”. This helps streamline all your future interactions with the IAA. You will only have to do this once!
- Take Online Training. You should take the online training first. It is free and only takes about 15 minutes. You will watch a short video and then answer 40 simple questions. This will give you a “Proof of Online Training” certificate.
- Register as Drone Operator. The new regulations require that you register as a Drone Operator. You no longer register the drone itself, rather you yourself become an operator. Think of it like you’re now a mini drone airline!
- Remote Pilot Competency. If your drone is above a certain weight, or you wish to do a certain type of drone flying, you will require an additional pilot competency certificate. You will apply to begin this training on MySRS but you will be required to actually attend a designated UAS training organization “DUTO” to complete the training. This is not an approval to actually fly the drone. Depending on the size of your drone or the type of flying you want to do, your online training may suffice, or you may require additional training. Just like a pilot!
- Drone Operator ID for companies. If your company has drones, the company should obtain an Operator ID. The staff of the company who actually fly the drones should take the online training and/or pilot competency certificates depending on the types of operation. The first step is your administrator needs to get their own MySRS account (Step 1)
- Verify your company. To obtain an operator ID for your company, you must first “verify” your company on MySRS. This is a simple process where you log in and submit a form saying you are a legitimate officer/agent of the company and you wish to access IAA services on behalf of the company.
- Register for Operator ID. Once your company is verified, you can then apply to obtain an Operator ID for the company. As an operator, the company is responsible for making sure any staff that fly the drone have sufficient competencies (this may mean they need to obtain a Remote Pilot Competency (step 4)
See general EASA rules above
What you must know about Ireland 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 Ireland
- Where you are allowed to fly in Ireland
- Register as drone operator in Ireland
- Online drone pilot training and tests in Ireland
- Apply for an authorisation to fly in Ireland
Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in Ireland…
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.
Find out why we think you must use a Drone Preflight Checklist and a Drone Post-flight checklist
Free Drone Flight Checklist PDF
This Drone Flight Checklists is better than others.
It’s free!
It includes both the preflight checklist and post-flight checklist
It’s an easy to use printable pdf that covers all your bases.
Traveling with a Drone?
Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.
NOW ITS YOUR TURN
Hi, I live near Kinnegad, but I am in the middle of a yellow zone according to the Drone Safety Map, https://www.dronesafetymap.com/
My drone is a DJI mini 2 with a camera so sub <250, I am registered with the IAA and I have my operators ID on it, I also have drone insurance, so can I still fly it in the yellow zone?
Regards Pat
Pat, we do not know the answer to that question. You would need to check with the regulator (link at the top of this page). Please share what you find out.
Sorry, for asking the same questions again. At first I didn’t see yor answer. Thank you for that.
Dear Merlin,
we would like to sail the Shannon in the summer for 1 week with a houseboat. During this time we would like to film or photograph ourselves while cruising the Shannon with our drone (< 250 g with camera), as well as the beautiful scenery around us. This includes, among other things, the smaller islands in the loughes.
Is filming from the boat while sailing allowed?
(We don't want to film/photograph other boats!).
What do we have to consider?
I am registered as a UAS operator in Germany. Do I have to register additionally in Ireland?
I also have a certificate of competence A1 and A3, even if it is not required for this drone.
I would be very grateful for the answers to my questions. After all, we want to do everything right and not bother anyone.
Thanks for the great and informative website!
Regards from Germany
Claudia
Most professional drone operators recommend against operating a drone from a moving vehicle (a sailboat would be included in this category). However, we are not aware of any specific regulations against doing so.
we are coming to Ireland in April of 23 I have a recreational drone that I have registered in US what will it cost me to register it for 3 weeks
Karl, registration costs Euro 30 and is valid for 2 years
We are based in a small village near Macroom in Cork. On several occasions over recent years our neighbour has been flying a drone over our home. He possibly/probably has a camera on it and could be gathering data ,personal data belonging to us and doing whatever he wishes with it . We have camera footage of his drone flying and snooping over our home. We have phoned the Macroom gardai about this but they say they don’t deal with this and to contact the airport. What good would that do?I did also contact the Aviation service who responded that they didn’t think it was a problem. So it appears that nobody can/wants to deal with this disturbing issue. Who know where images of them in their own yard or garden are going to be used or put especially images of children. I have recently put up signs on my fence at the back of our home pointing out to my neighbour that I am aware it is they who are doing this. I have written No trespassing No drones. So far I have had no response form this neighbour. Something else needs done by the Gov or whoever is making these laws because drone owners are ignoring them. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you for sharing. We recommend you keep contacting law enforcement and if possible the regulators as well as legislators in your district
I live in a rural area, (west cork)yesterday between 5-30pm and 6pm a drone was over my house, it was flying around for at least 15mins before I noticed it. It then hovering at least 4 minutes directly above my property before moving off, not many houses around me so I’m guessing it traveled a bit to get to where I live. Can I please ask what are my rights for privacy.
Mary, sounds like a number of policies were violated in this case:
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.
Contact your local law enforcement
I have a DJI Mini 3 (sub-250g, with camera, not a toy). I reside in the UK where I am registered with the CAA. Do I need to register to fly in Ireland when I come for a short holiday?
Peter, technically Ireland is regulated by EASA so you may need to register again if the under 250g drone is camera equipped.
I’m a UK commercial operator, sub 25kg, in the Specific Category and working under a CAA OA. I’ve been asked to do some work in Ireland. Apart from registering and insuring for flight in the EU, how do I gain the additional clearances contained in my CAA OA?
Follow the action for commercial operators. You will have to register on the IAAA site
May I check I will be travelling to Italy & Ireland next week. My drone is DJI FPV, less than 25kg, may i know do i need to register my drone to fly at these 2 countries? Can you please advise where should I register and from which link or website, can provide me? How fast is the registration process? It will be flying for recreational purpose not for commercial.
For Italy & Ireland, do i need to register twice or just register with Italy, then can use the drone throughout the Europe? Lastly, do i need to buy any insurance for the drone?
Please kindly guide me how to do the registration and requirement for the drone and myself in order able to fly drone in these countries. Thanks!
We recommend registering at the first location you will be visiting, then that registration is valid for all European states which follow EASA rules (Italy and Ireland are included). If you have insurance coverage in your home country that covers you internationally, then you will not need additional insurance.
See section above on registering a drone. There is a link provided
A investigators flew over my private property with a drone and took a picture of my property is this legal
Tricia, if it’s not prohibited by local regulations (drones specifically or privacy regulations), then probably legal. Check with local regulators
I live I a built up residential area in Salthill Galway, i live 2 doors away from a drone owner and user. He and his 21 yr old are constantly flying the drone over my back garden when my small kids are outside playing or during the summer when I have friends/family over for bar b Q, he continues to fly the drone above us. I am afraid to approach him about it as he is not a particularly approachable person. Neighbours have shouted at him to remove the drone from over their garden when he is hovering it over their gardens when their small kids are out. He has a camera on it as I know he sent pictures to another neighbour of his shed he was constrcting, questioning the planning of the shed. Can you please tell me have I any grounds to stand on with this person. I feel my privacy is constantly being invaded and have to take my kids inside every time he hovers the drone over them.
Irene, we recommend contacting your local law enforcement. There may be regulations against nuisance use or privacy violations in your area.