{"id":82901,"date":"2021-01-24T13:23:08","date_gmt":"2021-01-24T12:23:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/current-rules-for-my-drone\/"},"modified":"2026-07-26T13:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T11:45:12","slug":"current-rules-for-my-drone","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/current-rules-for-my-drone\/","title":{"rendered":"Drone regulations in Belgium and the Benelux: the 2026 guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since 31 December 2020, drone regulation has been harmonised across the European Union by Regulations (EU) 2019\/947 (operations) and 2019\/945 (product classes). The transitional period that allowed flying drones without a class marking ended on 31 December 2023: the rules in force in 2026 are now entirely based on the CE classes (C0 to C6) and the <a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/questions-frequentes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">three operating categories defined by EASA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide sets out the rules in force in Belgium, with an overview for the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and shows which category the current DJI Enterprise drones fall into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The three operating categories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">European regulation classifies every flight by its level of risk, not by whether it is professional or recreational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/categorie\/categorie-open\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open category<\/a><\/strong>: low-risk operations, whether recreational or commercial. Basic conditions: maximum 120 m above ground, direct visual line of sight (VLOS), no flying over assemblies of people, no dropping of goods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/categorie\/categorie-specific\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Specific category<\/a><\/strong>: anything that exceeds the limits of the Open category, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight, flying above 120 m, or drones over 25 kg. It requires either a declaration based on a standard scenario (STS) or an operational authorisation issued after a SORA risk assessment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Certified category<\/strong>: the highest-risk operations (carrying people or dangerous goods), subject to certification comparable to manned aviation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Open category: sub-categories A1, A2, A3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A1, flying over people (never over assemblies)<\/strong>: C0 drones (under 250 g) and C1 drones (under 900 g). For C1, flying over uninvolved people should still be avoided, as specified by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.easa.europa.eu\/en\/domains\/drones-air-mobility\/operating-drone\/open-category-low-risk-civil-drones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EASA<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A2, flying close to people<\/strong>: C2 drones (under 4 kg), at least 30 m from uninvolved people, reduced to 5 m in low-speed mode.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A3, flying away from people<\/strong>: C3 and C4 drones, as well as legacy drones under 25 kg and privately built drones, at least 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drones without a class marking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.easa.europa.eu\/en\/domains\/drones-air-mobility\/operating-drone\/open-category-low-risk-civil-drones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">placed on the market before 1 January 2024<\/a> (so-called &#8220;legacy&#8221; drones) remain usable in the Open category indefinitely, but under restricted conditions: under 250 g in sub-category A1, under 25 kg in sub-category A3 only. Drones placed on the market from 1 January 2024 onward can no longer fly in the Open category without a Cx label, except for privately built drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which drone in which category? CE classes of current models<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Model<\/th><th>CE class<\/th><th>Typical operation<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/product\/dji-neo-pro\/\">DJI Neo<\/a> (135 g), available from DPC in the DJI Neo PRO pack<\/td><td>C0<\/td><td>Open A1<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/product\/dji-mini-5-pro-fly-more-combo\/\">DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo<\/a><\/td><td>C0<\/td><td>Open A1; C0 class <a href=\"https:\/\/www.easa.europa.eu\/en\/domains\/drones-air-mobility\/operating-drone\/open-category-low-risk-civil-drones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">confirmed by EASA<\/a> (249.9 g declared); the Fly More Combo Plus version is classed C1<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>DJI Matrice 4E \/ 4T<\/td><td>C2<\/td><td>Open A2 (A2 certificate required) or Specific<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>DJI Matrice 4D \/ 4TD<\/td><td>C2 + C6<\/td><td>Open A2 (C2) or Specific STS-02 BVLOS (C6); since 12 June 2026, C6 compliance also covers autonomous flight without a Dock, with the RC Plus 2 Enterprise remote controller and firmware 17.1.5 or later<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>DJI Dock 3<\/td><td>Not applicable (docking station)<\/td><td>It is the onboard Matrice 4D\/4TD that carries the C6 class for docked operations<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>DJI Matrice 400<\/td><td>C3<\/td><td>Open A3; with the AP100 parachute in a factory-certified combo, it meets the C5\/C6 requirements for STS scenarios<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice for a professional operator in Belgium: a Matrice 4E\/4T is flown in built-up areas with an A2 certificate, a Matrice 400 stays 150 m from built-up areas in the Open category, and BVLOS or docked operations go through the Specific category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your obligations as an operator in Belgium<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mandatory registration<\/strong> as soon as your drone exceeds 250 g, or weighs less than 250 g but carries a camera or a sensor (toys excluded). Registration is free and is done on the <a href=\"https:\/\/drones.mobilit.fgov.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DGTA Drone Portal<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/questions-frequentes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mandatory third-party liability insurance<\/a><\/strong>: every operator in Belgium, even in the Open category, must be insured; the insurance number is requested during registration. Above 20 kg, the aviation insurance requirements of Regulation (EC) 785\/2004 apply.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/drones.mobilit.fgov.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Operator number<\/a><\/strong>: to be displayed visibly and legibly on each of your drones, and entered into the remote identification system (Remote ID) if the drone has one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Single country of registration<\/strong>: your Belgian operator number is valid throughout the EU; you are <a href=\"https:\/\/guichet.public.lu\/en\/entreprises\/sectoriel\/aviation\/systeme-aeronef-sans-pilote\/enregistrement-exploitant-uas.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">not allowed to be registered in two Member States at the same time<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/questions-frequentes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Minimum age: 16<\/a><\/strong> to pilot a drone in Belgium, in both the Open and Specific categories. Exceptions: C0 toy drones and flying under the direct supervision of a remote pilot who is at least 16.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Training and exams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A1\/A3 certificate<\/strong>: free online theory training and exam, on the <a href=\"https:\/\/drones.mobilit.fgov.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Drone Portal<\/a>. Valid for 5 years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/formations-et-examens\/categorie-open-a2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A2 certificate<\/a><\/strong>: prerequisites are being 16 and holding a valid A1\/A3 certificate. Practical self-training under A3 conditions with a signed declaration uploaded to the Drone Portal, followed by a free theory exam (around thirty questions) at the FPS Mobility and Transport offices, rue du Progr\u00e8s 56, 1210 Brussels, registration via the Drone Portal. Valid for 5 years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Specific category<\/strong>: specific training depending on the scenario (STS-01, STS-02) or the SORA authorisation being sought.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Geographical zones: plan every flight on Droneguide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Geozones have existed since 31 December 2020 around airports and sensitive sites (prisons, nuclear facilities, royal estates). Before every flight, check the <a href=\"https:\/\/map.droneguide.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Droneguide<\/a> map, operated by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skeyes.be\/fr\/services\/drone-home-page\/you-and-your-drone\/request-access-to-a-skeyes-uas-geographical-zones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">skeyes<\/a>, which shows the geozones and their access conditions. In zones managed by skeyes (VLL zones around the airports of Ostend, Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Li\u00e8ge and Kortrijk, and Defence zones), requests must go through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skeyes.be\/fr\/services\/drone-home-page\/you-and-your-drone\/request-access-to-a-skeyes-uas-geographical-zones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the SkeyDrone DAA application<\/a>: DAA Planner for planning and pre-authorisation, then DAA Fly for final authorisation and tracking during the flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Specific category for professionals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/categorie\/categorie-specific\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Three routes<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/categorie\/categorie-specific\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Standard scenarios (STS)<\/a><\/strong>: a simple declaration to the DGTA. STS-01 covers visual line of sight flight in populated areas, STS-02 covers beyond visual line of sight flight in sparsely populated areas; both have required a C5 or C6 class drone since 1 January 2024.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SORA<\/strong>: a risk assessment to obtain a tailored operational authorisation from the DGTA.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>LUC<\/strong>: Light UAS operator Certificate, reserved for legal entities, which can grant the privilege of self-authorising certain operations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where the Matrice 4D\/4TD&#8217;s autonomous C6 compliance changes the game: STS-02 operators can fly BVLOS in sparsely populated areas without investing in a Dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benelux overview: the Netherlands and Luxembourg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">European rules are identical in all three countries; only the authority, the portal and the registration fees differ. In the Netherlands, operator registration is done through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rdw.nl\/drone\/exploitantnummer-aanvragen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RDW<\/a> (23 EUR for the first application, valid for 1 year, renewed at 13 EUR per year), under the supervision of the ILT; the threshold is the same as in Belgium (a camera, or 250 g and above, toys included above 250 g). In Luxembourg, registration is done through the <a href=\"https:\/\/guichet.public.lu\/en\/entreprises\/sectoriel\/aviation\/systeme-aeronef-sans-pilote\/enregistrement-exploitant-uas.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Direction de l&#8217;aviation civile via MyGuichet.lu<\/a> (10 EUR, a liability insurance number required). Your Belgian registration remains valid to fly in these two countries, but local geozones apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I need a certificate for a drone under 250 g?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No certificate is required in sub-category A1 for a C0 drone, but <a href=\"https:\/\/drones.mobilit.fgov.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">registering as an operator<\/a> remains mandatory as soon as the drone has a camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What certificate do I need to fly a Matrice 4T in a city?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Matrice 4T is a C2-class drone: in the Open category, it flies in sub-category A2, which requires the A1\/A3 certificate followed by <a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/formations-et-examens\/categorie-open-a2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the A2 certificate<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I still fly a drone bought before 2024 without a class label?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, indefinitely, if it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.easa.europa.eu\/en\/domains\/drones-air-mobility\/operating-drone\/open-category-low-risk-civil-drones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">placed on the market before 1 January 2024<\/a>: in sub-category A1 if it weighs under 250 g, in sub-category A3 only up to 25 kg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is insurance really mandatory in Belgium?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Every operator in Belgium, including in the Open category, must hold <a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/questions-frequentes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">third-party liability insurance<\/a>, and the insurance number is required at registration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do I need to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BVLOS falls under the <a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/categorie\/categorie-specific\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Specific category<\/a>: either an STS-02 declaration with a C6-class drone, such as the Matrice 4D\/4TD, or an operational authorisation after a SORA assessment from the DGTA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long do my certificates remain valid?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mobilit.belgium.be\/fr\/aviation\/voler-en-piloter\/drones-uas\/questions-frequentes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Belgian A1\/A3 and A2 certificates are valid for 5 years<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Need support?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drone Parts Center, DJI Enterprise authorised reseller, advises you on choosing a drone suited to your operating category and offers training at its workshop in Nivelles: certificate preparation, hands-on equipment training and guidance for your Specific category procedures. <a href=\"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/contact\/\">Contact our team<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/product-category\/services-and-licenses\/education\/\">discover our training services<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since 31 December 2020, drone regulation has been harmonised across the European Union by Regulations (EU) 2019\/947 (operations) and 2019\/945 (product classes). The transitional period that allowed flying drones without a class marking ended on 31 December 2023: the rules in force in 2026 are now entirely based on the CE classes (C0 to C6) [&#8230;]\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":79718,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Drone regulations in Belgium 2026: complete guide (CE classes, A1\/A2\/A3, STS)","_seopress_titles_desc":"2026 guide to drone regulations in Belgium: Open and Specific categories, CE classes C0 to C6, obligations, A1\/A2\/A3 training, Benelux overview.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"Rules in force for my drone: Everything you need to know in 2021","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"Rules in force for my drone: key information on drone use in Europe.","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"Rules in force for my drone: Everything you need to know in 2021","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"Rules in force for my drone: key information on drone use in Europe.","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"drone regulation 2025","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-82901","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/82901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82901"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/82901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":357105,"href":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/82901\/revisions\/357105"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drone-parts-center.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}