
What are the drone laws in Greece?
Based on the available data we researched, here are the most important rules you need to know when flying your drone in Greece.
Authorization for over 50m
Don't fly over crowds
Need Insurance
No flying over institutions
This is a guide for Greece's drone laws in 2023 (updated every year) where you'll get a clue about what you can or shouldn't do while flying and traveling through this country.
Flying a drone in Greece feels like a dream come through. Snaking above the island of Patmos or Crete generates remarkable footage. Greek laws distinguish recreational from commercial drones.
Both categories are governed by a strict set of laws that depend on the drone’s features. For instance, where you fly, the weight, and the purpose are key in categorizing your drone.
Contact Information
The body responsible for overseeing everything drone-related in Greece is the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA). You can contact them through:
Email: d4@hcaa.gr
Tel: (+30) 210 891 6476
Drones vary depending on their weight:
And another category of classification is:
Based on the available data we researched, here are the most important rules you need to know when flying your drone in Greece.
Recreational drones are exempted from mandatory licensing. Alternatively, commercial drones require a permit and license provided you maintain your flight path. To qualify as a recreational drone, maintain an open class drone flight and ensure your drone weighs less than 4 Kg.
Only if it falls under the criteria of a recreational drone.
Remember you can not fly your drone anywhere in the country 30 min after sunset. Other areas where drone flights are restricted are military zones, major events, urban centers, emergency areas, and several others clearly stipulated in the HCAA laws. Maintain a distance of 8 Km from any aerodrome.
Areas that are restricted to a flight can be determined in the following application.
If you intend to fly close to or over archeological sites you must get advance authorization from the Ministry of Culture.
Commercial flight requires the user to be registered as a drone pilot. Any drone intended for commercial purposes has to be registered.
To qualify for these services you must:
The license is split into two categories
The fine imposed on the drone owner will vary depending on the severity of their contravention of the rules. In the worst-case scenario, you will be fined 250,000 Euros.
As a foreigner wishing to fly with your drone higher than the required minimum (up to 500 m away) you will not have a Greek Tax Number, so fill in your details on this form.
The form will require you to enter:
My following two recommendations are 2 great compact drones that are quite silent and also small enough to travel with and not stand out as annoying.
4k
31 min
10 km
No follow-me
DJI has surprised us with this incredible camera drone under 250g, which is legal to fly in most countries without registration.
It comes at a very cheap price for its incredible specs.I have covered it much more in-depth in my article review and even compared it with the Mavic Air 2.
4k 60p
34 min
10 km
Follow me
If you want more control over things like shutter speed, iso, and such, the best professional drone that still falls under the 500g category is the DJI Mavic Air.
It's made mostly for people who want to play around with settings and enter into the pro category.
DJI lowered its price since it was first released.
The best way to figure out what areas you can fly in, while you're here is by consulting DJI's official map.
They do a great job mapping the places that one should avoid while flying in every country:
These would be the current updated drone laws for Greece. I suggest checking my full map with all the countries' drone laws to see where it's best to travel.
If you are considering visiting Greece, make sure you’ve learned all the dos and don’ts of flying drones in this region. This will help you have a safe journey and enjoy flying your drone without getting yourself into trouble.
Also, keep in mind that, commercial and recreational drones are treated differently in most countries therefore you will need to prepare yourself accordingly. Last but not least, always follow rules and regulations and make sure to respect the laws of every country.