
What are the drone laws in Spain?
The rules have provisions for both commercial and recreational drones. New technologies emerging in RPAS indicate the Spanish authorities are about to incorporate the new European laws.
150m max height
Don't fly over crowds
8km from airport
Only line of sight
This is a guide for Spanish 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.
Yes. Drones are legal in Spain. The new decree passed in December 2017, specified the process of registering for a commercial drone in Spain. It is worth noting that prior to the introduction of the new laws Spain imposed a complete ban on drones in the country.
Laws governing the use of drones in Spain are governed by the State Agency of Air Security (AESA). Here is their website.
You can get in touch with them via
Email: drones.aesa@seguridadaerea.es
Tel: (+34)913968000
The rules have provisions for both commercial and recreational drones. New technologies emerging in RPAS indicate the Spanish authorities are about to incorporate the new European laws.
The changes should go into effect in July. Further information on current drone laws in Spain is available here. It should have an English translation.
The 3 categories of implementation are
To become a drone pilot in Spain, one must:
As long as the beach is empty you should be good to go, or the people being recorded have granted you the right to record them.
Absolutely not. There are strict data privacy laws governing the use of drones in Spain.
Only if you meet the professional drone operator (RPAS) requirements.
Yes. Provided the flight is within the visual line of sight and has another party overlooking the operation.
If you work with RPAS for monetary use you must:
There is a new app called ENAIRE that details the areas worth flying. It helps you figure out the right flight plans and details ensuring you remain on an authorized flight path.
The flight zones are demarcated into the following flight modules: restricted, prohibited, dangerous, no-camera flight, protected flight zone, temporary flight, and controlled flight.
Flights across national parks are prohibited meaning if you want to enjoy a flight across the ten in the Iberian Peninsula, you must seek authorization from the respective Spanish National Parks body.
Yes, all the islands allow drone flights as there are no airports. A few limited zones exist but are easy to evade.
Spain, like its European partners, has strong data privacy laws governing the country. More information is available in the Data Protection Act.
Yes. There are hefty penalties for anyone who breaches the data privacy laws and illegal trespass laws. The worst-case scenario will be jail time or 22,000 euros in fines.
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 Spain. I suggest checking my full map with all the countries' drone laws to see where it's best to travel.
If you are going to visit Spain, 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.