Country guide · European Union Aviation Safety Agency
Drone rules in Belgium
Where can I fly?
Registration
Drones under 250 g without a camera are exempt from operator registration. If the drone carries a camera or any sensor capable of capturing personal data, operator registration is mandatory regardless of weight — this is not merely recommended. C0-class drones without a camera are fully exempt.
All drone operators whose aircraft has a maximum take-off mass (MTOM) of 250 g or more must register with their national aviation authority (NAA) before first flight. Registration is per operator, not per drone. Operators receive a registration number that must be affixed to every drone they fly. Registration is also required for any drone below 250 g that carries a sensor capable of capturing personal data.
Operator registration remains required (same process as 250 g+). Drones in this mass band fall under subcategory A2 rules when operated close to people and require a separate A2 Certificate of Competency in addition to operator registration.
Pilot test / certificate
Remote pilots must complete an online training course and pass an online theory test at their NAA. The test covers air safety, airspace restrictions, aviation privacy, data protection, and security. On passing, the pilot receives a certificate valid for 5 years. Required for subcategories A1 and A3. Fees are set by each national NAA; often free but varies by country.
In addition to the A1/A3 online certificate, remote pilots who fly drones with MTOM >= 900 g near people (subcategory A2) must obtain an A2 Certificate of Competency. This requires self-study using official materials, followed by a practical skills self-declaration and a proctored theory exam at an NAA-authorised test centre (in-person or online).
Marking & altitude
Required from 250 g — Drones with MTOM >= 250 g must display the operator's registration number on the aircraft so it is legible and durable. The label must be affixed in a visible location. Class-identification labels (C0–C4) must also be present on compliant UAS placed on the EU market.
The standard maximum altitude in the open category is 120 m above the closest point of the surface (not sea level). In subcategory A3, flight must be at least 150 m horizontally from residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational areas. Altitude can be extended to 150 m inside specific airspace by special authorisation, or when flying within 50 m horizontally of a man-made obstacle taller than 105 m (the drone may fly up to 15 m above the obstacle's height).
Key restrictions
- Flights over assemblies of people are prohibited in the open category. Even subcategory A1 prohibits intentional flight over uninvolved people; A2 and A3 prohibit flight over any people.
- BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations are not permitted in the open category without special authorisation; all flights must be within VLOS.
- Flight in controlled airspace (Classes A–D) requires prior authorisation from the relevant Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), typically obtained via a digital platform such as U-space or a national ANSP tool.
- Carriage of dangerous goods or dropping any material is prohibited in the open category.
- Flight at night requires the drone to carry a flashing green light visible from at least 3 km; specific national rules may add further night-flight restrictions.