Drone rules by country: the 2026 comparison table
Before you rely on any table
Rules verified: 2026-10-29. Drone regulations change frequently — three of the eight jurisdictions below changed materially between 2025 and 2026. This page is educational information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the national aviation authority before you fly (each row links to the official page).
Drone rules look similar from a distance — a weight here, a registration there — but the details decide whether your flight is legal. A 249g camera drone needs no registration in the United States, needs operator registration across most of Europe, and needs a Flyer ID in the United Kingdom since January 2026. This table puts the eight most-visited jurisdictions side by side, with the official authority source behind every number.
The 2026 comparison table
| Country / region | Registration starts at | Test / credential for hobby flyers | Key limits | Official authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 0.55 lb (250g) for recreational flying; any weight if flown under Part 107 | TRUST (free online test) for all recreational flyers; Part 107 certificate for any non-recreational purpose | 400 ft in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace; authorization (LAANC/DroneZone) needed in controlled airspace; Remote ID for registered drones | FAA |
| European Union (EASA) | 250g, or any weight with a camera/sensor unless it is a toy | A1/A3 online training + exam for most; A2 certificate for the A2 subcategory | 120m ceiling everywhere; A1/A2/A3 zones; C-class marks; minimum age 16 (states may lower to 12) | EASA |
| United Kingdom | Flyer ID from 100g; Operator ID from 250g, or 100g with a camera | Flyer ID theory test (free, online, valid 5 years) | 120m ceiling; 50m from uninvolved people (relaxed for sub-250g/UK0/UK1/C0); airport Flight Restriction Zones; UK class marks from Jan 2026 | UK CAA |
| Japan | 100g (including battery) | No test for basic flight; permissions via DIPS 2.0 for restricted airspace/methods; Japanese pilot certificates for Level 4 operations | 150m ceiling; permit needed for Densely Inhabited Districts, airports, night, BVLOS; daytime-only; 30m from people/property | MLIT |
| Canada | 250g (microdrones under 250g exempt from registration) | Pilot certificate from 250g: Basic (online exam) or Advanced (exam + flight review) | 122m (400ft) ceiling; Basic ops: uncontrolled airspace, 30m+ from bystanders; SFOC for advertised events — any weight | Transport Canada |
| Australia | None for recreational flying (any weight); any weight for business use | None for fun flying; accreditation + licence rules apply for work | 120m ceiling; 30m from people; never over people; daylight only; 5.5km from controlled aerodromes (sub-250g: 45m cap inside zone) | CASA |
| Singapore | Above 250g total weight (indoor and outdoor) | Basic Training Certificate / UA Pilot Licence above 1.5kg in public places; UA Pilot Licence above 7kg | Class 2 permit above 200ft, near restricted areas or within 5km of airports; no-fly zones at all times; Broadcast Remote ID above 250g outdoors | CAAS |
| Hong Kong | Above 250g (Category A1 ≤250g exempt if flown within standard requirements) | Pilot registration on eSUA from 14; CAD permission + advanced rating for higher-risk operations | Restricted Flying Zones (Victoria Harbour, airport, and more); Category A1/A2/B/C by weight up to 150kg | HK CAD |
Three patterns worth knowing
1. The thresholds are not aligned
250g is the famous line, but it is not the only one. Japan and the UK now register from 100g. The EU registers on a camera rule as much as a weight rule. Australia has detached registration from recreational flying entirely. Never assume the rule you know at home is the rule where you are standing.
2. "Recreational" is defined differently everywhere
The US recreational exception covers only flying "purely for fun" — the FAA's own examples of what does not qualify include photos taken to help sell a property or service, roof inspections and photos for someone's website. In Singapore, business use outdoors needs a UA Pilot Licence regardless of weight. Check which side of the line your flight falls on before you check anything else.
3. 2025–2026 rewrote several rulebooks
The UK moved its Flyer ID threshold from 250g to 100g and introduced UK class marks on 1 January 2026. Canada phased in a two-part regulatory rewrite that finished on 4 November 2025. Australia removed recreational registration. Any guide written before these dates — including AI summaries trained on them — can be quietly wrong.
Key takeaways
- Only Australia requires no registration for tourist fun-flying at any weight — and its safety rules still apply.
- Japan (100g) and the UK (100g) register far lighter drones than most people pack for.
- Foreign certificates are generally not transferable: the FAA, Japan's MLIT and Transport Canada each say so explicitly.
- The EASA registration you get in one European state is valid across all of them.
Foldable landing zone mats
The one accessory customs never questions and every jurisdiction appreciates: a defined takeoff pad keeps you off sensitive ground and makes preflight photos easy. The comparison below lists current options.
Compare landing mats →Country-by-country guides
Each guide goes deeper than the table — registration steps, no-fly zones, visitor rules and what changed recently:
- United States: FAA registration, TRUST and Part 107
- European Union: the EASA Open category (A1/A2/A3)
- United Kingdom: the 2026 rules after the January rewrite
- Japan: 100g registration and the DIPS permit system
- Canada: microdrones, Basic and Advanced operations
- Australia: flying for fun without registration
- Singapore: permits and the 250g line
- Hong Kong: the Small Unmanned Aircraft Order
- Visiting? Can you fly a drone as a tourist?
- The sub-250g myth: what small drones still can't do