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Drone rules in Poland (2026): registration, DroneTower, zones

Verified against official sources on September 29, 2026

In short

Poland applies EU drone rules, normally including visual line of sight and a 120 m limit from the closest point of the ground in the open category. Operator registration and pilot competence depend on the drone, its class and the operation; an existing EASA-state registration is recognised. Notify flights to PANSA through DroneTower, check current DroneMap zones and obtain any required mission approval or zone-manager consent. Polish insurance requirements include drones from 0.25 kg to 20 kg. A check-in does not itself authorise the flight.

On this page

Who regulates drones

The President of the Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego (ULC, the Civil Aviation Authority) keeps the drone operator register, issues authorisations for the specific category and imposes fines under the Aviation Law.9,2

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  • The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA, in Polish PAŻP) designates the geographical zones for drones and receives the notification of every drone flight.9,5
  • Registration, the online training and test, mission planning and the DroneTower app are gathered on the national drone portal drony.gov.pl.1,4

Registration

In the open category, operator registration is required for a drone of at least 250 g or capable of transferring more than 80 J on impact. It is also required for a drone with a camera or other personal-data sensor, except a compliant toy. Every specific-category operation requires operator registration. Register in the applicable state of residence or first operation rather than duplicating an existing EASA-state registration.4,11

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  • Operators resident in Poland register through drony.gov.pl before operating a drone for which registration is required. ULC assigns the operator number; registration is free. If you already have a valid operator registration from another EASA state, do not register again in Poland.4,9,11,12
  • Put your operator number on every drone that requires registration. The operator does not have to be the pilot, for example it can simply be the drone's owner.4
  • Report any change to your registered data to the ULC within 14 days.9

Categories and weight classes

The open category covers low-risk flights, both recreational and commercial. It allows only flights in visual line of sight, up to 120 m above the closest point of the ground, with a drone under 25 kg.4,11

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  • A1 overflight rules depend on the drone. C0 and eligible unlabelled or privately built drones under 250 g may overfly uninvolved people, although this should be avoided; C1 must not intentionally do so and unexpected overflight must be minimised. Assemblies are prohibited in all open subcategories. A2 with C2 normally keeps 30 m, reducible to 5 m in active low-speed mode after assessment. A3 stays 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.4,11,12
  • Drones without a class label that are not privately built may still fly if placed on the market before 1 January 2024: under 250 g in subcategory A1, and under 25 kg in subcategory A3.11
  • An operation outside open-category conditions needs the applicable specific-category route, such as an operational authorisation or a declaration for a qualifying standard scenario. Do not confuse that route with permission to use a particular geographical zone; local requirements can apply in addition.11,9,2

Pilot competence

The normal Polish minimum pilot age in the open and specific categories is 14. EU open-category exceptions include C0 toys, qualifying privately built drones under 250 g and flights under direct supervision of a qualified pilot. Minors need the required parent or guardian consent for the Polish training process.9,11,12

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  • Competence follows the class and subcategory, not weight alone. C1 and A3 operations require A1/A3 online training and examination; a C1 label can trigger this even below 250 g. C0 and eligible unlabelled drones under 250 g do not require that exam, but the pilot must know the applicable instructions and rules. Polish online training is available through drony.gov.pl.4,3,11,12
  • Flying a C2 drone in subcategory A2 requires the remote pilot certificate of competency, which needs an additional theory exam.4,9
  • Pilot certificates issued by any EASA member state are recognised in Poland. Training or qualifications obtained outside the EU are not accepted.12,13

Where you can fly

Every drone flight in Polish airspace must be notified to PANSA beforehand. In practice this means a check-in in the DroneTower mobile app.9,6,4

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  • Stay within 120 m of the ground and in visual line of sight, and follow the conditions of every geographical zone at your location, shown in DroneTower and DroneMap.4,5
  • In DRA-R zones within controlled airport CTR airspace, PANSA generally requires an approved mission plan submitted at least 24 hours before the flight, subject to published exceptions. Read the actual zone entry for your drone, altitude and time rather than applying a fixed distance shortcut. Obtain all required consents before take-off.14,5
  • The apps show airspace, not what is on the ground. Seaports, power plants, water intakes, sewage plants, military units and training grounds may need the owner's consent even when no zone covers them.6

Geographical zones

PANSA designates geographical zones under Article 156h of the Aviation Law. ULC Guidelines No. 4/2025 define the types: DRA-P (prohibited), DRA-R (restricted, needs consent: RH, RM, RL for high, medium, low chance of approval), DRA-I (information) and DRA-T (technical requirements).5,9

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  • Zones are dynamic and include restrictions published by NOTAM. Check DroneTower or DroneMap before each flight, and check whether an inactive zone will activate during your flight. DroneMap is for information only.5,7,8
  • A DroneTower check-in fulfils a notification step; it is not a substitute for the zone manager’s consent, mission approval or an air traffic clearance. Where the applicable procedure requires controller acceptance, wait for it before take-off and follow any instructions during the flight.6
  • DroneTower needs a user account, a constant internet connection and a mobile phone number where you can be reached during the flight. Air traffic services can shorten or lower your flight, or order you to land.6

Insurance

Since 13 November 2025, operators flying drones with a take-off mass from 0.25 kg to 20 kg must hold third-party liability insurance (Article 209(1a) of the Aviation Law).9,10

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  • The minimum cover is the equivalent in złoty of 50,000 SDR per event, for an insurance period of up to 12 months. The insurance must be in place no later than the day before your first flight.10
  • The mandatory policy does not cover damage from flights made without the required pilot qualification document, or from flights that break drone operating rules.10

Privacy and photos

ULC explains that drone footage can contain personal data even without a clear face: a person may be identifiable from their location, vehicle or other context. Plan recording with that in mind and avoid unnecessary capture of identifiable people.15

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  • ULC’s publication guidance calls for consent before publicly sharing footage that prominently shows another person or their personal data. Review recording and publication separately; a permitted flight does not automatically permit sharing its footage.16

Flying as a visitor

An operator registration from any EASA member state is valid in Poland, so you do not register again. Pilot certificates from EASA member states are recognised too.12

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  • When registration is required, non-EASA residents register in the first EASA state where they intend to fly. Obtain the EU competence needed for the aircraft class and operation because a non-EU licence does not automatically replace it. Registration does not remove Poland’s flight notification and zone-permission requirements.13
  • The Polish check-in applies to every flight, including tourist flights: install DroneTower, create an account and have a mobile number that works during the flight.9,6
  • Polish law requires liability insurance for drones from 0.25 kg to 20 kg, so check that your policy covers flights in Poland.9,10

Penalties

Flying against the conditions of a geographical zone carries a fine of PLN 10,000 per breach, and failing to register as an operator when required carries PLN 10,000.9

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  • Breaking the open category conditions of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/947, such as the 120 m limit or visual line of sight, carries a fine of PLN 4,000 per breach.9,11
  • These fines are imposed by the President of the ULC by administrative decision.9

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register a drone under 250 g in Poland?

Usually yes for a camera drone that is not a toy. The EU registration triggers also include impact energy above 80 J, so weight alone cannot decide the answer. Polish residents use drony.gov.pl; a valid registration from another EASA state is recognised without duplicate registration.4,11

Do I have to use DroneTower for every drone flight in Poland?

PANSA requires notification through its system, normally a DroneTower check-in, before the flight. Separately check whether your zone requires an approved mission, the manager’s consent or controller acceptance. Submitting a check-in does not override any of those requirements.9,6,5

Is drone insurance mandatory in Poland?

Yes for drones with a take-off mass from 0.25 kg to 20 kg, since 13 November 2025. The minimum cover is 50,000 SDR per event, and the policy must start no later than the day before your first flight.9,10

I am registered in Germany. Can I fly my drone in Poland?

Your EASA-state operator registration and recognised pilot certificates remain valid in Poland. Whether a particular flight is allowed still depends on the aircraft, competence, insurance, current zones, required manager consents or mission approval, and the DroneTower notification. Registration recognition alone does not authorise take-off.12,9,5,6

How old do you have to be to fly a drone in Poland?

The normal minimum is 14 in Poland. EU open-category exceptions apply to C0 toys, qualifying privately built drones under 250 g and direct supervision by a qualified pilot. The Polish training process requires the applicable parental or guardian consent for minors.9,11

Sources

Informational summary, not legal advice. The official sources below are binding.

  1. 1
    Krajowy System Informacji Dronowej: Usługi Cyfrowe dla BSPPolska Agencja Żeglugi Powietrznej / Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego · accessed September 29, 2026
  2. 2
    e-Drony ULCKrajowy System Informacji Dronowej (drony.gov.pl) · accessed September 29, 2026
  3. 3
    e-LearningKrajowy System Informacji Dronowej (drony.gov.pl) · accessed September 29, 2026
  4. 4
    Zasady wykonywania lotów BSP w kategorii otwartejPolska Agencja Żeglugi Powietrznej (PANSA) · accessed September 29, 2026
  5. 5
    Geographical ZonesPolish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) · accessed September 29, 2026
Show all 16 sources
  1. 6
    DroneTowerPolska Agencja Żeglugi Powietrznej (PANSA) · accessed September 29, 2026
  2. 7
    DroneMap: sprawdź strefy zanim poleciszPolska Agencja Żeglugi Powietrznej (PANSA) · accessed September 29, 2026
  3. 8
    DroneMapPolska Agencja Żeglugi Powietrznej (PANSA) · accessed September 29, 2026
  4. 9
    Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu z dnia 26 września 2025 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy Prawo lotnicze (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1431)Dziennik Ustaw, eli.gov.pl · accessed September 29, 2026
  5. 10
    Rozporządzenie Ministra Finansów i Gospodarki z dnia 24 października 2025 r. w sprawie obowiązkowego ubezpieczenia odpowiedzialności cywilnej operatora systemu bezzałogowego statku powietrznego (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1485)Dziennik Ustaw, eli.gov.pl · accessed September 29, 2026
  6. 11
    Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft (consolidated text, 1 May 2025)Publications Office of the European Union (EUR-Lex) · accessed September 29, 2026
  7. 12
    Travelling with dronesEASA · accessed September 29, 2026
  8. 13
    I am a non-EU visitor and I want to fly a drone in EuropeEASA · accessed September 29, 2026
  9. 14
    Strefy geograficzne: DRA-R CTR mission planning and exceptionsPolska Agencja Żeglugi Powietrznej (PANSA) · accessed October 1, 2026
  10. 15
    Kiedy zarejestrowany przez nas materiał zawiera dane osobowe?Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego (ULC) · accessed October 1, 2026
  11. 16
    Czy mogę opublikować nagranie lub fotografie zawierające wizerunki innych osób?Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego (ULC) · accessed October 1, 2026

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