Greece Is PERFECT For Drones - What Are The Laws?

Greece is an absolutely perfect location to take your drone and take some of the most amazing photos and video footage. From the islands, to medieval monasteries and ancient sites, Greece has everything that a drone lover will want.

According to Greece’s national aviation authority, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), flying a drone is legal in Greece, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

Why fly a drone in Greece? To get great aerial shots like these!

General Rules for Flying a Drone Within the European Union

Greece is a part of the European Union and therefore must abide by the drone regulations put in place by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In addition to these regulations, Greece also has regulations that are country-specific.

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone within the European Union.

There are three operational categories that determine drone regulations based on the weight of the drone and the intended operation. This section will only cover the Open Category, to see all European Union laws and categories.

A drone can be operated in the “Open “category if:

• The drone has one of the class identification labels 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.
• The drone was purchased before 1 January 2023, with no class identification label as above.
• The drone has a maximum take-off mass of less than 25 kg (55 lbs).
• The remote pilot keeps the drone at a safe distance away from people.
• The drone will not be operated directly over people unless it has a class identification label or is lighter than 250 g (0.55 lbs). (Please refer to subcategories of operations: A1, A2, and A3 to find out where you can fly with your drone).
• The remote pilot will maintain a visual line of sight (VLOS) or the remote pilot will be assisted by a UA observer.
• The remote pilot will not operate the drone above 120m (400ft).
• The drone will not carry any dangerous goods and will not drop any material.

General Rules for Flying a Drone in Greece

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Greece.

• You must complete an application for each individual drone flight you plan to conduct. You can find the application here. If your application is approved by the HCAA, you then must verify our identify and share your flight plans with the local police department.
• You may fly up to 120 meters (393 feet) above the ground.
• Commercial pilots must obtain permission for all operations. More information can be found on this page on the HCAA website.
• Drones may not be flown at night.
• Drone operators who fly for commercial purposes or in the “Specific” or “Certified” category must have drone insurance.
• Drone operators who fly for hobby or recreation only do not need drone insurance unless their drone weighs more than 4 kg, falling into the “Open-A2 category.” See Articles 7, 8, and 9 of this document from the HCAA for more information on UAS categories.
• Drones may not weigh more than 25 kilograms (55 pounds).
• Drones may not be flown over people, prisons, hospitals, government and military facilities, and other sensitive areas.
• Drones may not be flown over private property without permission from the property owner.

For more information on Greece’s drone laws, see this document created by the HCAA.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in Greece? Send us an email at support[at]uavcoach[dot]com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in Greece can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Greece? Here you go:

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