UK drone laws have just changed – read this now if your drone has a camera

I think the CAA's tweaks make things simpler overall

News By Sam Kieldsen published 1 January 2026

(Image credit: Tim Coleman) Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Reddit
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Threads

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

• A UK Class Mark system and Remote ID requirements are here
• All camera drones of 100g and above now need a Flyer ID
• EU C-class rating will be aligned with UK equivalents – but only until the end of 2027

Drone laws in the UK have just changed – as of January 1, 2026, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has rolled out a major overhaul of drone regulations, introducing UK-specific class markings and phased Remote ID requirements that will affect everyone from casual hobbyists to professional operators.

There are two big changes. The headline one is the introduction of UK Class Marks – labels ranging from UK0 to UK6 that show a drone meets specific safety and technical standards. Similar to the EU's C-class system, these markings will be mandatory for all new drones sold from 2026 onwards, with each class determining where and how you can fly.

A UK0 drone (under 250g) can fly over people but not crowds, while a UK1 (under 900g) comes with built-in safety features like geo-awareness. UK2 drones (under 4kg) are designed for "near people" operations if you hold an A2 Certificate of Competency, while UK3 and UK4 cover heavier aircraft and traditional model aircraft respectively.

If you already own a drone, don’t panic. Legacy drones (in other words, drones purchased before January 1, 2026) remain completely legal to fly, but will operate under weight-based rules rather than class-based ones.

A sub-250g legacy drone can still operate in the A1 subcategory (renamed "Over People" for clarity), while drones between 250g and 25kg default to A3 ("Far from People") unless you hold an A2 Certificate of Competency.

The catch? Legacy drones won't benefit from the reduced separation distances that class-marked models offer, so pilots who want maximum flexibility may want to upgrade.

Show me your ID

The other major change is Remote ID – essentially a digital license plate that broadcasts your drone's identification and location data during flight.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors