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Drone rules: Austria
Last checked: October 1, 2026
Required from 250 g or with a camera or sensor; registration in your country of residence is valid throughout the EASA area – with a German operator ID you do not need a second one.
Dedicated aviation liability insurance is mandatory regardless of weight (Aviation Act, at least 750,000 special drawing rights); private liability insurance is usually not enough.
For tourists
With a German operator ID and EU competency certificate you may fly in Austria, but you need aviation liability insurance that covers Austria. In national parks such as the Hohe Tauern, drone flights require a nature-conservation permit; the zones are shown on the map at dronespace.at.
Further rules
- Every drone operator resident in Austria must register once with Austro Control – the registration covers all your drones, is subject to a fee and is valid for three years. The 16-digit identifier issued must be visibly attached to every drone.
- You only register once, in the EASA state where you live – the EASA area comprises the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Your operator ID is then valid throughout the EASA area: if you are already registered in another EASA country, you don't need a second registration in Austria. Only if you live outside the EASA area do you register in the EASA state where you first fly.
- Austria requires dedicated aviation liability insurance for drone operations, regardless of the drone's weight – private liability or household insurance usually isn't enough. Minimum cover is 750,000 Special Drawing Rights, and you give the policy number when you register. Many insurers tie the policy to specific devices (serial number): check that every drone you fly is listed.
- Austria fully implements the EU drone regulation: in the open category, the maximum flight height is 120 metres, divided into the subcategories A1, A2 and A3 depending on the permitted distance from people.
- In Austrian national parks such as the Hohe Tauern, park authorities and nature conservation agencies reject private drone flights. Anyone who wants to fly there needs a nature conservation permit from the competent district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) in advance – don't fly there without one. The same applies to many nature and bird reserves.
- Where you may fly is shown on Austro Control's map at dronespace.at and in the "Dronespace" app, where registered operators can also apply for flight permits. The free "Drohnen-Info" app from the ÖAMTC works without registration.
Sources
- Austro Control – Dronespaceofficial
This overview is not legal advice and not an official statement — laws change, and we cannot guarantee that every entry is fully up to date. Before your flight, please also check the official source or the local civil aviation authority.