Remote ID requirements in European Union / EASA

What the rules say

Each line is resolved from published facts of European Union / EASA. "Not resolved" means the corpus does not answer it in a machine-checkable way — never that the law is silent.

• Remote identification requiredConditional
• Weight threshold25 kgConditional
• Operation scopeConditional
• Built-in identificationConditional
• Broadcast identificationConditional
• Link to registrationConditional

What changes the answer

The published rules distinguish the a1, a2, a3 and open categories of operation.

• altitude

  Flight altitude below 120 m

• weight threshold

  Take-off mass below 25 kg

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Active remote identification and geo-awareness for Class C1 UAS

  Class C1 unmanned aircraft must be operated with an active and updated direct remote identification system and geo-awareness function.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  ANSI/CTA-2063 Compliant Serial Number

  A direct remote identification add-on must have a physical serial number compliant with standard ANSI/CTA-2063, legibly affixed to the add-on and its packaging or user's manual.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Article 40 - section overview

  Article 40 defines the conditions under which a UAS must be certified, outlines compliance requirements for certified and non-certified UAS in the specific category, and mandates unique serial numbers and remote identification systems for certain operations.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Article 6 - section overview

  This section establishes the obligations of manufacturers when placing UAS or remote identification add-ons on the Union market, including conformity assessments, CE marking, documentation retention, product labeling, and corrective actions.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Broadcast Data Tamper Protection

  A direct remote identification add-on must ensure that the user cannot modify the serial number, UA geographical position and height, route course and ground speed, and pilot position or take-off point.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Direct Remote Identification

  A class C2 UAS must have a direct remote identification that allows the upload of the UAS operator registration number required in accordance with Article 14 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, performs a consistency check on that registration string, and broadcasts directly and periodically in real time throughout the flight — using an open and documented transmission protocol receivable by existing mobile devices within range — at least the UAS operator registration number and Member State verification code, the unique serial number of the UA, the time stamp, the geographical position of the UA and its height above the surface or take-off point, the route course and ground speed, the geographical position of the remote pilot or, if not available, the take-off point, and an indication of the emergency status of the UAS; the direct remote identification must also reduce the ability of tampering with its functionality.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  EU: for UAS operations requiring a certificate or declaration for design, Annex VI occurrences include remote ID broadcast failure, geographical zone infringement and collisions or near collisions

  In the operation of UAS for which a certificate or declaration for design is required, the Annex VI occurrences include: inability to broadcast the remote identification or aircraft identification; geographical zones infringements, where UAS operations are not permitted, or the required flight authorisation was not obtained; and a collision or a near collision on the ground or in the air, with another aircraft, terrain or obstacle.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Mandatory Class C2 marking and equipment for subcategory A2

  UAS operations in subcategory A2 must be performed with an unmanned aircraft marked as class C2, complying with class C2 requirements, and operated with active and updated direct remote identification and geo-awareness.

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 — European Union Aviation Safety AgencyOpen
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1821 (UAS and U-space occurrences, amending 2015/1018) — European Union Aviation Safety AgencyOpen

Known limitations

• 3 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Other drone rules in European Union / EASA

• Do I need to register my drone in European Union / EASA?Registration in European Union / EASA is governed by a published mass threshold of 0.25 kg, alongside the further conditions cited below. Whether it applies to a given flight depends on those conditions, each cited to its rule.
• What is the maximum drone altitude in European Union / EASA?Drone flights in European Union / EASA are held to a published general height limit of 120 m above_nearest_obstacle. The limit is not absolute: the published conditions that change it are cited below.
• Can I fly a drone near an airport in European Union / EASA?Drone flights near aerodromes in European Union / EASA are governed by airspace and aerodrome restrictions: whether permission is needed depends on the airspace, distance or aerodrome type published below.
• When does a drone operation need authorisation in European Union / EASA?Whether an operation in European Union / EASA needs prior authorisation depends on the operational category, risk class or location: the published triggers below decide it.
• What training do I need to fly a drone in European Union / EASA?Remote pilot competency in European Union / EASA scales with the operation: which training, examination or proof of competency applies is set by the published conditions below.
• Do I need drone insurance in European Union / EASA?Drone insurance in European Union / EASA is published with a minimum third-party cover of 20 kg. Whether cover is required for a given flight depends on the published conditions below.

All drone laws in European Union / EASA