← News · Drone law · 12 June 2026 · 4 min
C-Class Requirement: The Transition Period Is Over – What This Means for Your Drone Now
Since 1 January 2024, a small label has determined how close you're allowed to fly your drone to people: the C-class marking. New for 2026: the transition period for legacy drones without this label ended on 31 December 2025. We explain what this means for new purchases and for drones you already own.
What it's about
The EU has a common set of rules for drones (Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945). Within the "open category" – the segment covering most private and many commercial flights – there are three subcategories:
- A1 – Flying close to uninvolved people (but not over assemblies of people).
- A2 – Flying with a reduced safety distance from uninvolved people.
- A3 – Flying far away from people, as well as from residential, commercial and recreational areas.
Which of these subcategories you're allowed to use depends largely on your drone's C-class (C0 to C4 for the open category). New drones carry this class label from the factory.
New since 1 January 2026: The transition period has ended
- Drones under 250 g without a class label: still usable in A1 (treated as C0).
- Legacy drones from 250 g to 25 kg without a C-class: from now on usable only in A3 – meaning with a large distance from people and built-up areas. The previous A2 access for certain legacy drones is thus permanently discontinued.
- Want to fly close to the public in A2? That requires a drone with C2 marking plus the A2 remote pilot certificate – there is no grandfathering without a C-class for this.
What this means for you
- Check the C-class when buying. It determines how close you're allowed to fly to people – not just the weight.
- Classify your existing drone now. If your drone has no C-label, the binding rule since 1 January 2026 is: under 250 g A1, otherwise A3.
- Secure your qualification. For A2 you need a C2 drone plus the A2 remote pilot certificate – this significantly expands your options.
As of: June 2026, without guarantee. This article is intended for general orientation. The applicable regulations are authoritative, in particular EU Regulations 2019/947 and 2019/945 as well as current guidance from LBA and EASA. If in doubt, we're happy to review your specific case with you.