Training & Regulations
Drone Class Marking comes to UK in 2026
Drone Class Marking to start in the UK in 2026 and the UK CAA to take the lead in monitoring and enforcing new product standards.
UPDATE (January 16, 2026): DJI Enterprise says all DJI Enterprise drones imported into the UK from 2026 will be marked in accordance with the UK Class Marking. But non-UK-Class-marked DJI Enterprise drones (purchased/imported prior to January 1, 2026) are classified as 'legacy drones' and cannot be retrofitted or stickered with a UK mark;
Drone class marking comes to the UK from January 1, 2026;
UK class marks required for new drones placed on the market from the start of 2026;
UK will recognise European C-marked drones from January 1, 2026. A C-marked drone can be flown as if it is the corresponding UK class - offering greater freedom for some operators.
It's 2026 - which means drone class markings have started in the UK.
The system is especially important for the Open Category, which generally relates to leisure activities and low-risk commercial drone flights.
A class marking system unlocks greater operational privileges for drone operators.
As the UK's Market Surveillance Authority (MSA), the UK CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) is responsible for ensuring that the required standards for drones are met by manufacturers, as well as importers and distributors, and intervening when there is non-compliance.
The CAA says that adopting the class marking framework will improve safety and security in the sector, and support further growth.
What is a drone class marking?
A drone class marking (also called a class identification label) ensures a drone meets specific safety, performance, and technical standards.
Based on this, the label tells you what sub-category a drone relates to, and helps determine where and how the drone can be flown legally.
For instance, drone class markings were adopted by EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and became fully applicable in 2024. Scroll down to see which DJI drones have an EASA class marking.
These markings range from C0-C6 - although only C0-C4 are permitted to fly in the Open Category. They are based on a sliding scale, with C0 attributed to lightweight drones.
From the start of 2026, until the end of 2027, operators can fly a European class-marked drone in the UK as if it is a corresponding UK class, ie a C1 class drone can be flown as if it is a UK1 class drone.
On and after January 1, 2028, these drones will be treated as 'legacy' if they do not have a UK class label.
As for UK class markings: Any new model of drone and model aircraft placed on the market from January 1, 2026, must have a UK class mark, ie UK0 to UK6.
What is the Drone Open Category?
The Open Category generally relates to leisure drone activities and low-risk commercial activities.
It is divided into three sub-categories, dictating how you can fly and the nature of aircraft that can be flown there. A general rule of thumb is:
A1: Fly over people, but not crowds.
A2: Fly near people.
A3: Fly far from people.
Each subcategory comes with its own set of requirements.
How can drones with European C markings be flown in the UK?
The ability to fly drones with a European C marking in the UK in accordance with a UK-marked drone is an important move.
First, it enables people to continue to fly their current drones.
Secondly, it opens more freedom: A sub 900g drone - with a C mark - can be flown in the A1 subcategory (over people), while drones weighing up to 4kg - with a C2 mark - can operate in the A2 subcategory (with an A2 CofC), with a reduced distance of 30m away from uninvolved people and 5m in low-speed mode.
The table below shows what each C-marked drone can legally do in the UK from the start of 2026. All flights must be conducted within visual line of sight (VLOS) and must not exceed 120m altitude.
For details on drones that do not have a class mark, see our full UK drone laws blog.
C Class | Max Takeoff Mass | Subcategory | Main Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
C0 | <250g | A1 (Over People) | You can fly over people, including people who are not involved in what you’re doing. Do not fly over crowds. |
C1 | <900g | A1 (Over People) | You can fly over people, including people who are not involved in what you’re doing. Do not fly over crowds. |
C2 | <4kg | A2 (Near People) Operator must have A2 CofC | You must not fly within 30m of people unless they’re involved in what you are doing, or you fly in low-speed mode. If you fly in low speed mode, you can reduce this distance to 5m from people. You must not fly over people who are not involved in what you're doing. |
C3 and C4 C2 class (where the pilot does not have an A2 CofC) | <25kg | A3 (Far From People) | You must not fly within 50m of uninvolved people. You must not fly over people who are not involved in what you're doing. You must not fly within 150m of residential, recreational, commercial or industrial areas. You must not fly closer to individual residential buildings than 50m horizontally. |
Which DJI drones have an EU C class mark?
Class Label | Drone Model |
|---|---|
C0 (recognised as UK0 during transition until the end of December 2027) | DJI Mini 2 SE DJI Mini 3 & Mini 3 Pro DJI Mini 4 Pro DJI Mini 5 Pro DJI Neo 2 DJI Neo DJI Flip |
C1 (recognised as UK1 during transition until the end of December 2027) | DJI Air 3S & Air 3 DJI Avata 2 DJI Air 2S DJI Mavic 3 DJI Mavic 3 Classic DJI Mavic 3 Cine DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (C1 edition) DJI Mavic 3 Thermal Advanced (C1 edition) DJI Mavic 3 Thermal (C1 edition) |
C2 (recognised as UK2 during transition until the end of December 2027) | DJI Mavic 3 Pro & Mavic 3 Pro Cine DJI Mavic 4 Pro DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral (EU) DJI Mavic 3 Thermal (EU) DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (EU) DJI M30T DJI M30 DJI Matrice 4E DJI Matrice 4T Matrice 4D and Matrice 4TD (also C6) |
C3 (recognised as UK3 during transition until the end of December 2027) | DJI Matrice 400 DJI Matrice 350 RTK DJI Inspire 3 |
UPDATE (January 16, 2025): DJI statement on DJI Enterprise Class-marked drones
DJI has released a statement about its Enterprise drone fleet. It says:
All DJI Enterprise drones, imported into the UK after January 1, 2026, will be marked in accordance with the UK Class Marking.
Please be advised of the confirmed regulatory status for the current fleet of non-UK-Class Marked DJI Enterprise drones (purchased/imported prior to January 1, 2026). These aircraft are now legally classified as "Legacy Drones". This status is permanent. They cannot be upgraded, retrofitted, or stickered with "UK Class Marks" (e.g., UK2/UK3) at any stage. They must continue to be operated under the weight-based transitional rules (A1 or A3 categories, or A2 with a valid A2 CofC).
What criteria do manufacturers need to meet to obtain a drone class marking in the EU?
Each class rating has different criteria that drone manufacturers need to adhere to.
For the EU, this is based on EU Drone Regulation (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945), as amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1058.
Listed below is an overview of the key criteria for each drone marking, as taken from EU regulation. In this case, we'll only focus on C0-C4, as this relates to the Open Category.
Class | Key Criteria |
|---|---|
C0 | 1: Weigh under 250 g (including payload). 2: Fly no faster than 19 m/s. 3: Not exceed 120 m above take-off point. 4: Be safely controllable under all conditions, including system failures. 5: Be designed to minimise injury (no sharp edges; safe propeller design). 6: Be powered only by electricity. 7: If it has follow-me mode, stay within 50 m and allow pilot control. 8: Be sold with clear instructions covering UA class, weight, payload limits, control equipment, and behavior during signal loss; Operational guidelines and limits (e.g., weather, day/night use); Age-appropriate safety and risk info. 9: Include an EASA information notice with legal limits and duties. 10: Rules 4, 5, and 6 don’t apply if it’s considered a toy under EU toy safety law. |
C1 | 1: Transmit less than 80 J of energy on impact or weigh under 900 g. 2: Fly no faster than 19 m/s. 3: Not exceed 120 m in height, or have a height limiter with clear info to the pilot. 4: Be safely controllable in all expected conditions, even if systems fail. 5: Be structurally strong and stable under normal use. 6: Be designed to minimize injury (e.g. no sharp edges, safe propeller design). 7: Handle data link loss reliably and safely. 8: Unless it is a fixed-wing, it must meet noise limits and display the sound power level. 9: Be electrically powered, with safe voltage levels. 10: Have a unique ANSI/CTA-2063-compliant serial number. 11: Include direct remote ID that: Uploads the operator registration number; Broadcasts flight data in real time (location, speed, height, pilot position, etc.); Prevents tampering with key data. 12: Include a geo-awareness system with: Updated airspace info; Warnings for airspace breaches or navigation issues. 13: If airspace limiting functions are present, they must work smoothly with flight controls and inform the pilot. 14: Warn the pilot of low battery in time to land safely. 15: Have lights for control and visibility, distinguishable from manned aircraft. 16: If follow-me mode is used, stay within 50 m and allow pilot control. 17: Be sold with a user manual covering: Specs, payload limits, remote control, ID protocol, sound level, and behavior during signal loss; Operation, maintenance, airspace loading, troubleshooting, and risk/safety info. 18: Include an EASA info notice on legal duties and limits. |
C2 | 1: Weigh under 4 kg (including payload). 2: Be limited to 120 m altitude or have a height limiter with clear feedback to the pilot. 3: Be safely controllable under all conditions, even during system failures, by a competent pilot. 4: Be mechanically strong and stable during normal use. 5: For tethered UAS, meet strict tether strength and length requirements. 6: Be designed to minimise injury (e.g. no sharp edges, safe propeller design). 7: If untethered, handle command link loss safely and have secure control links. 8: If not fixed-wing, have a low-speed mode limiting speed to 3 m/s. 9: If not fixed-wing, meet sound level limits and display the sound rating. 10: Be powered only by electricity. 11: Have a unique ANSI/CTA-2063-A-2019-compliant serial number. 12: Include direct remote ID that: Uploads and verifies registration numbers; Broadcasts flight data in real-time (location, speed, ID, status); Prevents tampering. 13: Include geo-awareness features: Load and update restricted airspace data; Alert pilots of potential airspace breaches or system failures. 14: Integrate airspace-limiting functions smoothly with flight systems and inform the pilot. 15: Warn the pilot of low battery in time for safe landing. 16: Have control lights and at least one green flashing light for night visibility. 17: Come with a detailed user manual including: Specs, payload limits, control systems, remote ID setup, sound levels; Procedures for airspace updates, maintenance, troubleshooting, and limitations; Risk and safety information. 18: Include an EASA notice on legal duties and limitations. 19: If using network remote ID, it must transmit real-time flight data over a network using a secure, tamper-resistant system. |
C3 | 1: Weigh under 25 kg (including payload) and be smaller than 3m. 2: Be limited to 120 m height or have a height limiter with clear info to the pilot. 3: Be safely controllable under all conditions by a competent remote pilot. 4: Tethered models must have a tether <50 m and meet strength requirements. 5: If untethered, handle link loss reliably and terminate safely if needed. 6: If not fixed-wing, display its certified noise level on the unit/packaging. 7: Be powered solely by electricity. 8: Have a unique serial number compliant with ANSI/CTA-2063-A-2019. 9: If untethered, include direct remote ID that: Uploads and verifies registration data; Broadcasts live flight and location data; Resists tampering. 10: Include a geo-awareness system that: Loads airspace restrictions; Alerts pilot to potential breaches or system faults. 11: Airspace-limiting functions must integrate safely and inform the pilot. 12: If untethered, have secure command/control links. 13: Warn pilot of low battery in time for a safe landing. 14: Have lights for control; At least one green flashing light for night visibility. 15: Be sold with a detailed user manual covering: Specs, payloads, control systems, ID protocols, sound levels, and emergency behavior; Setup, operations, airspace updates, maintenance, troubleshooting, and risks. 16: Include an EASA info notice on legal obligations. 17: If using network remote ID, it must: Transmit real-time flight data securely over a network; Resist tampering of ID functions. |
C4 | 1: Weigh less than 25 kg (including payload). 2: Be safely controllable and manoeuvrable in all expected conditions, including system failures. 3: Not use automatic flight modes—only basic stabilisation and lost-link support (with fixed control positions). 4: Be sold with a user manual detailing: UA class, weight, payload limits, remote control setup, and behavior during signal loss; Clear instructions for operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and limitations; Risk and safety information. 5: Include an EASA info notice on legal obligations. |
This table provides an overview of the criteria required for each class marking. For a full breakdown, click here.
Drone class marking - Greater freedom for operators
Class markings are a big step for UK operators.
We'll see UK class-marked drones coming to the UK in due course.
But in the short-term - and currently until the end of 2027 - the ability to use a C-rated drone like it is a UK-rated platform offers greater freedom for some operators.
For instance, previously, an operator of the DJI Air 3S required an A2 CofC to operate in the A2 subcategory, which stipulates no flights closer than 50m from uninvolved people. However, based upon EASA's class marking system, the Air 3S is a C1 aircraft, and can, from 2026, be flown in the A1 subcategory (over people), without requiring an A2 CofC.
In another example, a Mavic 3 Pro operator in the UK with an A2 CofC can, from January 2026, fly closer to people in the A2 subcategory: 30m compared to 50m.
We will keep an eye on this and will continue to issue updates. If you require any drone training or regulatory assistance, contact our expert in-house instructor team.
