Drone Training Calculator

Not every pilot needs a drone licence, however, most will require a UK CAA Flyer ID and/or Operator ID, and you may need extra training (like A2 CofC or GVC) depending on your drone and where you plan to fly.

For more details, visit our Drone licence page and drone training calculator.

In the UK, the term drone licence usually refers to the UK CAA IDs (Operator ID + Flyer ID) and/or a qualification such as the A2 CofC or GVC.

The A2 CofC supports operations in the A2 (Near People) sub-category of the Open Category, while the GVC can support applying for an Operational Authorisation in the Specific Category.

For more details, visit our Drone licence page and drone training calculator.

The cost of a drone licence depends on which drone licence you require.

UK CAA Flyer ID: Free. Valid for five years.

UK CAA Operator ID: £11.79. Valid for one year.

A2 CofC drone licence course with heliguy™: £149.50. Valid for five years.

GVC drone licence course with heliguy™: £699.50. Valid for five years. A £500 fee to the UK CAA applies for a PDRA-01 Operational Authorisation. Costs vary when applying for a UK SORA authorisation for non-standard operations.

Find out which drone training you need with our drone licence calculator.

There is no hobbyist or commercial drone licence in the UK.

Whether or not you need a drone licence depends on the drone and your flying location.

For more details, visit our Drone licence page and drone training calculator.

No, not necessarily. A drone licence is not dictated by commercial or recreational flights. The deciding factors are your drone and where you plan to fly it.

For more details, visit our Drone licence page and drone training calculator.

Most drone users will need to register with the UK CAA, regardless of whether or not they have a drone licence (ie A2 CofC or GVC).

Registration includes a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and you might need both.

The term drone licence can be used as a way to describe the Flyer ID and Operator ID.

For more details, read our Flyer ID vs Operator ID deep-dive.

From the start of 2026, it's fair to say that a drone licence will be required for all DJI drones, in regards to the Flyer ID.

This is because a pilot flying a drone weighing 100g or more needs a Flyer ID. No DJI drones are sub-100g.

However, you could fly any DJI drone that weighs up to 25kg without drone training (ie A2 CofC or GVC) - which can be referred to as a drone licence - but you will be restricted to flights far from people in the A3 subcategory of the Open Category.

For more details, visit our Drone licence page and drone training calculator.

No. Following Brexit, drone pilots typically need new drone licences to fly in an EU Member State (ie EU or EASA Associate Member State).

Your UK Flyer ID and Operator ID are not valid outside the UK, and you will need to obtain new versions for the country you fly in.

Similarly, your UK A2 CofC is not valid, and you will need to obtain a new A2 CofC in the EU Member State you wish to fly in. However, once you have this, it is valid in all other EU Member States and EASA Associate Member States.

If you’ve completed the UK GVC and hold an Operational Authorisation, your next steps depend on the EU Member State’s aviation authority—some will recognise it (requiring an Operations Manual update, e.g. adapting a PDRA to a Standard Scenario), while others require you to complete local training and apply for a new Operational Authorisation.

Age limits for a UK drone licence depend on the licence you want/need.

• Flyer ID: 13 years and over. Under 13s must take the Flyer ID test with their parent or guardian.

• Operator ID: You must be 18 years and over to register for an Operator ID. Under 18s must ask someone else to register as the Operator.

• A2 CofC: No minimum age.

• GVC: No minimum age.

For more details about drone licencing, read our drone licence and training calculator page.

Yes, in most cases, you will require a drone licence if you fly a sub-250g drone in the UK.

If you fly a drone weighing more than 100g, you need a Flyer ID.

If you own or are responsible for a drone that weighs more than 100g and has a camera, you need an Operator ID.

You do not need formal drone training, such as an A2 CofC or GVC, to fly a sub-250g drone, but we do recommend it in the interests of enhancing pilot competency and flight safety, especially if you are using a sub-250g drone for commercial reasons.

For more details, visit our in-depth guide to UK drone laws.