2024-12-11  (originalmente publicado a 2024-12-04)

I bought a drone, now what? Rules for using a drone in Portugal

Drones can give us a completely different perspective on the places we travel to and more and more travelers (and beyond) are choosing to carry a drone in their luggage.

This article aims to clarify legal issues: what we can do, how and where we can do it, and what the best practices are before using one of these aircraft.

Attention, these tips are only applicable in Portugal.

To regulate the growing number of drones in the skies of Portugal, the Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil [National Civil Aviation Authority] (ANAC) created some new rules for these aircraft, and to better clarify and raise awareness among drone users, it created the Voa na Boa website, which contains all the information necessary for this practice.

Below are the main rules for using drones (you don’t need to consult the website):

Is drone registration mandatory?

It is mandatory to register all pilots and drones, whose aircraft weight is above 250g, and/or capture images (and other data).

To register, access the National Aeronautical Authority – AAN website and register. You will then receive a registration confirmation email with a declaration that you must sign and send, within 10 days, to the address indicated.

After the declaration has been validated by the authorities, you will receive a new email with confirmation. Once registration is confirmed, you will be able to start making flight authorization requests on the same AAN website.

You must also register with Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil [National Civil Aviation Authority].

Should I do training?

The training of remote pilots in the A1, A2 and A3 subcategories, of the open category, has been mandatory in Portugal since August 31, 2021.

To take the training you must access the ANAC website and, depending on the subcategory, you will take the exam in person or online.

Do I always have to ask permission to fly my drone?

Requesting authorization for all flights is mandatory in Portugal if the drone meets the requirements of the previous answer. This authorization request is also made on the AAN website. It’s very simple, just keep in mind that the order may not be available for the next 48 hours (or more), place your orders a few days in advance.

Attention, requesting a flight authorization from AAN does not exempt you from obtaining authorizations or opinions from other entities such as the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (in the case of flights in protected areas or natural parks) or the National Data Protection Commission (in the case of capturing images of people or buildings) depending on the purpose or location of the flight. In the case of protected areas, flying over them and recording images is prohibited, except for scientific or environmental protection purposes.

It is also worth checking the temporarily prohibited areas on the AAN website.

If you travel abroad you should always consult the authorities of that country, this article has some information for some countries (for categories A1-A3).

Am I required to have insurance?

Civil liability insurance is mandatory for drones weighing more than 900g (Decree-Law nº 58/2018).