Europe
Cyprus
EASA (EU) Regulation — implemented by DCA
Cyprus applies the EASA standard through the Department of Civil Aviation, with a dedicated portal at drones.gov.cy. This regime applies to the area under Republic of Cyprus control: the Turkish-administered north and the British Sovereign Base Areas (Akrotiri and Dhekelia) have separate rules, worth checking separately if you cross the Green Line.
Online registration on drones.gov.cy, required for drones >250 g.
A1/A3 certificate required depending on the type of operation.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Zone A (forbidden) and Zone B (restricted) around Larnaca and Paphos airports, defined on a map/GeoZones by the Department; for non-EU visitors the official page gives a minimum of 8km from airports as guidance. Zone B requires €1,000,000 third-party liability insurance and a request at least 10 working days in advance. Also restricted near military sites and the UN buffer zone.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
The exact boundaries (in metres) of zones A and B around airports aren't published as numbers by the official source, only on a map; the €1,000,000 insurance is confirmed but applies only to Zone B, not every flight.
Last checked: 2026-09
Go deeper
Why registration exists
Operator registration exists for accountability: if a drone causes an incident or enters a restricted zone, the authority needs to be able to trace it back to whoever was flying it. You usually get an identification number (operator ID) to physically attach to the drone, valid for every drone the same person owns. The cost is often minimal or free, and it applies to visiting tourists too, not just residents. For Cyprus, the official reference remains Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) Cyprus. Online registration on drones.gov.cy, required for drones >250 g.
How this usually works
Here the requirement depends on factors like the drone's weight, distance from people, or use case (recreational vs. commercial). The note above describes the most common case: if your situation is different, check the official source to see exactly which scenario applies to you before flying. The exam and certificate are handled by Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) Cyprus. A1/A3 certificate required depending on the type of operation.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.