Do I Need a Licence to Fly a Drone in Australia?
Aviation
Do I need a licence to fly a drone in Australia?
Not every drone flight requires a Remote Pilot Licence, but some operations require operator accreditation, registration, a RePL, a ReOC or another CASA authorisation. The correct answer depends on the aircraft, purpose, location and nature of the proposed flight.1
‘Licence’ can mean several different things
People commonly say they need ‘a drone licence’. CASA uses distinct concepts, each with a different function. The important question is not simply whether you own a drone, but what operation you intend to conduct.
Which requirement applies to which type of flight?
| Term | Plain-English meaning | Practical point |
|---|---|---|
| ARN | Your identifier in CASA systems | Often needed to deal with CASA processes |
| Operator accreditation | Accreditation for eligible categories of operations | Different from a remote pilot licence |
| Drone registration | Registration of the aircraft where CASA requires it | Does not authorise unsafe or restricted flying |
| RePL | A Remote Pilot Licence | May be required for operations outside lower-risk categories |
| ReOC | Certification of an operator | Relevant for certain organisational operations |
This is a general guide, not a determination of eligibility. CASA’s current guidance and the regulations must be checked for the particular operation.1
When a recreational flyer may not need a RePL
A person flying a suitable drone solely for recreation may not need a RePL merely because they are flying. That does not remove the standard operating rules: safe operation, visual line of sight, height limits, separation from people, airport restrictions and other location-specific rules still apply.2
See CASA rules for recreational drone flying for the practical baseline.
When the question becomes more serious
The requirements may change where flying is connected to employment, a business, paid content, inspections, construction, surveying, real estate, events, flights near people, controlled airspace, night operations or beyond visual line of sight. Do not book a job or promise a client a shoot before checking that the intended operation is permitted.
For business use, read Can I fly a drone for my business or social media? . For FPV, night and longer-distance flights, see our guide to FPV, night flying and BVLOS .
When a business should seek tailored advice
CASA eligibility is only one part of a business drone operation. A business should also consider contracts, who is responsible for permissions, insurance, privacy, confidentiality, client expectations, data retention and liability if the shoot cannot proceed because of weather or airspace restrictions.
Related drone-law resources
Read whether drone registration is required , airport and helicopter landing-site restrictions and Can I fly a drone on the Gold Coast? . The topic was also discussed on Legal Matters .
References
Need Specific Legal Advice?
The answers above are general. For advice tailored to your specific situation, contact our Southport solicitors today.
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Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ‘Drone Weight Categories and Requirements’ (Web Page) https://www.casa.gov.au/drones/operator-accreditation-certificate/drone-weight-categories-and-requirements ; Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (Cth) pt 101 https://www.legislation.gov.au/F1998B00220/latest/text . ↩︎ ↩︎
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Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ‘Drone Rules’ (Web Page) https://www.casa.gov.au/knowyourdrone/drone-rules . ↩︎