Flying a drone in Switzerland and Vaud
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Switzerland applies the European (EASA) drone rules since January 2023. Most hobby drones fly in the "open" category (catégorie ouverte) without a permit, as long as you register, pass the online test when required, carry liability insurance and check the drone map before every flight. This page sums up the federal rules from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (OFAC) and the extra Vaud and EPFL steps.
Key facts
- Register as an operator: required unless your drone weighs under 250 g and has no camera, microphone or other sensor that can record personal data. Fee CHF 10, valid for an unlimited period in all EASA states (OFAC).
- Online test: the A1/A3 pilot certificate is an online theory exam taken at home, 60 minutes, CHF 20, minimum age 12, valid five years (OFAC). Under 250 g, no certificate is required for subcategory A1.
- Insurance: liability cover of at least CHF 1 million is compulsory for any drone over 250 g (OFAC; OACS art. 35).
- Always: maximum height 120 m, never over crowds, check the official drone map and respect other people's privacy.
1. Categories and weight thresholds
The open category has three subcategories, A1, A2 and A3. Your drone's class label (C0 to C4) decides which one you may fly in (classe de drone) (OFAC FAQ).
| Weight | Subcategory | Pilot certificate |
|---|---|---|
| under 250 g | A1 | none required |
| under 25 kg | A3 (far from people) | A1/A3 |
- The A2 certificate (flying closer to people with a C2 drone) requires the A1/A3 certificate first, practical self-training and an exam (OFAC, pilots page).
- Flights over 25 kg, above 120 m, beyond visual line of sight or over a crowd fall into the "specific" category (catégorie spécifique) and need an OFAC authorisation (OFAC, flight rules).
- Minimum age is 12 in the open category; children under 12 may fly when supervised by someone aged 16 or over with the right skills (OFAC FAQ).
2. Register and take the test (dLIS)
- Registration and exams now run on the OFAC portal dLIS, with an AGOV / CH-Login account. Certificates issued on the former portal UAS.gate before 2023 stay valid (OFAC FAQ).
- Register in the EASA state where you live. If you moved to Vaud from the EU and are registered there, OFAC explains how to transfer to Switzerland; you may not be registered in two states at once (OFAC, registration).
- Put your operator number (numéro d'exploitant) visibly on each drone (OFAC FAQ).
- Certificates from the EU, Norway or Iceland are valid in Switzerland without any extra step (OFAC FAQ).
3. Where you may not fly
- Check the official drone map before every flight: map.geo.admin.ch, drone restrictions layer. It shows national and cantonal zones: airport control zones (CTR) and aerodrome perimeters, prisons, wildlife protection zones, nuclear plants, military zones and energy infrastructure (OFAC, geographic restrictions). Also check the daily airspace bulletin (DABS).
- Near airports: flying a drone over 250 g within the 5 km zone around an aerodrome needs the aerodrome's authorisation, and it may charge a fee (OFAC FAQ).
- Protected areas: federal hunting reserves and waterbird reserves are among the restricted zones listed on the map (OFAC, legal bases: ODF RS 922.31, OROEM RS 922.32).
4. Vaud, Lausanne and EPFL
- Vaud flight-notice desk: since 10 Oct 2024 the canton runs a flight-announcement service with Skyguide's free Swiss U-space app. You can announce any flight in Vaud; if it enters a restricted zone, the authority answers in the app. Ask early, because answers take time (vd.ch, Drones).
- Cantonal no-fly perimeters: the Vaud regulation RISA (RSV 740.24, 2019) bans drones within 300 m of prisons, cantonal police centres, the Federal and Cantonal courts, hospitals with a helipad, and any police or rescue intervention. It also lets communes set their own bans in their police regulation. RISA is in force since 15 July 2019 and remains in the Vaud law collection (RISA, BLV 740.24); the canton applies it alongside the federal rules (vd.ch, Drones).
- Lakeside and events: crowds at festivals, markets, beaches and quays count as gatherings you may not overfly in the open category (OFAC). For flights in Lausanne, the city sends all requests through the Swiss U-space app and points to RISA (Ville de Lausanne, drones). Some communes set extra bans or permits in their police regulation, so check your commune's rules (vd.ch, Drones).
- EPFL campus: EPFL Security no longer processes drone authorisations; use Swiss U-space to file your flight plan (EPFL, Air safety).
5. Insurance and privacy
- Over 250 g, give your liability insurer's name, policy number and seat when you register. Under 250 g, enter "dronebelow250g" (OFAC, registration). OFAC also recommends insurance for drones under 250 g.
- Check whether your private liability policy covers drones: see Household and personal liability insurance. To verify: drone cover varies by insurer and policy.
- Privacy: do not film or photograph strangers without their knowledge or fly low over private land. Ask the owner or tenant and the people present for consent first (OFAC FAQ). Questions on privacy go to the Federal Data Protection Commissioner (PFPDT).