📖 Read more: Drone Registration: How to Register Your Drone in Greece
📊 The Numbers at a Glance
⚖️ Legal Framework: Which Law Sets the Fines?
Drone operations in Greece are governed by Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (Commission Implementing Regulation), which applies directly in all EU member states, in combination with national legislation — primarily the Greek Aviation Code (Law 1815/1988) and its amendments.
According to Article 18 of Regulation 2019/947, the HCAA (Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority) is responsible for: (a) enforcing the Regulation, (b) issuing certificates, (c) inspecting operators, and (d) establishing a system for detecting non-compliance (Article 18, point k).
Furthermore, each EU member state may establish additional national rules (Recital 18 of the Regulation) for reasons of public safety, privacy protection, and environmental conservation.
🔴 Violations & Fines Table
Below are the most common violations and corresponding fines/penalties in Greece:
| Violation | Fine | Additional Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| Flying without Operator Registration | €1,000 – €5,000 (~$1,090 – $5,450) | Equipment confiscation |
| Flying without A1/A3 or A2 certificate | €1,000 – €5,000 (~$1,090 – $5,450) | Revocation of flight privileges |
| Flying in airport CTR without authorization | €5,000 – €25,000 (~$5,450 – $27,250) | Criminal prosecution + confiscation |
| Flying over a military installation | €10,000 – €50,000 (~$10,900 – $54,500) | Arrest + imprisonment (Aviation Code) |
| Flying over people/crowds | €2,000 – €10,000 (~$2,180 – $10,900) | Increased if accident occurred |
| Flying above 120m (AGL) | €1,000 – €10,000 (~$1,090 – $10,900) | Criminal prosecution if in CTR |
| Flying over archaeological site without permit | €2,000 – €15,000 (~$2,180 – $16,350) | Confiscation + Archaeological Service fine |
| Night flying (without exemption) | €1,000 – €5,000 (~$1,090 – $5,450) | Equipment confiscation |
| Flying without insurance (where required) | €1,000 – €10,000 (~$1,090 – $10,900) | Personal liability for damages |
| Privacy/GDPR violation | €1,000 – €20,000 (~$1,090 – $21,800) | Lawsuit from affected party + DPA |
⚠️ WARNING: The above fines are cumulative. If, for example, you fly without registration, without a certificate AND in an airport zone, the fines add up. Additionally, in case of an accident, penalties are multiplied.
🏛️ Who Imposes the Fines?
In Greece, fines can be imposed by different authorities depending on the nature of the violation:
HCAA
The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) is the main competent authority according to Article 17 of Regulation 2019/947. It controls operators, registrations, certificates, and geographical zones.
Hellenic Police
Can arrest a drone operator on the spot in case of a serious violation (e.g., flying over a military base, threat to public safety).
Public Prosecutor
For criminal cases (e.g., causing bodily harm, airspace violation), the case is referred to the public prosecutor.
🔒 The 3 Categories of Penalties
1. Administrative Penalties (Fines)
These cover the most common violations: flying without registration, without a certificate, in a restricted zone, night flying, flying above 120 meters. Fines range from €1,000 to €50,000 (~$1,090 to ~$54,500) depending on severity.
Criteria that increase the fine:
- Repeat offense: Second violation within 12 months → x2–x3 fine
- Commercial use: Fines for commercial flights without a Specific/Certified permit are significantly higher
- Risk level: If the flight endangered lives or infrastructure
- Drone weight: Fines increase accordingly — flying >25kg without certification is considered a serious offense
2. Criminal Penalties
Criminal penalties apply to serious cases:
- Military airspace violation: Can be classified as espionage — prison sentence
- Causing an accident: If the drone hits an aircraft, person, or critical infrastructure (e.g., power lines), criminal liability applies
- Flying in airport CTR: Endangers commercial flights — prison sentence up to 3 years
- Transporting hazardous materials: Explicitly prohibited (Article 4(f) of Regulation 2019/947)
3. Civil Penalties (Compensation)
Beyond fines, the drone operator may face compensation lawsuits from affected third parties:
- Damage to private property: If the drone falls on a car, house, roof → full compensation
- Bodily injury: Moral damages + compensation + medical expenses
- GDPR violation: The Hellenic Data Protection Authority (HDPA) can impose fines up to €20,000,000 (~$21,800,000) or 4% of global turnover
🇬🇷 Real Scenarios in Greece
Greece, due to its tourism and geography, frequently encounters drone violations. The most common scenarios:
Scenario 1: Tourist Near Airport
A tourist flies a drone near an airport (inside CTR) for photos. Result: drone confiscated, fine €5,000–€25,000 (~$5,450–$27,250), criminal prosecution if flights were delayed.
Scenario 2: Flying Over the Acropolis
An operator flies over an archaeological site without Archaeological Service approval. Result: fine €2,000–€15,000 (~$2,180–$16,350), confiscation, possible criminal prosecution.
Scenario 3: Military Zone
A drone flies over a military base (MIL zone). Result: arrest, detention, interrogation, fine €10,000–€50,000 (~$10,900–$54,500), prison sentence.
🛡️ Insurance: Your “Safety Net”
According to drone-laws.com (January 2026), drone insurance in Greece works as follows:
Mandatory
- Commercial use — always
- Specific & Certified category
- Open category with drone >4kg (A2)
- Minimum coverage: €1,000,000 (~$1,090,000) civil liability
Recommended
- Hobby use — <4kg drone
- Open category A1/A3
- Without insurance = personal liability for damages
- Hobby insurance cost: ~€40–150/year (~$44–$164)
💡 Tip: Without insurance, if your drone falls on a car and causes €5,000 (~$5,450) in damage, you pay out of pocket. With insurance at ~€100/year (~$109), the company covers the damage. Insurance costs less than ONE incident.
❓ How to Avoid Fines?
Avoiding fines isn't difficult — you just need to follow the basic rules:
- Register as an Operator: Register in the relevant operator registry (Article 14 Reg. 2019/947). Free for the Open category.
- Get your certificate: A1/A3 (free, online exam) or A2 (€50–€100 (~$55–$109) at the examination body)
- Use DAGR: Always plan your flight location at dagr.hasp.gov.gr before flying
- Respect the altitude limit: Maximum 120m above ground level (AGL)
- Always maintain VLOS: Keep the drone in Visual Line of Sight — except follow-me mode up to 50m (Article 4(d))
- Get insured: Get third-party liability insurance — especially if flying near people or buildings
- Submit a flight request: In areas outside the free-fly zone, apply via email to [email protected] at least 3 business days in advance (5 if a military installation is involved)
🌍 Comparing Penalties Across Europe
It's worth noting that penalties in Greece are neither the highest nor the lowest in Europe:
Greece
€1,000 – €50,000 (~$1,090 – $54,500) + criminal prosecution + confiscation. Relatively strict due to military zones & tourism.
Germany
Up to €50,000 (~$54,500) for administrative violations. Criminal prosecution in serious cases (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt).
United Kingdom
Up to £2,500 (~$3,150) (Air Navigation Order). Prison up to 5 years for flying near airports (Unmanned Aircraft Act 2018).
🔄 What About Tourists?
Tourists (EU & non-EU) are subject to exactly the same rules as Greek pilots. According to drone-laws.com:
- EU tourists: If you're registered in an EASA member state, your registration is valid in Greece. However, you must follow Greek geographical zone rules (Article 15).
- Non-EU tourists: Must register as operators in the first EU member state where they'll fly. Registration email: [email protected]
- Insurance: Insurance coverage must be at least €1,000,000 (~$1,090,000) civil liability (for commercial use) and valid in Greece.
✈️ Important: If you're traveling to Greece with a drone, declare it at customs upon arrival. An undeclared drone may be confiscated during the departure check.
📱 Useful Tools & Contacts
DAGR
dagr.hasp.gov.gr — Geographical zones map. Check if your area is free-fly or restricted before you fly.
HCAA
Email: [email protected] | Tel: +30 210 891600
Flight requests, registration, regulatory information.
Operator Registration
uas.hcaa.gr — Online operator registration. Free, online, takes just a few minutes.
🔑 Final Message: Fines exist to protect — people, aircraft, infrastructure, and privacy. With free registration, a free A1/A3 certificate, and 5 minutes on DAGR, you can fly legally, safely, and without any fines. Don't take the risk — prepare before you fly.