What if my drone is 200 g - is registration not required?

Operator registration with ULC is mandatory for any drone with a camera regardless of weight. Without it, the fine is 1,000-5,000 PLN. Only drones without a camera, weighing up to 250 g and used as toys, are exempt.

Can I fly a drone in Łazienki Park?

Only with two permits: PansaUTM (14 days in advance) and a written approval from Zarząd Parku Łazienki Królewskie (around 200 PLN, issued for commercial filming). Without the second permit, park security will stop the flight even with a valid PansaUTM slot.

What is the penalty for flying without a permit inside CTR EPWA?

Under Prawo lotnicze, art. 211 - a fine of up to 100,000 PLN, the drone seized as evidence and in severe cases (creating a threat to an aircraft on approach to EPWA) up to 5 years of imprisonment. ULC and the Warsaw Metropolitan Police operate on a real-time data feed from the PAŻP radar.

Drone flight permits in Warsaw: CTR EPWA in 2026

About 80% of Warsaw sits inside CTR EPWA (the controlled airspace of Chopin Airport). Without coordination with PAŻP (Polish Air Navigation Services Agency), a flight breaches Polish aviation law (Prawo lotnicze, art. 211): a fine of up to 100,000 PLN or up to 5 years of imprisonment.

Warsaw airspace map: where you can fly, where you cannot

CTR EPWA (Chopin) - 80% of the city

Centrum, Mokotów, Wilanów, Bemowo, Ochota, Włochy, Ursynów. For a drone below 250 g in the Open A1 category, flying up to 30 m without an active check-in is allowed, but registering a slot in DroneTower is recommended. Above 30 m or with a drone heavier than 250 g, an application via PansaUTM (UTM service of PAŻP) is required at least 3 business days in advance.

EPBC Babice - north-western districts

Białołęka, western Bemowo, northern Wola, Bielany. A separate controlled airspace. Coordination is handled through the same PansaUTM platform, but with the EPBC controller. Altitude is capped at 30 m without coordination and at 100 m with an active slot.

Strefa P (Prohibited) and SOP - full ban

Over Stadion Narodowy (Polish National Stadium) on match and concert days, the Belweder residence, the presidential complex on Krakowskie Przedmieście, the Białołęka detention centre, and military sites on Rakowiecka and Wojska Polskiego streets. Strefa R (Restricted) covers the US, Russian and Israeli embassies - flights only with special clearance from MSZ (Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

The 4 EASA flight categories and what each requires

A1 Open - drone up to 250 g, no people in shot

The DJI Mini 4 Pro (249 g) qualifies. Operator registration with ULC (Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego, Polish Civil Aviation Authority) via the CAA Drone Portal is mandatory for any drone with a camera - even a 50-gram one. The A1/A2 certificate is a free online test. No NOTAM and no PansaUTM are required if the 30 m ceiling and distance from people are respected.

A2 Open - drone 250 g to 4 kg, closer than 30 m to people

Mavic 3 Pro, Air 3, Mini 4 Pro with DJI RC 2. The A2 certificate is issued by ULC: 4 hours of theory and an online exam of 30 questions with a 75% pass mark. Most premium real-estate and wedding operators work in this category.

STS-01 - standard BVLOS scenario up to 1 km in populated areas

Used for large-scale commercial work, infrastructure inspections and film production. Requires a company registered with ULC as a UAS operator, an OC policy from 270,000 PLN, a theoretical exam at ULC, and a practical assessment with an examiner. At VisionAir, this clearance covers all 4 pilots on the team.

STS-02 - BVLOS beyond 1 km or flights over crowds

Used for events, concerts, festivals and road construction shoots. Extra requirements: drone of EASA class C5 or C6, two observers along the route, a mission spotter in the team, and ground radio control on 124.05 MHz with LZ Warszawa Tower.

PansaUTM application process step by step

Step 1: Operator and drone registration with ULC through the CAA Drone Portal. Turnaround: up to 7 business days. Documents required: PESEL or KRS number, insurance policy, drone serial number.
Step 2: 14 days in advance (minimum 7 days with a 250 PLN urgent fee), submit the application to PAŻP through PansaUTM. The application requires WGS-84 coordinates, altitude range, start and end times, flight purpose, pilot and drone.
Step 3: Approval or refusal within 5-7 business days. On refusal, you can appeal within 14 days or shift the date window.
Step 4: One hour before the flight, activate the slot in the DroneTower app and establish two-way radio with LZ Warszawa Tower on 124.05 MHz.
Step 5: Close the slot after landing and submit the post-flight report within 24 hours.

How long paperwork takes: 4 typical scenarios

Real estate in Wilanów outside SOP, A2 category: 5 business days, 0 PLN (PansaUTM is free), no NOTAM.
Real estate in central Mokotów with a NOTAM window: 10-14 days, 250 PLN urgent fee if filed less than 14 days out, mandatory coordination on 124.05 MHz.
Wedding in Łazienki Park (royal park in central Warsaw): 14 days through PansaUTM plus a separate permit from Zarząd Parku (park administration), 0 PLN PAŻP plus 200 PLN to the park.
Concert at Stadion Narodowy: 21-30 days, coordination with PZPN (Polish Football Association) and the stadium operator, additional multiple-payout insurance, 800-1,500 PLN total.

NSTS in 2026: why it is gone and why mentioning it is a red flag

Until 2024, Poland recognised NSTS - the national certification standard with tiers NSTS-01 and NSTS-02. 2024 and 2025 were a transition period. Since 1 January 2026, NSTS is no longer valid. The only recognised standard across the EU is EASA STS-01 and STS-02. An operator presenting "we hold NSTS certification" as a trust badge on their site in 2026 has not refreshed their documents for 2 or more years. That is a red flag in any B2B engagement.

What you as a client must verify with an operator in 2026

ULC registration and the actual operator number - publicly verifiable in the CAA Drone Portal by number.
EASA STS-01 or STS-02 issued to a specific pilot, not "to the company". The certificate must list the pilot's PESEL.
OC policy and coverage amount. The legal minimum is 270,000 PLN; the premium segment runs 1-5 million PLN.
Active PansaUTM account - ask for a screenshot of the operator status.
Drone class C0-C6 per EASA, or legacy registration for aircraft from before 2023.
Regular re-certification: theoretical exam every 5 years, practical assessment every 2 years.

In 2024, the Mazowieckie Voivodeship recorded 234 drone confiscation cases. 90% were operators who thought "I will just fly once and leave". The regulator works on the PAŻP real-time radar, and any unauthorised return goes straight to the Warsaw Metropolitan Police HQ.
representative of the regional ULC office in Mazowieckie

Frequently asked questions

What if my drone is 200 g - is registration not required?: Operator registration with ULC is mandatory for any drone with a camera regardless of weight. Without it, the fine is 1,000-5,000 PLN. Only drones without a camera, weighing up to 250 g and used as toys, are exempt.
Can I fly a drone in Łazienki Park?: Only with two permits: PansaUTM (14 days in advance) and a written approval from Zarząd Parku Łazienki Królewskie (around 200 PLN, issued for commercial filming). Without the second permit, park security will stop the flight even with a valid PansaUTM slot.
What is the penalty for flying without a permit inside CTR EPWA?: Under Prawo lotnicze, art. 211 - a fine of up to 100,000 PLN, the drone seized as evidence and in severe cases (creating a threat to an aircraft on approach to EPWA) up to 5 years of imprisonment. ULC and the Warsaw Metropolitan Police operate on a real-time data feed from the PAŻP radar.

[ Готовы обсудить проект? ]

All permits - on us 24 hours from your request

Planning a shoot in Warsaw - send the address and the preferred date. Within 24 hours we will verify the airspace (CTR, SOP, P, R), submit the PansaUTM application and confirm an exact TIME-SLOT.