Australia Commercial Flight Operations

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulates drone operations in Australia. Paid work requires drone registration and operator credentials, while higher-risk operations such as night flying, controlled-airspace access, or flights near people need additional CASA approvals.

Country Australia

Region Oceania

Regulator Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)

Last verified 2026-04-03

Regulator

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)

https://www.casa.gov.au/drones

Commercial requirements

If you use any drone for paid work or business in Australia, including a micro drone under 250 g, CASA says you must register the drone and hold operator accreditation or a remote pilot licence (RePL).
A ReOC is required if you want to trade as a drone service provider outside the micro or excluded categories, employ remote pilots, or apply for complex operations outside the standard drone safety rules.
If you operate under a ReOC, the pilot must hold a RePL, the drone must be registered, and the business must use approved procedures, manuals, and operational records.

Hobbyist / recreational requirements

Recreational flyers must follow CASA's drone safety rules, but do not need to register the drone, hold a licence, or hold operator accreditation.
If a recreational drone weighs more than 25 kg, CASA approval is required before flight.
Flying for education, training, or research at a recognised institution is treated as recreational flying for CASA purposes, subject to the published limits.

Non-citizen / visitor requirements

If your drone is already registered in another country, CASA says you cannot register it in Australia; instead, you must obtain permission through myCASA to fly it in Australia.
Visitors flying for work or business must comply with the same Australian commercial drone rules as local operators, including registration or permission to fly the aircraft, operator accreditation or RePL as applicable, and any required ReOC or flight approvals.

Insurance

Status: Recommended / industry standard but not legally mandated

CASA's consumer guidance tells clients to confirm that a drone operator's insurance covers the services provided.

Important note

CASA's public drone guidance does not identify a general statutory insurance mandate for standard drone operations, but operating without the correct licence, registration, or approval can affect coverage.

CASA advises customers hiring a drone operator to confirm that the operator's insurance covers the services provided.

Operating rules

All drone users must fly in a way that protects other aircraft, people, and property, and CASA says a verified drone safety app should be checked before every flight.
If your drone weighs more than 250 g, you must not fly within 5.5 km of a controlled airport or in the runway approach and departure paths; micro drones at 250 g or less have a narrower 45 m allowance within 5.5 km but must stay out of the airport boundary and not create hazards.
You must not fly closer than 30 m to people who are not essential to the operation or fly over any person, and night operations require a ReOC, a RePL, training, records, and a documented risk assessment.

Enforcement / compliance risk

CASA says it can issue infringement notices and operating restrictions, restrict or cancel accreditation, licences, certificates, or registration, and pursue court penalties up to AUD 16,500. States and territories may also impose their own drone-related rules and penalties.

Regulator contact details

CASA

Phone: 131 757

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm AEDST, excluding national public holidays

Address: GPO Box 2005, Canberra ACT 2601

Secondary contacts

CASA contact page: https://www.casa.gov.au/about-us/contact-us
myCASA portal: https://my.casa.gov.au