In Switzerland, a professional drone flies under rules aligned with those of the European Union and applied by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA): a registered operator, a certified remote pilot, liability insurance and respect for restricted zones. Here is what this means in practice for a client, and how to check that a provider is compliant.
Open category and specific category
Drone flights fall into two main categories. The open category, the most common, requires no FOCA authorisation as long as its rules are respected. As soon as an operation goes beyond them, it falls under the specific category and requires an operating authorisation from FOCA.
In the open category:
- maximum flight height of 120 m above the ground
- flight within the remote pilot’s direct line of sight (no flying out of sight)
- no overflight of gatherings of people (demonstrations, events, shopping streets, crowded beaches…)
Operations that fall under the specific category include drones over 25 kg, flights above 120 m, flights out of sight, overflight of gatherings and first-person-view (FPV) flying without an observer. The authorisation then follows one of FOCA’s procedures (STS, PDRA or SORA) depending on the nature of the flight.
Subcategories A1, A2 and A3: distances
The drone’s class (C0 to C4) determines the subcategory and the distance to keep from people who are not involved in the flight:
- A1: overflight of uninvolved people is allowed for C0 drones (under 250 g); it should be avoided with a C1 drone, which must be moved away immediately if it unintentionally flies over people.
- A2: no overflight; horizontal distance of at least 30 m (5 m in low-speed mode), or equal to the flight height if that is greater.
- A3: no overflight; at least 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas.
For urban inspections and city construction sites, it is the A2 certificate that comes into play. Distances and their exceptions should be checked on the FOCA website before every mission.
What a professional provider must have in order
- Operator registration: mandatory for a drone fitted with a camera. It is done on the Swiss dLIS portal and the operator number must appear visibly on the drone; its absence is a criminal offence.
- Remote pilot certificates: A1/A3 training and exam, plus the A2 certificate for the A2 subcategory.
- Liability insurance: at least 1 million francs for a drone over 250 g.
- Zone authorisations: in a restricted zone, the authorisation is issued by the body responsible for the zone, not by FOCA.
- Remote identification (Remote ID): active during the flight, except for C0, “legacy” and privately built drones.
Privacy and personal data
A drone fitted with a camera can record personal data: the remote pilot must respect the privacy of third parties. For an occupied building, it is good practice to warn the property manager and occupants before the flight.
What this changes for you as a client
If you hire a provider, it is the provider, as operator, who is responsible for registration, insurance and flight authorisations. At Inspection Drone, our pilots are certified A1, A2 and A3, we hold professional liability insurance and we handle the authorisation procedures required for each zone: you have nothing to request from FOCA.
How to check that a provider is compliant
- Ask for their operator number (visible on the drone).
- Ask for the remote pilot’s A1/A3 and A2 certificates.
- Ask for the liability insurance certificate.
- Ask how they handle restricted zones and authorisations.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need FOCA authorisation for a professional drone flight?
Not as long as the operation complies with the open category rules: maximum height of 120 m, flight within direct line of sight and no overflight of gatherings of people. Beyond that, the operation falls under the specific category and requires an operating authorisation from FOCA. In a restricted zone, an authorisation from the body responsible for the zone is also needed.
What insurance must a drone operator have?
Liability insurance of at least one million francs for a drone weighing more than 250 g. Not being insured exposes you to a fine. A remote pilot flying on behalf of their company does not need their own insurance: it is the operator who must be covered.
What certificates must the remote pilot hold?
In principle, A1/A3 training with an exam, plus the A2 certificate to operate in the A2 subcategory. Certificates issued in the EU, Norway or Iceland are recognised in Switzerland.
Does the drone operator have to be registered?
Yes, except for drones under 250 g with no camera or sensor collecting personal data. Registration is done on the Swiss dLIS portal and the operator number must be displayed visibly on the drone.
Official sources
Rules checked in November 2026 on the FOCA website: flight rules for drones and frequently asked questions on drones. These rules change: always refer to the version currently in force.
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