Do I Need a Drone Licence in Australia? A Plain-English Guide
The short answer
If you only fly for fun, you don't need a licence in Australia, but you must follow CASA's drone safety rules. If you fly for work or business, what you need depends on the drone's weight and the type of job. For anything beyond small, simple jobs, that means a remote pilot licence (RePL).
Flying for fun (recreational)
Recreational pilots don't need a licence or accreditation, but the rules still apply: fly in daylight, keep the drone within sight, stay under 120m (400ft), keep 30m from people, don't fly over crowds or emergency operations, and keep clear of controlled aerodromes. The moment you're paid, or the flight supports a business, it's no longer recreational, even if it's a one-off.
Flying for work: what you need by drone weight
Up to 2kg: you can fly commercially in CASA's "excluded category" with a free operator accreditation and a registered drone, as long as you stay within the standard operating conditions (the same basic limits as above).
2kg to 25kg: over your own land, for your own purposes and without payment, accreditation is enough. For paid work or work for clients, you need a RePL and must fly under a ReOC (an operator's certificate held by a business).
25kg to 150kg: you need a RePL with the right rating. Commercial work for others also needs a ReOC.
Over 150kg: always needs a RePL with a type rating and a ReOC.
Not sure about the difference between a RePL and a ReOC?
Read our guide: ReOC vs RePL: what's the difference?
When a RePL becomes essential
In practice, most people looking at commercial drone work end up needing a RePL because:
The drones used for real work (survey, mapping, inspection, mining, agriculture, emergency services) are usually heavier than 2kg, such as the DJI Matrice series.
Employers and clients, especially in mining and infrastructure, ask for a RePL before you go on site.
Many jobs need you to work outside the standard operating conditions: near people, near aerodromes, at night or beyond visual line of sight. Those operations need a RePL holder flying under a ReOC with the right approvals.
How do I get a RePL?
Get an ARN. Apply for an aviation reference number through myCASA. It's free and quick.
Choose your weight category. Under 7kg suits smaller enterprise drones. Under 25kg covers the larger aircraft most industry work uses.
Complete training with a CASA-certified provider. That means a theory course and exam, then practical training and a flight test on the type you'll fly.
Add an AROC if you'll use the airband radio. You need an Aeronautical Radio Operator Certificate to fly in controlled airspace and talk to air traffic control and other pilots.
Your provider applies for your licence. Once you pass, the training provider submits your RePL application to CASA. A RePL doesn't expire.
Which course should I choose?
RePL up to 7kg: five days, $1,995 including CASA fees and exam. A great entry point.
RePL + AROC up to 25kg: five days, $2,895 including GST and CASA fees. The most complete option for industry work.
RePL up to 25kg: five days, $2,695, for pilots who don't need airband radio.
7kg to 25kg upgrade: one to two days, $995, if you already hold a 7kg licence.
FlyIQ by DIWA trains in Perth with instructors who fly commercial operations every week, and supplies training aircraft in the course price. Prefer to talk it through? Call us on 08 9278 2579.
This article is general information based on CASA's published rules at the time of writing. Always check casa.gov.au for the current requirements before you fly.
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