The Drone Weather Forecast zone map has 107 drone zones in Portugal, from DJI FlySafe. 85 of them close the airspace from the ground up. Below are the zone types, the largest zones, the rules at a glance and the official links to request permission when you need to fly inside a zone.
Zone types
| Zone | Count | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 🟥 Prohibited | 23 | No flying from the ground up without a special permission: the area closest to airport runways, prisons, military sites, capital-city no-fly areas. |
| 🟧 Authorization required | 62 | You may fly only with an authorization from the aviation authority or the airspace manager, for example around airports and in controlled airspace. |
| 🟨 Warning | 22 | Not closed, but fly with care and follow the local rules: heliports, small airfields, military training areas, stadiums, nature reserves. |
Largest restricted zones
| Zone | Strictest part |
|---|---|
| OTA | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Montijo-Air Base Nr 6 | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Ovar-Manoeuvre Aerodrome Nr 1 | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Lajes AB | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Porto Santo | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Alverca-D.G.M.F.A. | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Joao Paulo II | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Madeira | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Tancos Mil | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Pico | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Sintra-Air Base Nr 1 | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Braganca | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Horta | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Flores | 🟥 Prohibited |
| Graciosa | 🟥 Prohibited |
Drone rules in Portugal at a glance
- Aviation authority: Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil (ANAC)
- Maximum height: 120 m (400 ft) above the ground, unless an authorization allows more. Lower in airport protection areas (for example 30 m in area 1).
- Registration: Register with ANAC if you fly a drone over 250 g or one with a camera or microphone (unless it is a certified toy). Official page
- Official map: Zonas geográficas UAS (ANAC)
- Capturing aerial images with a drone needs prior authorisation from the AAN.
How to get authorization to fly in a restricted zone
Steps and links from official sources, checked in September 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official website (ANAC) before you fly.
- Check your area on ANAC's zone map; click a zone to see its restriction, height limit and the entity that can authorise the flight. Official page
- If the zone requires a specific-category authorisation (for example above the height limit near an airport), apply to ANAC as described on its specific-category page. Official page
- For military areas and for any aerial photo or video, request prior authorisation from the Autoridade Aeronáutica Nacional (AAN) through its e-AAN application. Official page
- Flying a DJI drone? With the authorization in hand, request an unlock on DJI FlySafe. DJI's unlock does not replace the authority's permission.
Check zones and weather before you fly
The Drone Weather Forecast app shows these zones on a map with their real shapes and height limits, next to the hourly wind, gusts, rain, KP index and satellites for your drone model.
Frequently asked questions
Where can't you fly a drone in Portugal?
Around airports, military bases and other restricted areas. The app's map has 85 zones in Portugal where you cannot fly from the ground up without an authorization; the official map is Zonas geográficas UAS (ANAC). Temporary restrictions can appear at any time, so check before every flight.
Do I need permission to fly a drone near an airport in Portugal?
Yes. Flying inside an airport zone or other restricted airspace needs an authorization. Responsible authority: Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil. The official steps and links are on this page.
How high can you fly a drone in Portugal?
Up to 120 m (400 ft) above the ground under the general rules, unless an authorization allows more. Near airports the limit can be lower, or zero. Lower in airport protection areas (for example 30 m in area 1).
Where does this zone data come from?
From DJI FlySafe's GEO zones: no official zone dataset in Portugal can be used in the app yet. DJI's GEO zones are a safety layer built into DJI drones, not the official airspace: the binding zones and rules are the ones published by the aviation authority, Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil (official map: Zonas geográficas UAS (ANAC)).
Zone counts and names: DJI FlySafe, as shipped in the Drone Weather Forecast app on October 14, 2026. A safety guide, not the official airspace: the aviation authority publishes the binding zones and temporary restrictions.