Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is a question about whether international drone pilots still need a Part 107 license in the U.S. to fly drones commercially — even if they’re licensed in their home country. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.

I am based in the UK and drone licensed commercially over here but will be visiting the U.S. in May and hoping to use the drone. As I understand, I would need to take the Part 107 test in a U.S. testing center and then register my drone in the U.S. to fly. Is this correct, and is it possible to complete the Remote Pilot Certificate without a U.S. address or government ID?

Yes, I love a good multi-part question! There are a few pieces going on here: first about whether or not you need to take the Part 107 test (there’s a good chance you won’t have to) and if you need to register your drone (you probably need to).

Do foreign pilots need a Part 107 license to fly in the U.S.?

The short answer as to whether international drone pilots still need a Part 107 license? Maybe. If you’re flying for business (aka making money off that flight) then you need a license. But if you’re just bringing your drone for fun, no Part 107 license needed!

If you’re flying drones for fun (recreational flying): If you’re just zipping around with your camera drone and taking pretty pictures, you do not need a Part 107 license. That’ll save you a lot of burden in terms of both time and money.

Though, you’re not completely off the hook. To fly drones as a recreational pilot in the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration still requires that you follow the FAA’s guidelines for recreational flyers, which include registering your drone, passing the TRUST exam (this is an online, free and easy test that you could quickly do from home in the UK), and flying only within FAA guidelines.

Easy!

If you’re flying drones for business (commercial flying): If you plan to use the drone for any business or commercial purpose in the U.S. — like capturing mapping data or selling photos — then you’ll need to do some advance planning (and studying, and saving money).

Alas, you still need a Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) issued by FAA to fly your drone commercially in the U.S., as the FAA does not currently recognize any foreign RPC or equivalent.

That means you’ll have to go to one of the FAA Knowledge Testing Centers. Almost every major U.S. city has one. There, you’ll take the FAA’s aeronautical knowledge test, which typically has a testing fee of about $150. You can schedule your test-taking appointment in advance, online.

To get that FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, you’ll need to score 70% or better. In 2024, the pass rate on the FAA’s drone test was 84.2%, with pilots scoring on average 79.95%.

For a one-off business trip, this could be an annoying burden. Luckily, the Remote Pilot In Command does not need to be the one operating the drone. They just need to be present during the flight. If you’re operating your drone for business, it might be less effort to reach out to your network of drone pilots. From there, see if you have any U.S. licensed contacts who would be able to be present during your mission so you’re still flying legally.

What foreign pilots need to know to obtain a Part 107 license

The FAA allows foreign pilots to obtain the Part 107 certification, as it’s not just limited to U.S. citizens and legal residents.

To take the test and get your license, you do not need a U.S. address, nor do you need a U.S. government-issued ID. However, you will need to provide a government-issued photo ID from your home country, such as a passport or national identity card, at the testing center. This will be used to verify your identity during the test.

Drone registration in the USA

In almost all cases, you will also need to register your drone with the FAA — that’s no matter whether you’re flying for fun or for business.

You can easily do this online through the FAA DroneZone portal, which does not require you to be a citizen or to have a U.S. address. Simply enter your international address when filling out the registration form.

So what’s the exception? That’s if your drone weighs under 250 grams, such as the DJI Mini 4 Pro, the DJI Flip and the DJI Neo. In the U.S., drones under 250 grams do not need to be registered with the FAA if you’re only flying them for recreational operations. Additionally, drones under 250 grams do not need to be Remote ID compliant.

Good luck with your visit to the USA, and happy flying!

If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.

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