Ibiza Villa Drone & Photography Permissions: What's Legal in 2026

Drone work over Ibiza villas — for video brochures, wedding films, real-estate listings — has moved from gray-zone to regulated since 2021. Spain's AESA (Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea) enforces tighter than most jurisdictions. Here is what is legal at your villa, what is not, and the paperwork to file.

Drone categories under EASA / AESA

• Open category (recreational, <25 kg): Most family drones (DJI Mini, Air, Mavic). Requires only an online operator registration with AESA (free). Flying within 120 m AGL is permitted; not over crowds; line-of-sight only.
• Specific category (commercial): Required for any drone work that is paid for or used for commercial purposes — yes, including a wedding videographer's B-roll. Operator licence, aircraft registration, flight plan submission.

Where you can fly over Ibiza villas

Most of inland Ibiza, away from the airport corridor and the marine reserves. The airport flight restriction extends roughly 5 km in a fan to the north and east of San Antonio; properties in San Jordi, Sant Josep south, and Talamanca need NOTAM clearance for any drone.

The marine reserves (Es Vedrà, Tagomago, Es Caló de s'Oli at Formentera) prohibit drone flight outright. A drone shot of your villa is fine; a drone shot of the yacht moored 500 m off the property is not.

The neighbour consent piece

Spanish data-privacy law requires consent of any identifiable person captured in drone footage if the footage is published. For a private wedding film shared with family — no requirement. For a real-estate listing showing neighbouring villas — written consent from those neighbours.

The office pre-clears commercial shoots with neighbouring property owners 30 days in advance.

What you need from your videographer

• AESA operator number
• Aircraft registration (the drone itself)
• Drone insurance certificate (€1M+ third-party)
• Specific-category flight plan if doing more than a routine open-category flight
• Permission letter from the villa owner (the office files this on your behalf)

Fines that are real

AESA enforcement is active. Unauthorised flights near the airport: €3,000 – €15,000 per incident. Flights over the marine reserve: €5,000 – €25,000. Operator- without-registration: €1,500 minimum.

Most reputable Ibiza videographers carry the paperwork. Always ask to see it before they fly.