Drone Registration in India — UIN and Type Certificate
Under the Drone Rules, 2021, most drones above 250 grams need a type certificate for their model and a Unique Identification Number (UIN) for each unit before they fly. We help manufacturers, importers, owners and operators prepare the paperwork, file Form D-1 and Form D-2, and keep the registration record current.
What it is
Drone registration in India has two layers. The type certificate approves a drone model against the requirements of the Drone Rules, 2021. The Unique Identification Number (UIN) identifies one physical drone and links it to its owner, much like a number plate on a car.
Both come from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Rule 6 bars flying a drone that does not conform to a type certificate, unless it is exempt. Rule 14 bars flying one without a UIN. The type certificate application is Form D-1; the UIN application is Form D-2. Testing for type certification is done by the Quality Council of India (QCI) or a testing entity it authorises, under the Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Digital Sky handles airspace maps and flight permissions, and the DGCA has been moving UIN, type certificate and pilot certificate services to its eGCA portal.
Who it applies to
You build drones
You apply for the type certificate for your model. Buyers quote its number when they register each unit.
You own or fly drones
Anyone who owns or flies a micro, small, medium or large drone needs a UIN for each unit. Think spraying services, survey firms, photographers.
You buy or sell a used drone
A sale is recorded through Form D-3. A drone lost or wrecked for good is deregistered on the same form.
Why it matters
Fly without legal risk
A drone that needs a UIN cannot be flown without one. Clients, insurers and government buyers ask for it before they sign.
Let your buyers register
Customers need your type certificate number to complete Form D-2. Without it, your dealers sell a drone nobody can fly.
Keep ownership on record
The UIN ties each drone to its owner. When you sell it, a Form D-3 transfer moves that responsibility to the buyer.
Drone categories and what each needs
Rule 5 sorts drones by maximum all-up weight, payload included. The category decides what you need.
| Category | All-up weight | Type certificate | UIN | Remote pilot certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nano | Up to 250 g | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| Micro | Above 250 g up to 2 kg | Required | Required | Required for commercial use |
| Small | Above 2 kg up to 25 kg | Required | Required | Required |
| Medium | Above 25 kg up to 150 kg | Required | Required | Required |
| Large | Above 150 kg | Required | Required | Required |
Rule 13 also says a type certificate is not needed simply to manufacture or import a drone, or to fly a model remotely piloted aircraft system or a nano drone.
Here is the catch: weight means all-up weight. Take an agri-services firm near Palwal that fits a spray tank to a 20 kg drone. Loaded, it may cross 25 kg and move from small to medium, so the type certificate and pilot training must match the loaded weight, not the empty frame.
Documents required
For a UIN (Form D-2)
- Type certificate number of the drone model
- Manufacturer’s serial number of the drone
- Purchase invoice (GST invoice)
- Owner’s identity details; for a company, its registration and authorised signatory details
For a type certificate (Form D-1)
- Technical specifications and design documents of the model
- A prototype for physical handover to the testing entity
- Quality and process documents the certification body asks for
- Company incorporation, Import Export Code where components are imported, and GST registration documents
For a transfer or deregistration (Form D-3)
- Existing UIN
- Sale agreement or invoice between seller and buyer
- Buyer’s identity details
- For deregistration, a declaration of loss or permanent damage
How it works
Pin down the category
We check the drone’s weight, its use and whether the model already holds a type certificate. Then we map the drone registration in India route that fits.
Open the right portal account
We help you create the DGCA platform account in the owner’s name, whether an individual or a company (often a private limited company formed for the drone business), with the right authorised person.
Build the type certificate file
This step is for manufacturers. We organise the company documents and liaise with the certification body. The testing itself is done by QCI or the testing entity it authorises, not by us. It has 60 days to report, and the DGCA then has 15 days to issue the certificate.
File Form D-2 for the UIN
We enter the type certificate number, serial numbers and invoice details, pay the ₹100 fee and track the application until the UIN is issued. In practice, a Faridabad survey firm buying three drones of one model files three D-2 applications, one per serial number.
Keep the record current after every sale
We file Form D-3 when you sell or lose a drone, and keep UIN, insurance and pilot certificate dates on one calendar.
Timelines
Type certificate: about 75 days
Under Rule 9, the testing entity reports within 60 days of receiving the application and prototype, and the DGCA issues the certificate within 15 days of a satisfactory report.
UIN: before the first flight
Finish drone registration in India before the first flight. The UIN is issued once Form D-2 is verified and the ₹100 fee is paid.
Remote pilot certificate: 10 years
Valid for 10 years, renewable after a refresher course. The training organisation files Form D-4 within 7 days of the pilot finishing training.
What happens if you fly without it
Penalty up to ₹1 lakh
Rule 50 allows the DGCA to levy up to ₹1 lakh for breaking the Drone Rules, after a hearing.
Contracts and insurance fall through
Rule 44 brings the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 third-party insurance rules to every drone except nano drones. Insurers and clients want a valid UIN first.
Imported drones get stuck at customs
DGFT Notification 54/2015-2020 of 9 February 2022 bars import of complete drones, with narrow exceptions. Components are free to import.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register a drone under 250 grams?
No. A nano drone, weighing 250 grams or less including payload, does not need a UIN or a type certificate under the Drone Rules, 2021, and its pilot does not need a remote pilot certificate. It also does not need third-party insurance. You must still respect the airspace map. If you add a payload that takes the drone above 250 grams, it becomes a micro drone and needs registration.
What is the difference between a type certificate and a UIN?
A type certificate approves a drone model; a UIN identifies one unit. The manufacturer usually applies for the type certificate in Form D-1, and testing is done by QCI or an authorised testing entity. Each owner then applies for a UIN in Form D-2 for every drone they own, quoting the type certificate number. So a company with five drones of the same model needs one type certificate and five UINs.
What is the government fee for drone registration?
The fee for issuing a UIN is ₹100, under Rule 46 of the Drone Rules, 2021. The same ₹100 applies to transferring or deregistering a UIN, and to issuing or renewing a remote pilot certificate. Authorisation of a Remote Pilot Training Organisation costs ₹1,000. Testing for a type certificate is charged separately by the certification body. Ten drones cost ₹1,000 to register.
Can I import a drone and register it?
Usually not. DGFT Notification 54/2015-2020 dated 9 February 2022 prohibits import of drones in completely built, semi-knocked down and completely knocked down form, with exceptions for government entities, educational institutions, research by domestic manufacturers and defence and security agencies. Drone components can be imported freely. Most buyers therefore pick an Indian-made drone with a valid type certificate, which keeps UIN registration simple.
Who needs a remote pilot certificate?
Anyone flying a micro drone for commercial purposes, or any small, medium or large drone, needs a remote pilot certificate. Under Rule 33 the pilot must be between 18 and 65 years old, have passed Class 10 and complete training at a DGCA-authorised Remote Pilot Training Organisation. The certificate costs ₹100 and is valid for 10 years. Nano drone pilots and non-commercial micro drone pilots are exempt.
What happens when I sell my drone?
The UIN is transferred to the buyer through Form D-3, under Rule 17. The seller and buyer give their details, the platform verifies them, and the transfer is recorded with a fee of ₹100. Until the transfer is complete, the seller remains the registered owner on record. Say a wedding photographer in Faridabad sells an old drone to a friend: until D-3 is filed, the drone is still his on paper. Keep the invoice and agreement.
Is drone insurance mandatory in India?
Third-party insurance is expected for every drone except nano drones. Rule 44 of the Drone Rules, 2021 applies the third-party insurance and compensation provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to drones, with the necessary changes. Nano drones can fly without it. In practice, clients and tenders ask for the policy with the UIN, so buy cover as soon as the drone is registered.
Is the Drone Rules, 2021 being replaced?
Not yet. The Ministry of Civil Aviation put out a draft Civil Drone (Promotion and Regulation) Bill, 2025 for public comments in September 2025. As of now it has not been enacted, so the Drone Rules, 2021, as amended in 2022, still govern registration and type certification. We track the Bill and will tell you if it changes what you file.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government fees under Rule 46 of the Drone Rules, 2021:
| Service | Government fee |
|---|---|
| Issue, transfer or deregistration of UIN | ₹100 |
| Issue or renewal of remote pilot certificate | ₹100 |
| Authorisation or renewal of a Remote Pilot Training Organisation | ₹1,000 |
Type certification testing is charged separately by the certification body.
Ready to begin?
Tell us the drone model, its weight and how you plan to use it, and we will tell you exactly what to file.