Remote ID required on Air and Mavic drones since Jan. 1

Direct Remote ID has been required since Jan. 1, 2026, on UK1, UK2 and UK3 drones, the Civil Aviation Authority says.

Direct RID broadcasts identity and location from the aircraft over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It does not need an internet connection. The duty also covers UK5 and UK6, the CAA programme page said. In this catalog that means C1 Air and Avata 2, and C2 Mavic, treated as the matching UK class through Dec. 31, 2027.

Flying those aircraft with Remote ID switched off may lead to prosecution, the Drone Code said. This article does not invent DJI Fly menu steps. The aircraft manual names the toggle.

Who waits until 2028

UK0 camera drones of 100 grams or more, including Mini, Neo and Flip, must broadcast from Jan. 1, 2028. Legacy unmarked camera drones in that weight band, privately built aircraft in that band, and UK4 model aircraft sit on the same date. The CAA recommends switching RID on earlier. That is not the 2026 legal duty.

The number that goes in the aircraft

The CAA issues a Remote ID number with the Operator ID. Operators may use the same number on every aircraft they operate. Point 32 of the Drone Code tells UK1, UK2 and UK3 remote pilots to add that number and switch the function on before flight.

A Mini 5 Pro on a C0 pack is not in that 2026 sentence. A Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo Plus that DJI marks C1 is.

Not the U.S. rule

U.S. Remote ID is a different statute. The UK is using Direct RID as an interim. Hybrid RID, which adds a networked feed, is the CAA’s preferred long-term design, the programme page said. Nothing in the pages opened Sept. 1 said a Mini 4 Pro emits Hybrid RID today.

Height, people and class rows are on Flying in the UK and on each drone page.