U.S. drone pilots can fly in Davos only when they follow Swiss FOCA rules, and during the World Economic Forum from January 14 (10:00) through January 24, 2026 (17:00), a continuous airspace closure bans unmanned aircraft across the area. An FAA Part 107 certificate carries no weight in Switzerland, so your first move should be checking the FOCA drone map and the Daily Airspace Bulletin Switzerland before you pack a single battery.
TL;DR:
- From January 14 at 10:00 through January 24, 2026, at 17:00, unmanned aircraft are banned throughout Davos, with no open category exception.
- The event also creates a 25 nautical mile restricted area beyond Davos; flights there may require FOCA and Swiss Air Force authorization.
- FAA Part 107 and TRUST certificates do not authorize Swiss flights; U.S. pilots generally must register through dLIS and display their Swiss operator number.
- Outside the closure, stay below 120 meters, remain within direct visual line of sight, avoid crowds, and check FOCA’s map and daily bulletin before takeoff.
- Drones over 250 grams generally require liability insurance valid in Switzerland, and specific category applications should reach FOCA at least four weeks before planned flights.
Table of Contents
- Swiss drone laws that apply in Davos year-round
- What this means for a visiting U.S. drone pilot
- WEF 2026 airspace restrictions you cannot ignore
- Your preflight checklist before flying near Davos
- How professional crews get authorized for restricted airspace
- Enforcement and security risks during the forum
- What years of event shoots in the Alps taught me about airspace limits
- Need Davos coverage without managing drone permits yourself?
- FAQ
- Sources
Swiss drone laws that apply in Davos year-round
Switzerland follows an EASA-aligned framework built around three categories: open, specific, and certified. Most travelers flying a consumer or prosumer drone fall under the open category, which does not require individual authorization but does require following fixed limits, according to FOCA’s flight rules for drones. Specific and certified categories apply to heavier aircraft or higher-risk operations, such as flying over people or beyond visual range, and these demand a formal risk assessment before you ever take off.
The open category itself splits into subcategories A1, A2, and A3, each tied to the drone’s class label (C0 through C4) and how close you may fly to people.
- Altitude and visibility: drones must stay below 120 meters above ground level and within your direct line of sight at all times.
- People and crowds: flying over assemblies of people is prohibited regardless of subcategory or drone weight.
- A1/A2/A3 distances: A1 allows flight near people with lightweight class-labeled drones, A2 requires extra certification for closer approach, and A3 keeps you well clear of residential, recreational, and urban areas.
- Registration: operators must register through FOCA’s dLIS system and obtain a Swiss operator number, with an exemption only for drones under 250 grams that carry no sensors capable of capturing personal data.
- Insurance: drones over 250 grams generally need liability coverage, and many U.S. policies do not extend to operations in Switzerland.
What this means for a visiting U.S. drone pilot
Holding an FAA Part 107 certificate or a TRUST certificate does not grant any legal standing to fly in Switzerland. Because the United States is not an EASA member state, you generally need to register as a non-EASA resident through Swiss channels rather than relying on reciprocity, per FOCA’s registration guidance. Treat your American credentials as background experience, not a passport to Swiss airspace.
- Register as an operator through dLIS and print or save your CH operator number before departure.
- Affix that operator number to your drone in a visible, durable location.
- Complete the A1/A3 or A2 online theory certificate if your drone’s class label or flight plan requires it.
- Confirm your drone’s class label (C0 to C4) or, for older drones without a label, apply the legacy weight-based rules instead.
- Check whether your travel or equipment insurance covers third-party liability in Switzerland, and buy a short-term policy if it does not.
Pro Tip: Complete your dLIS registration and any required online certificate from home. Processing can take longer than expected once you are on a Davos hotel’s spotty Wi-Fi the night before a shoot.
WEF 2026 airspace restrictions you cannot ignore
The World Economic Forum turns Davos into one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in Europe for a period each January. For 2026, the Canton Graubünden/WEF notice confirms a continuous closure for unmanned aircraft from January 14 at 10:00 through January 24 at 17:00.
A 25 nautical-mile LSR area centered on Davos governs the broader region during this window, according to a Stay Safe advisory for WEF 2026, reaching into airspace shared with Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy and affecting standard arrival and departure procedures at nearby airports.
- Drones are banned outright inside the closure zone for the full event window, with no open-category exception.
- Paragliders and hang-gliders face their own temporary restrictions on specific days during the forum.
- Any flight inside the 25 NM LSR area, manned or unmanned, may require special authorization coordinated with FOCA and the Swiss Air Force.
Check the official WEF notice and the FOCA drone map before setting any travel dates around the summit. A quiet afternoon in Davos in November looks nothing like the same street in mid-January.
Your preflight checklist before flying near Davos
Even outside the WEF window, Davos sits in mountainous terrain with its own local geozones, so a methodical check matters every time.
- Confirm your dLIS registration is active and your CH operator number is affixed to the aircraft.
- On the morning of your flight, check the FOCA drone map and the Daily Airspace Bulletin Switzerland for temporary restrictions, rather than trusting a third-party app’s cached data.
- Verify your drone’s class label or confirm which legacy weight rules apply, and finish any required A1/A3 or A2 certificate beforehand.
- Carry proof of liability insurance valid in Switzerland, whether through an existing policy or a short-term local one.
- If your shoot needs anything beyond open-category limits, submit a request to FOCA well ahead of your trip and keep the written authorization with you in the field.
Pro Tip: Screenshot the FOCA drone map and DABS bulletin the morning of your flight. Mountain weather and event logistics in Davos can change a geozone’s status with little warning.
How professional crews get authorized for restricted airspace
Commercial and media operators working near Davos typically need more than open-category compliance. FOCA’s STS operational declaration framework covers standard scenarios such as STS-01 and STS-02, while higher-risk operations fall under PDRA or a full SORA risk assessment.
- Expect to submit an operations manual, proof of insurance, pilot certificates, and the relevant STS declaration attachments.
- Cross-border or specific-category applications should go to FOCA at rpas@bazl.admin.ch at least four weeks before your planned dates.
- FOCA coordinates certificate of authorization acceptance on its end, so early submission protects your shoot date.
- Operators holding a Light UAS Operator Certificate skip some per-flight paperwork, which is why established production companies pursue one.
Enforcement and security risks during the forum
WEF security does not rely on signage alone. Detection and defense systems, including tools described in Swisscom’s WEF Davos success story, can locate an unauthorized pilot and intervene before a drone gets close to the venue.
- Unauthorized flights risk immediate interception or a forced landing by security systems.
- Consequences can include confiscation of the aircraft, fines, and criminal charges under Swiss aviation law.
- If you are unsure whether your planned flight path touches a restricted zone, do not fly. Contact FOCA or local event organizers first instead of guessing.
What years of event shoots in the Alps taught me about airspace limits
Restricted airspace around a summit like WEF is not an obstacle to route around at the last minute. It is a planning constraint that belongs in the schedule from day one, the same way weather windows or permit lead times do. Crews that treat it as an afterthought end up improvising on site, and improvising near a counter-drone security perimeter is a bad place to learn a lesson.
The more useful mindset: assume the drone shot is the backup plan, not the headline. Ground-based rigs, cable-cams, and long-lens work from a fixed, permitted position have saved more Davos shoots than any aerial platform I have used, simply because they do not depend on an airspace status that can change by the hour. Building redundancy into a capture plan matters more than any single piece of gear.
— Martin
Need Davos coverage without managing drone permits yourself?
When drone access in Davos is closed, restricted, or simply too uncertain to plan around, we offer another way to get the footage: our event and conference coverage is built for exactly this kind of high-security, high-stakes environment.
- We handle commercial videography and photography for brands and organizations that need reliable, permitted visuals on a fixed timeline, outlined on our commercial videography page.
- Our editorial shoot production services cover publication-ready assignments for editors who need Davos content without chasing Swiss airspace clearance themselves.
- For teams who want to learn the planning side, our workshops include a videography track covering theory, practice, and post-production for 490 to 690 CHF.
This is a production alternative, not legal advice. If a drone shot is genuinely off the table during your event window, reach out through our commercial photography page and we will talk through what ground-based and permitted options can still deliver.
FAQ
Can I fly my drone over my neighborhood in Davos?
No. Davos, like the rest of Switzerland, requires registration through FOCA’s dLIS system and compliance with open-category limits including the 120-meter altitude cap and visual-line-of-sight rule, even outside the WEF closure window. During the January 2026 WEF period, flights are banned outright across the local area regardless of where you are staying.
What are the new drone laws for 2026?
For Davos specifically, the defining 2026 rule is the continuous WEF airspace closure from January 14 at 10:00 through January 24 at 17:00, paired with a 25 nautical-mile restricted area described in the Stay Safe WEF advisory. Outside that window, Switzerland’s standing FOCA rules on registration, altitude, and visual line of sight still apply.
How much does an FAA drone license cost?
FAA Part 107 licensing costs are set by the FAA and apply only within U.S. airspace, so that fee has no bearing on your ability to fly in Switzerland. If you plan to fly in Davos, budget instead for Swiss dLIS registration and any required A1/A3 or A2 online certificate through FOCA.
Can you fly a drone at a heavily restricted landmark like the Great Wall?
Rules at major landmarks vary by country and site, and many enforce no-fly zones similar to the one in place around Davos during WEF. The safest approach anywhere is the same one that applies in Switzerland: check the official aviation authority’s current map before you travel, since local restrictions change often and are rarely visible from the ground.
Do I need special insurance to fly a drone in Davos?
Drones over 250 grams typically need liability insurance valid in Switzerland, and many standard U.S. drone policies do not extend coverage there, based on FOCA’s registration guidance. Confirm your coverage before travel or arrange a short-term Swiss policy ahead of your flight.
Sources
- WEF 2026 – Air space restrictions (Canton Graubünden / WEF notice)
- WEF 2026: Please note airspace restrictions – Stay Safe
- Flight rules for drones — BAZL (Swiss FOCA)
- Swisscom – World Economic Forum Davos security success story
