Quick answer: Completing real-name drone registration on CAAC UOM is not permission to fly anywhere in China. Ordinary flights with qualifying micro, light or small drones in officially designated suitable airspace generally do not need a separate national flight-activity application. Controlled airspace or special types of operation may require approval. Some cities, including Shanghai in 2026, also require a local flight filing even in suitable areas. Check your exact takeoff location, altitude, travel date and intended activity. National regulation, Articles 19 and 31.
Already have the UOM registration QR? It identifies your registered aircraft, but does not authorize a specific flight. If you have not registered, use our China drone registration guide.
Key takeaways
- Account verification, aircraft registration and flight approval are different processes. A UOM identity-reviewed account is not yet a registered aircraft, and a registered aircraft is not yet an approved flight.
- Ordinary eligible flying in suitable airspace is generally exempt from a national flight-activity application under Article 31; other laws and local rules still apply.
- Flying below 120 metres is not automatic permission. An airport, protected site, infrastructure area or temporary restriction can create controlled airspace below that altitude.
- Shanghai's 2026 rules add a local filing even in some areas that do not require prior airspace approval. Shanghai government guide.
- DJI GEO unlocking is not government approval. Manufacturer restrictions and the official legal process must be checked separately.
Registration vs flight approval: five distinct steps
| Process | What it establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| UOM account identity verification (实名认证) | A person's identity for platform access | Aircraft registration or a flight clearance |
| Aircraft real-name registration (实名登记) | An owner/aircraft record associated with a model and serial number, with official mark | Permission for a flight at a particular location |
| Flight-activity application and approval (飞行活动申请) | Authorization for a proposed activity where legally necessary | Permission for unrelated dates, sites or purposes |
| Local flight information filing (报备) | City- or site-specific submission when required | A replacement for controlled-airspace approval |
| DJI / manufacturer GEO unlocking | A change in the aircraft software's geofence limits | Government authorization |
If your account has passed identity review but you have not entered the aircraft, complete the UOM registration walkthrough. If the aircraft is registered, use the flight-location checks below rather than repeating registration.
Five checks before taking off
1. Identify the aircraft. Confirm whether it is micro, light, small or another category; weight alone does not answer every classification question. DJI Mini models under 250 g are not automatically exempt from the CAAC outdoor-registration process. Verify that the actual aircraft is registered and that applicable activation requirements are met. CAAC's 2026 registration-and-activation explanation.
2. Open the current official airspace service. Use the CAAC UOM platform and any designated official local map. Enter the exact takeoff point, not just a city name. Old screenshots and DJI GEO maps cannot verify today's legal airspace.
3. Check altitude and boundaries. Article 19 includes true height above 120 metres among controlled-airspace criteria. But some protected areas are controlled below 120 metres too. Use the actual boundary and height limits shown by authorities.
4. Check the activity. Flying over a gathering, relaying through networks, carrying dangerous goods or dropping objects, flying from a moving vehicle, and distributed or swarm operations can trigger an application even where the normal Article 31 exemption would apply.
5. Check the location and date again before flight. Temporary airspace controls, park restrictions and city-specific filing can change. If you cannot establish current permission or the required filing status, do not launch until the competent authority confirms your next step.
When is a flight-activity application required?
China's Interim Regulation on the Management of Unmanned Aircraft Flights distinguishes suitable airspace from controlled airspace. Article 31 provides an application exemption for ordinary flights by qualifying micro, light and small drones in suitable airspace, but specific activities and local rules still matter.
| Your planned flight | Required next check |
|---|---|
| Ordinary eligible micro/light/small drone flight in officially suitable airspace | A separate national flight-activity application is generally not required. Check local filing, site restrictions and other duties. |
| Controlled airspace, including protected/sensitive locations or controlled altitude | Obtain required flight-activity approval before entry. Registration or a DJI unlock is not enough. |
| Flight over a gathering, relay via telecom/internet, dangerous goods/object dropping, control from a moving vehicle, distributed or swarm flight | The Article 31 exemption may not apply; check formal application requirements. |
| Temporary restriction or a park/landmark with separate site controls | Follow the currently applicable local and site rules. Do not infer permission from an older screenshot. |
| Designated suitable airspace in Shanghai | Follow Shanghai's local flight filing, even when advance airspace approval is not required. |
When an application is required, Article 26 generally sets submission by noon on the day before the proposed flight, subject to its conditions. Approval is never guaranteed merely because a request was submitted. Article 30 also describes pre-takeoff reporting/confirmation for approved activities. Check the live official procedure for your case.
How to check official UOM airspace and flight applications
Open uom.caac.gov.cn. For operations, DJI's Chinese-language instructions describe 运行管理 (Operations Management) and 飞行活动申请 (Flight Activity Application), though actual buttons and navigation can change. For the airspace decision, use the live official airspace inquiry and any local government service; do not rely on the map screenshot in an old guide. DJI instructions.
Real government screenshot: Shanghai's airspace map
Use your own location and current date. Enter the intended launch point in the official interface, zoom in, verify zone status, actual height/time limitations and any site rule, and keep the result for your own pre-flight check.
Shanghai 2026: local filing is not the same as airspace approval
Shanghai's official instructions say micro, light and small drones in designated suitable flight areas do not need prior airspace approval, but do need to complete the city flight-information filing through Suishenban (随申办) drone services. In controlled airspace, a different flight-activity application/approval route is used. The municipal guide also shows how to access My Flight Plans and check that filing was recorded.
Shanghai's interface and filing process must not be treated as nationwide procedure. Check the rules for Beijing, Guilin, Chongqing or your actual destination separately; temporary restrictions can also change within the same city.
Already registered a DJI Mini — can I fly?
Registration is one prerequisite; the flight and airspace determine approval needs. A DJI Mini under 250 g still needs to follow relevant registration rules for outdoor use. If it is an eligible category, the proposed activity is ordinary, and the official map confirms suitable airspace, a national flight-activity application is generally unnecessary under Article 31. City filing, site controls and temporary restrictions may still apply. A DJI app saying 'ready' is not official permission.
CAAC's 2026 real-name registration and activation standard took effect May 1, 2026 and includes staged transitional arrangements for aircraft already sold and in use; check the applicable model and activation status rather than assuming that all older drones were immediately banned. CAAC explanation. Pilot qualifications may be a separate requirement depending on aircraft category and flight circumstances.
What if the map, registration or DJI app disagrees?
UOM registration is complete, but the flight map is unclear: Keep the exact launch location, intended altitude, travel date and operation description, and verify the applicable rule with the responsible authority. Do not assume the green/blue color of a saved picture authorizes takeoff.
DJI GEO blocks takeoff despite an apparently permissible official area: Follow the aircraft manufacturer's separate geofence process. Manufacturer unlocks do not substitute for flight-activity approval. DJI flight-filing guidance.
You still need to register the aircraft: Use the UOM screenshot walkthrough, UOM not working troubleshooting or find your registration mark and QR. If registration is blocked, you can request human help with UOM registration. That service does not include applying for flight permission.
Before-you-fly checklist
- [ ] Your UOM account and the particular aircraft registration are complete, with a readable official mark.
- [ ] Activation/firmware and any applicable pilot qualification have been checked.
- [ ] You verified the exact launch spot, height and flight date on a current official airspace map.
- [ ] Your activity is eligible for an exemption, or you have obtained the required flight-activity approval.
- [ ] Local filing and any site, park, temporary restriction or public-event notices have been checked.
- [ ] Any approval, pre-takeoff confirmation or filing record required for your planned flight is ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is a UOM registration QR code the same as a flight permit?
No. The registration mark identifies a particular registered drone. It does not approve the location, height, date or purpose of a specific flight.
Can I fly a DJI Mini in China without applying for a flight permit?
Sometimes. Ordinary eligible flying in official suitable airspace is generally exempt under Article 31; your aircraft still needs to satisfy registration rules, and local filing, temporary restrictions and site requirements may apply.
Does flying below 120 metres mean no permit is required?
No. Article 19 includes controlled areas around airports, protected sites and infrastructure, even where the planned flight stays below 120 metres.
Do I need to file in Shanghai's designated suitable areas?
Shanghai's July 2026 municipal guide requires a local flight-information filing in its designated suitable areas, even though prior airspace approval is not required for ordinary qualifying flights there.
Does DJI Fly GEO unlocking count as CAAC approval?
No. The manufacturer's geofencing/flight-unlocking system and legal flight activity authorization are different processes.
Can CTD handle my flight-permit application?
No. CTD's human service covers UOM registration assistance, not applying for official flight-activity approval or local flight filing. Check the relevant authorities for your location.
Official sources and last checked
Sources checked October 9, 2026. This page provides a decision process; it cannot verify the live legal status of a specific flight.
- State Council — Interim Regulation on Drone Flight Management, Articles 19–32.
- Civil Aviation Administration of China — official publication of the regulation.
- CAAC — 2026 real-name registration and activation explanation.
- Shanghai Municipal Government — How to Fly a Drone in Shanghai (updated July 1, 2026).
- DJI — mainland-China flight filing instructions and UOM navigation.
- CAAC UOM — official platform.