RC tracks, model airfields and boat waters in Portugal

In Portugal, RC car racing is coordinated by FEPRA (Federação Portuguesa de Rádio Modelismo Automóvel), which also issues the national sports licences and publishes the rounds of the national championships for 2026; model flying is represented by the Federação Portuguesa de Aeromodelismo (FPAm). Most Portuguese RC car clubs only provide information via Facebook or have no up-to-date website of their own – so we have not yet found a track with current evidence on a club website. Well documented, on the other hand, are model flying clubs in the north, around Coimbra and around Lisbon that hold competitions in aerobatics, with electric gliders and indoors, as well as radio sailing in the IOM class in Póvoa de Varzim.

Where can you drive RC cars in Portugal?

We have not yet found an RC track in Portugal with current evidence on the club’s own website.

Where can you fly model aircraft in Portugal?

6 club airfields with field details, limits and guest rules. Almost everywhere, guests fly only after registering with the club and when a member is present.

Club	Location	District	Models
Clube Aeromodelismo do Norte	Castelo de Paiva	Aveiro	Powered, Helicopters
Clube de Aeromodelismo de Coimbra	Coimbra	Coimbra	Powered, Indoor
Clube de Aeromodelismo de Assafora	Sintra	Lisbon	Powered
Aeroclube de Torres Vedras	Torres Vedras	Lisbon	Powered
Clube de Modelismo Voo Calmo	Paredes	Porto
LIPA	Trofa	Porto	Powered, Electric, Gliders

Where can you sail model boats in Portugal?

1 club water and meetings for model boats with propulsion and guest rules.

Club	Location	District	Models
Clube Naval Povoense	Póvoa de Varzim	Porto	Sailing models

What are the rules in Portugal?

These associations are responsible in Portugal:

• Federação Portuguesa de Rádio Modelismo Automóvel (FEPRA): According to EFRA, the European federation for radio-controlled model cars, FEPRA is its member federation for Portugal; according to its statutes it was founded on 3 October 1994, promotes and coordinates radio-controlled model car racing in Portugal, maintains relations with EFRA and IFMAR and issues the national sports licences. In 2026 it publishes, among other things, the rounds of the national championships (Campeonatos Nacionais) in 1:10 TC and 1:5 TC as well as the Taça de Portugal in 1:8 TT (electric and nitro) and on-road multi-scale.
• Federação Portuguesa de Aeromodelismo (FPAm): FPAm was founded on 5 May 1986, has held sports public-utility status (utilidade pública desportiva) since 9 September 1994 and promotes, coordinates and regulates the sport of model flying in Portugal; the sporting powers for this were transferred to it by the Aero Clube de Portugal in 1987. It represents Portugal in the international model-flying bodies, namely the FAI’s aeromodelling commission CIAM, supports, supervises and sanctions the events of its member clubs and publishes the list of clubs, the competition calendar, regulations and the 2025 national champions.

The key points from the law and official pages (retrieved 11/10/2026):

• In Portugal, the competent authority for drones and model aircraft is the National Civil Aviation Authority ANAC (Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil), as laid down by Decree-Law No 87/2021 for Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947. ANAC also decides on any reduction of the minimum age for remote pilots and may allow model aircraft clubs or associations to register their members in the registration system (Decreto-Lei n.º 87/2021 – Regime sancionatório UAS (ANAC)).
• You must register with ANAC as an operator if your aircraft has a maximum take-off mass of 250 g or more, can transfer more than 80 joules of kinetic energy to a person on impact, or carries a sensor able to capture personal data (camera, video, microphone) – unless it complies with the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. Registration has been available since 8 January 2021 on the platform uas.anac.pt; you must physically affix your operator number to each of your aircraft and revalidate the registration every three years, otherwise the number is revoked and cannot be recovered (ANAC – Registo de Operador de Aeronaves Não Tripuladas (UAS – Drones)).
• Registration on uas.anac.pt is currently free of charge; as an individual you create your account with the Digital Mobile Key (Chave Móvel Digital, CMD), anyone of legal age with their main residence in Portugal can register, and only once – ANAC cannot register anyone who lives and works in another EU country. If you are a tourist from a third country, you register only in the first EU country where you will fly; if that is Portugal, you first obtain the CMD in person with your passport, phone number and email at a consulate or, if not possible, at a Citizen’s Shop (Loja do Cidadão), and provide an address in Portugal and your nationality when registering (ANAC Registry – Support / FAQ).
• You obtain the A1/A3 certificate through ANAC’s online training on rp.anac.pt, followed immediately by an online exam; with at least 75 % correct answers the platform issues the certificate automatically, and certificates issued by ANAC are valid for 5 years. For A2 you also need the A1/A3 certificate, a self-organised self-training in subcategory A3, the online training and an exam taken in person at ANAC; training, exam and certificate are mutually recognised among the EU countries (ANAC – Competências dos Pilotos Remotos).
• In the open category you do not need an operational authorisation from ANAC: your aircraft has a maximum take-off mass of less than 25 kg, you fly within visual line of sight (VLOS), no higher than 120 m above the terrain and not over assemblies of people. In the open category you may fly by day and by night without ANAC authorisation (ANAC – Categoria Aberta (OPEN)).
• In Portugal, model flying is possible without ANAC authorisation in open subcategory A3 – also within clubs and associations, provided their members meet the A3 requirements and the geographical zones in force (and, while ANAC Regulation No 1093/2016 applies, its restrictions under Article 11 and the Annex); every member must be registered as a UAS operator. Optionally, a club can apply to ANAC for an authorisation under Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2019/947 with deviations from the open category – submitting a management system, organisational structure, procedures and training programmes, an annual fee for the model-flying area and proof of its right to the site; ANAC may impose conditions such as a maximum operating ceiling, distances, take-off mass, type of propulsion or mandatory training, and the authorisation is valid only in Portugal and for the authorised site (ANAC – Aeromodelismo no seio de Clubes e Associações).
• In Portugal, third-party liability insurance is mandatory if your aircraft has a maximum operating mass of more than 900 g (Article 10 of Decree-Law No 58/2018); this does not apply if you already hold liability insurance covering sports practice. You submit proof of the insurance contract on the electronic registration platform before you start operating (Decreto-Lei n.º 58/2018 (ANAC)).
• The minimum cover of the compulsory liability insurance is set by Ordinance (Portaria) No 2/2021 according to maximum operating mass: above 900 g up to 1.5 kg 0.26 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR), above 1.5 up to 4 kg 0.38 million SDR, above 4 up to 20 kg 0.56 million SDR and above 20 kg 0.75 million SDR. The cover includes damage from accidents both in flight and on the ground (Portaria n.º 2/2021 – Seguros UAS (ANAC)).
• In Portugal, UAS geographical zones are established for reasons of safety, security against unlawful acts, privacy or environmental protection and may prohibit flights, impose conditions or require an authorisation in the specific category. The established zones are available on dnt.anac.pt (download as KML or JSON in ED-318 format) and you must check them before each flight; the restrictions of ANAC Regulation No 1093/2016 also remain in force on a transitional basis (ANAC – Zonas Geográficas e Espaço Aéreo U).
• According to ANAC’s guide for the open category, if you fly a drone under 250 g or of class C0 you do not need an A1/A3 certificate. ANAC generates your operator number in the format PRT-ABC0123456789 automatically after validation; you affix it to all the UAS you operate or to the Remote ID device, and you check the geographical zones on uas.anac.pt/explore or in the VOANABOA app (iOS/Android) (ANAC – Comprei um drone e pretendo operar em Portugal).
• In Portugal, any capture of aerial images – photos or videos, including with a drone – requires prior authorisation from the National Aeronautical Authority AAN (Autoridade Aeronáutica Nacional); the legal basis is Decree-Law No 42071 of 30 December 1958. You apply via the e-AAN app at least 10 days before the intended date, registration and authorisation are free of charge, each authorisation is valid for a maximum of 60 days, and images taken with a model aircraft flown under Article 8 of Regulation No 1093/2016 need no authorisation (AAN – Aeronaves Não Tripuladas (Drones)).
• If you are registered as an operator in another EU Member State, you may fly in Portugal in the open category without ANAC authorisation: your operator number is affixed to the drone, you check the published geographical zones and, as remote pilot, you hold the proof of completion of online training or, for A2, the A2 certificate – these documents are mutually recognised within the EU. To use a specific-category operational authorisation from another state you need a local risk assessment and apply to ANAC via uas.spec@anac.pt (ANAC – Operações Transfronteiriças).

Frequently asked questions

Where can I drive RC cars in Portugal?

We have not yet found a track with current evidence on its own club website. The federation FEPRA publishes the rounds of the 2026 national championships on its website – this is where you can find the host clubs. It is best to ask the club directly before a visit.

Can I fly at a Portuguese club field as a model pilot from abroad?

In some cases, yes. At the CMVC club in Paredes, the open club meetings are open to guests who have insurance through the federation FPAm or equivalent insurance, an operator registration and the A1/A3 certificate of competency; the field in Assafora (Sintra), on the other hand, is reserved for members. The other clubs do not state any guest rules – ask beforehand.

Do I need to register again in Portugal?

No, if you live in another EU country and are registered there: you then fly in the open category without authorisation from the aviation authority ANAC, with your operator number on the model and your certificate of competency, which Portugal recognises. ANAC only registers people whose main residence is in Portugal.

Do I need insurance in Portugal?

Yes, if your model has a maximum operating mass of more than 900 g – unless you already have liability insurance as part of practising the sport. The minimum cover depends on the weight and starts at 0.26 million special drawing rights.

Am I allowed to take photos or film from the air in Portugal?

For aerial photography and video, including with a drone, you need prior free authorisation from the Autoridade Aeronáutica Nacional, applied for via the e-AAN app at least 10 days in advance. No authorisation is needed for recordings with a model aircraft during model flying operations under Art. 8 of ANAC Regulation No. 1093/2016. Check the geographical zones before every flight on uas.anac.pt or in the VOANABOA app.