Sourcing drones and aircraft from China
Drones and civil aircraft from China pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. For drones the CAA sets the rules: any new model placed on the market from 1 January 2026 must carry a UK class mark, UK0 to UK6, and weight and camera decide whether users need a Flyer ID and Operator ID. Cambridge China Bridge sources drones and components for resellers and operators.
Drones and civil aircraft pay 0% UK duty from China. New drone models need a UK class mark from 1 January 2026, and weight sets the registration rules.
Zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, unmanned aircraft for remote-controlled flight carried 0% duty on goods from China across the weight bands up to 250 g, 250 g to 7 kg and 7 kg to 25 kg, including multi-rotors with an integrated camera. Crewed civil aircraft, such as helicopters and light aeroplanes, also carried 0% on the civil-use lines. No line carried an anti-dumping measure.
The tariff splits drones by maximum take-off weight, the same measure the CAA rules use, so the weight on the datasheet matters twice. Confirm the commodity code for each model.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote-controlled multi-rotors with integrated camera, up to 250 g | 8806 21 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other remote-controlled drones, up to 250 g, civil | 8806 21 90 10 | 0% | None |
| Remote-controlled multi-rotors with integrated camera, 250 g to 7 kg | 8806 22 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other remote-controlled drones, 250 g to 7 kg, civil | 8806 22 90 10 | 0% | None |
| Remote-controlled drones, 7 kg to 25 kg, civil | 8806 23 00 10 | 0% | None |
| Helicopters of unladen weight up to 2,000 kg, civil | 8802 11 00 10 | 0% | None |
UK class marks from 2026
The CAA says that any new model of drone or model aircraft placed on the market from 1 January 2026 must have a UK class mark, from UK0 to UK6. The class mark is the manufacturer's declaration that the model meets the UK requirements for its class, which include performance, geo-awareness, Remote ID and lights for the classes that need them. A drone with no UK or European class mark is a legacy aircraft.
For a reseller, that makes the class mark the first question to a Chinese factory: which UK class the model is marked for, and the evidence behind the declaration. A model built only for another market cannot simply be relabelled.
Registration for your customers
Weight and camera decide what the user must do. The CAA requires a Flyer ID for drones of 100 g to under 250 g, and an Operator ID as well if such a drone has a camera; UK1 to UK4 class drones need both. Under 100 g, no Flyer ID is required, though the CAA recommends it. Put the class and the user's obligations in the manual and on the box.
Drones are radio equipment and carry lithium batteries, so the radio test evidence and battery transport tests apply as for other wireless products, and a drone that connects to an app is a connectable product under the PSTI rules.
Crewed aircraft
Crewed aircraft and their parts need airworthiness evidence that the UK recognises, and a part fitted to a type-certified aircraft needs a CAA Form 1; the gas turbine guide sets out that rule. Any crewed aircraft purchase starts with the certification and registration route, before the price.
Cambridge China Bridge sources drones, drone components and aviation parts, with the class mark, radio and battery evidence, and for aviation the release documents, confirmed before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on drones from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, remote-controlled drones up to 25 kg carried 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Do drones sold in the UK need a class mark?
The CAA says any new model placed on the market from 1 January 2026 must have a UK class mark, UK0 to UK6. Unmarked drones are legacy aircraft.
Do drone users need to register?
The CAA requires a Flyer ID from 100 g, plus an Operator ID if a drone under 250 g has a camera; UK1 to UK4 class drones need both.
What else applies to drones as products?
Radio equipment evidence, lithium battery transport tests and, for app-connected drones, the PSTI product security rules.