Do I Have to Register my DJI Mini 2 SE (Explained)

Like the previous 5 versions of DJI Mini drones before it, the Mini 2 SE is a popular drone for many reasons. These reasons are price, size, and weight.

Weighing in at 246g, the Mini 2 SE is ideal for those wanting a lightweight drone that also has many of the specs and features of some of the larger drones in DJI’s lineup.

Also, being a sub-250g, the Mini 2 SE can circumvent a few weight-related regulations.

Do you have to register your DJI Mini 2 SE drone?

No, you do not have to register your DJI Mini 2 SE if you are flying recreationally. If you are flying for commercial purposes, the Mini 2 SE must be registered and you need to have Part 107 drone pilot certification.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about how to register your DJI Mini 2 SE.

Do you have to register the DJI Mini 2 SE with the FAA? #

Because of the Mini 2 SE’s sub-250g weight, it does not need to be registered with the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority), if using it for recreational purposes.

The FAA does require all drones over 250g to be registered, as well as any drone that is to be used for commercial purposes.

» MORE: How to Pass Part 107 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Do I need to register my DJI Mini 2 SE for Commercial flights? #

As mentioned, if you are using a sub-250g drone, including the Mini 2 SE, for commercial purposes (ie the furtherance of business), the drone must be registered with the FAA regardless of its weight. The sub-250g rule does not apply.

The FAA uses very specific language regarding this in their regulations:

• All drones must be registered, except those that weigh 0.55 pounds or less (less than 250 grams) and are flown exclusively under the Exception for Recreational Flyers.
• Drones registered under part 107 may be flown for recreational purposes as well as under part 107.
• Drones registered under the Exception for Recreational Flyers cannot be flown for Part 107 operations.

If a drone is determined to be under 250g and used for recreational activities, it cannot be used for commercial purposes. The only way to fly that sub-250g drone commercially would be if it were registered.

However, if the drone is registered commercially, then it can likewise be used recreationally.

» MORE: Become a Commercial Drone Pilot in 6 Easy Steps (Beginners Guide)

What you need to register your DJI Mini 2 SE #

To register your Mini 2 SE, you will need to be over 13 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and provide the following:

• Physical address and mailing address (if the mailing address is different from the physical address)
• Email address
• Phone number
• The make and model of your drone
• Remote ID serial number provided by the manufacturer (if applicable)
• Credit or debit card ($5 Registration Fee)

If you are planning to register your Mini 2 SE as a recreational flyer, the cost is $5 and covers all of your recreational drones.

If registering as a Part 107 certificate holder (commercial pilot), then the cost of registration is $5 per drone being used for commercial operations.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 / Mini 3 Pro: How to Register (Video)

How to register the DJI Mini 2 SE (Part 107/Commercial) #

**STEP 1: **On a PC or Mac, open an internet browser (Edge, Chrome, Firefox).

**STEP 2: **In your web browser’s search bar, type in FAA Drone Zone and choose FAADroneZone Access – Home. You will be brought to the FAAs drone-related page.

**STEP 3: **On the left side of the screen you will see Register Your Drone, click on Create Account.

**STEP 4: **After being brought to the Create Account screen, enter all of your pertinent personal information, including a working email (as this will be used for login purposes) and a strong password for the account.

You will be sent a verification email to the email address used to create the Drone Zone account.

**STEP 5: **Log in to the email account you used to open your DroneZone account, then open the email from UAS.FAADroneZone@faa.gov. Click on Verify Account. You will be brought back to the FAA Drone Zone site.

**STEP 6: **After verification is successful, click on Back to Login.

**STEP 7: **Log in to the FAA Drone Zone site, using the verified account credentials you set up earlier. You’ll now be brought to the FAADroneZone Services page, where you can select various services.

**STEP 8: **Press +Add a Service, then select the **Drone Owners and Pilots Service **button. Now press the Add Service button at the bottom of the screen.

You’ll be brought back to the main FAADroneZone Services screen, with the Drone Owners and Pilots service populating your Service box.

**STEP 9: **Press the Launch Drone Owners and Pilots Dashboard button.

You’ll be brought to the Account Types area, where you can register your drone under either a Part 107 or Recreational Flyer account.

**STEP 10: **If you will be registering your Mini 2 SE under a Part 107 account, choose **Set Up Part 107 **account. You will be asked to fill in your Part 107 Profile.

After the Part 107 profile section is completely filled out, select **Proceed to Dashboard **at the bottom of the page.

**STEP 11: **On the Dashboard, select Manage Device Inventory on the Inventory portion of the dashboard on the left-hand side of the screen.

You’ll see your **Shopping Cart **and Registered Inventory are both empty.

STEP 12: Press Add Device on the upper right-hand side of the page. Here you will input all of the information for your Mini 2 SE. After this is entered, press Add Device.

You’ll then get a message that the device has been added to your shopping cart and you’ll be brought back to your shopping cart.

**STEP 13: **At the Shopping Cart screen, press Checkout.

**STEP 14: **On the next screen, Acknowledgement of FAA Requirements, check the small box at the bottom and hit Next.

This will send you through the steps to make your payment for the registration, which is $5 and is valid for three years.

» MORE: How I Passed Part 107 (And the Course That Helped Me Do It)

How to register the DJI Mini 2 SE (Recreational/Hobbyist) #

If you are planning on registering your Mini 2 SE as a recreational or hobbyist user, follow the proceeding 10 steps and then proceed to Step 11 below, being sure to register as a hobbyist, and choose Set Up Recreational Flyer Account.

**STEP 11: **Completely fill out the Recreational Flyers Profile and press Proceed to Checkout.

**STEP 12: **On the next screen, Acknowledgement of FAA Requirements, check the small box at the bottom and hit Next.

STEP 13: You’ll now be brought to an Inventory page. You’ll see your Inventory is empty. Press Add Device.

**STEP 14: **Input all of the information for your Mini 2 SE. After this is entered, press Add Device.

You’ll receive an acknowledgment that a device has been added to your inventory.

**STEP 15: **Press Next while on the Inventory Page.

This will send you through the steps to make your payment for the registration, which is $5 and is valid for three years.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 / Mini 3 Pro: How to Register (Video)

Things to know after registration #

After you have registered your Mini 2 SE, you will receive an email with a PDF copy of your registration. You’ll want to save and print the registration.

After the registration has been printed, you need to have either an electronic or hard copy on you when flying. I have a directory on my phones and tablets that houses all my current registrations.

Additionally, you also need to have the registration number clearly visible on the drone as well. Previously, it was ok to just write the registration number on a battery and hide it in the drone.

As it stands now, like with a car’s license plate, the registration number must be on the outside of the drone.

I have found it useful to print off my drone’s registration numbers, using a label maker, and affix these to the arms or legs of the drone.

» MORE: The 3 Best Ways to Display Your Drone Registration Number

How to renew the Mini 2 SE registration #

STEP 1: On a web browser, navigate to faadronezone.faa.gov and log in from the homepage dashboard.

STEP 2: On the top-right of the screen, you will see your name.

Tap on your name and on the drop-down list select FAADroneZone Services

STEP 3: In the FAADroneZone Services screen, under Drone Owners and Pilots, press the LAUNCH DRONE OWNERS AND PILOTS DASHBOARD button.

STEP 4: In the blue, Part 107 Inventory box, click MANAGE DEVICE INVENTORY.

You’ll be presented with a list of your Active, Cancelled, or Expired drones.

STEP 5: Press the 3 gray dots to the very far right of the drone eligible for renewal. If it is eligible, there will be an option to renew the drone.

Press RENEW and the drone will be brought to your shopping cart where the $5 fee can be paid.

» MORE: Renewal of Your Part 107 Certificate

If flying as Hobbyist #

STEP 1: On a web browser, navigate to faadronezone.faa.gov and log in from the homepage dashboard.

STEP 2: On the top-right of the screen, you will see your name.

Tap on your name, on the drop-down select FAADroneZone Services

STEP 3: In the FAADroneZone Services screen, under Drone Owners and Pilots, press the LAUNCH DRONE OWNERS AND PILOTS DASHBOARD button.

STEP 4: If you are Part 107 and Recreational, choose the Recreational Flyer tab at the top of the screen.

If you only have recreational accounts, you will be brought into the Recreational Flyer dashboard.

STEP 5: In the Recreational Flyer Dashboard you will see your Device Inventory count. Under that section, you will see RENEW if it is time to do so.

Press RENEW and follow the steps to pay for the renewal.

» MORE: How to Fly a Drone in a No-Fly Zone (Explained)

Can the FAA track my registered drone? #

With the enforcement of Remote ID, yes, the FAA will be able to track your drone, as the remote ID information would have been provided during the registration process.

Remote ID is basically an electronic drone license plate. The Remote ID unit broadcasts information about the drone, such as height, location, and speed to other nearby aircraft or handheld receivers.

This means that law enforcement officers, and possibly others, will be able to track and locate the drone based on the broadcast information and see its flight activities.

» MORE: Drone Remote ID – 10 Things You Need to Know