On December 23, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) effectively restricted the sale of most future DJI and other foreign-made drones, such as those produced by Autel, in the United States by adding these manufacturers to the FCC’s “Covered List.” As a result, new drone models from these companies are no longer eligible for FCC equipment authorization and therefore cannot be legally sold in the U.S.
The good news is that most DJI drones currently used by photographers will remain available in the future. The effective ban applies only to drone models that did not receive FCC approval before December 23, 2025. Any DJI drone that already had FCC authorization prior to that date can still be legally sold in the United States. However, two new DJI drone models expected to be released in 2026 do not have FCC approval and therefore will not be eligible for sale in the U.S.
One of the questions I’m asked most often, now that some DJI drones are effectively banned in the United States, is which DJI drones, both current and future models, can still be legally sold in the U.S. To address that question, I’ve compiled the following list. (This list does not include DJI FPV drones or specialized platforms such as agricultural, delivery, or other purpose-built systems.)
As you can see, there are still many DJI drone models that can be purchased in the United States today. While future access to the newest DJI releases may be limited, the FCC retains the authority to grant exceptions for foreign made drones it determines do not pose a national security risk. Such drones can be removed from the FCC’s “Covered List” and placed on the “Green List.”
I hope this helps clarify how the U.S. government’s decision in December 2025 to place DJI and other foreign drone manufacturers on the FCC’s “Covered List” has affected DJI drone availability in the U.S.
The good news is that most DJI drones currently used by photographers will remain available in the future. The effective ban applies only to drone models that did not receive FCC approval before December 23, 2025. Any DJI drone that already had FCC authorization prior to that date can still be legally sold in the United States. However, two new DJI drone models expected to be released in 2026 do not have FCC approval and therefore will not be eligible for sale in the U.S.
One of the questions I’m asked most often, now that some DJI drones are effectively banned in the United States, is which DJI drones, both current and future models, can still be legally sold in the U.S. To address that question, I’ve compiled the following list. (This list does not include DJI FPV drones or specialized platforms such as agricultural, delivery, or other purpose-built systems.)
As you can see, there are still many DJI drone models that can be purchased in the United States today. While future access to the newest DJI releases may be limited, the FCC retains the authority to grant exceptions for foreign made drones it determines do not pose a national security risk. Such drones can be removed from the FCC’s “Covered List” and placed on the “Green List.”
I hope this helps clarify how the U.S. government’s decision in December 2025 to place DJI and other foreign drone manufacturers on the FCC’s “Covered List” has affected DJI drone availability in the U.S.
