FCC Covered List for DJI Drones 2026: Read This Before Buying a DJI Drone in the US

The FCC has expanded its Covered List. Now, the blanket covers all foreign-made drones, and, as you were expecting, it is slamming the doors on all new approvals after December 23, 2025.

So now, as per the rule, the FCC has shut down all new registrations from foreign manufacturers, not only DJI or Autel. It includes all other brands manufactured outside the USA or assembled using parts sourced from multiple countries. All such drones are now blocked from future registrations.

Now, if you are searching heavily using keywords or phrases like “DJI drone ban 2026” or wondering “which DJI drones are still legal in the US,” this guide has it all.

What Is the FCC Covered List, and Why Does It Matter for DJI Drones in 2026?

Before we begin, I am going to explain what the FCC Covered List actually is and why it does not matter specifically for DJI alone.

The FCC Covered List stems from national security mandates under Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This rule blacklists all foreign-made drones, not only China-specific manufacturers.

So, any drone manufactured in the USA is allowed after December 23, while all other drones that are manufactured outside the USA or assembled using foreign-sourced components fall under the blacklist category.

The Ban’s Core Impact on DJI

To make this easier to grasp at a glance, here’s a quick breakdown:

Why it ‘does not matter specifically for DJI alone’: Blocking all foreign UAS imports/sales of new models, unleashing “American drone dominance.

The big issue is that, as we have discussed earlier, no drone under $500 is U.S.-made. All drones in this price segment—even those offering some of the best video quality in the market—are affordable because they are manufactured outside the USA, specifically in mainland China or Thailand.

Popular models like the DJI Mini series, Holy Stone HS720, or Potensic ATOM, are all produced in China. A 2025 Drone U report on American-made drones lists no entries below $1,000, and a December 2025 analysis from The New Camera explicitly states: “There is no U.S.-made drone close to the $300 price range or even under $500 that we can realistically expect.”

If someone were to manufacture the same type of drone in the United States of America, they would have to pay approximately 3× to 4× higher manufacturing costs, which would result in sky-high prices.

Which DJI Drones Are Still Legal to Buy and Fly in the US After the 2026 Ban?

So, why are DJI drones still available in the USA, and why are other Chinese-manufactured drones also still allowed? The straightforward answer is that right now, the authorities have no other practical option than allowing already FCC-approved drones.

If they were to ban drones retroactively, there would be no existing drones that consumers could legally fly under $700. Everything would be affected, and this would create massive chaos among consumers, drone users, cinematographers, and especially professionals who rely on drones for their daily workflow.

No sub-$700 U.S.-made consumer drones exist in 2026—Skydio’s entry-level (2+) starts at $950+, and enterprise options climb from there (e.g., BRINC LEMUR 2 at $15K). A retroactive ban could theoretically un-approve existing models (FCC voted authority in October 2025), but it hasn’t happened and isn’t planned

By choosing to ban only new approvals after December 23, 2025, this becomes a win-win situation for the FCC and related agencies. On one side, they can promote United States–based drone manufacturers, and on the other side, they can keep users calm by leaving at least some options available, instead of enforcing a complete shutdown.

In the next 1–3 years, U.S.-based drone makers will have a clear and protected market to overtake DJI by introducing their own solutions. Since no new foreign-made drones will receive approval after December 23, 2025, over the next 2–4 years, existing DJI and other foreign drones will naturally start to feel outdated. As a result, users will gradually shift toward newer, domestically approved alternatives.

This is a very clever and strategic move, and consumers need to understand it clearly. For now, we still have some of the best drone options available, and there is no need to panic or immediately switch focus to another brand.

FCC Approved DJI Drones 2026

NEO Series (Newly Added) – All these models are allowed to be sold, re-sold, and fly

Approved by FCC – Mini Series  – All these models are allowed to be sold, re-sold, and fly

Approved by FCC – DJI Air Series – All these models are allowed to be sold, re-sold, and fly

Approved by FCC – Mavic Series – All these models are allowed to be sold, re-sold, and fly

Approved by FCC – Avata/FPV Series – All these models are allowed to be sold, re-sold, and fly

• All Inspire Series Drones starting from Inspire Series 1 to Inspire Series 3 are allowed
• All Matrice Series Drone starting from DJI Matrice 100 to DJI Matrice 400/400A are allowed

the extensive list of already FCC-approved DJI products that are eligible to be sold in the United States of America.

And the best part is that the DJI Avata 360 and the Osmo Pocket 4 camera, along with other products like the Mobile 8p, Lito X1, the DJI Power 1000 Mini, are already pre-approved by the FCC.

So, in the next 6 to 8 months, we are going to see a bunch of drone, camera, and gimbal announcements from DJI that were already approved earlier, and we will be able to enjoy all of them in the United States of America as well.

Sources: FCC filings, DJI.com, and verified retailer listings as of Jan 5, 2026. Note: Accessories like batteries and props are grandfathered if tied to approved models, but new foreign-sourced parts could hit snags.

Future Releases (FCC-Approved Pre-Ban)

These hustled through certification—expect U.S. availability:

Red-Flagged: Future Drones That Won’t Get U.S. Approval

Yes, that’s true. Some future UPCOMING models, such as the DJI Neo 3, the DJI Air 4, and the DJI Mini 5, are not approved. The same applies to action cameras, such as the DJI Action 6, which is expected to arrive sometime in late 2026 or 2027. These products are not going to be officially announced in the United States of America, and they will not be available for sale.

This is because all the products mentioned here are future releases, scheduled for the later part of 2026 or 2027, and they are not FCC-approved. So yes, these will not appear on US market 

Final Thoughts: Navigate the DJI Ban 2026 Like a Pro

As I always say, as a consumer, you have to make a smart move for yourself, because it’s your money, and you must decide where to invest in the best possible solution for your work.

For now, drones are not banned. Yes, future models that do not receive approval are effectively banned, but all the drones we have mentioned in our list are green-flagged and FCC-approved, and you can buy them as long as inventory is available.

That said, customs is creating some trouble for DJI shipments, and even though DJI drones are not banned inside the United States, FCC-approved models are still facing delays while entering the country.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues detaining DJI shipments under UFLPA (forced labor concerns in Xinjiang), independent of FCC rules—e.g., holds at Port of LA for approved models like Air 3S, lasting weeks/months. This escalated in late 2025 and persists into 2026, per DroneXL and UAV Coach

So yes, there are many green-flag, approved drones available, and you can buy them without any legal trouble—as long as stock lasts.

Disclosure: Affiliate links may apply. All info verified Jan 5, 2026—regs evolve, so check FCC.gov.

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The article “FCC Covered List for DJI Drones 2026: Read This Before Buying a DJI Drone in the US” was written  by thenewcamera.com team on 4:14 pm, Monday, 5 January 2026, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)| You can also follow us on Our Official Social Media Handles  FACEBOOK | TWITTER |  INSTAGRAM   to get live news — >  DJI Rumors

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