According to the Association of Paragliding and Instructors (APPI), pilots must comply with all the laws of the country in which they choose to paraglide. Such laws include those dictating the minimum and maximum ages required for one to paraglide. The age at which you can paraglide in tandem with an instructor is different from country to country. You might be surprised at some of the minimum ages! You can see those age limits listed in the table below.
For paragliding training, different training institutions have set different age limits for children and adults alike. Most countries will allow training and solo flights for anyone above the age of 14 years. There are also age limits set for acquiring licenses.
Minimum age required to paraglide in different countries
Below is a list of different countries and the minimum age you can paraglide from on a tandem flight with an instructor. E.g. not to paraglide alone (read more).
| Country | Age you can paraglide from with a tandem instructor | Notes and caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No minimum age limit | Under 18s need consent from an adult Minimum weight limit: 25 kg/55 lbs. Must be able to walk upright and run. No physical or mental disabilities. |
| Albania | 7 years old | Children below 18 years must be accompanied by an adult. Children of all abilities can fly. |
| Australia | 14 years old | Underage teens require written consent from a legal guardian or parent. Maximum age limit: none. |
| Bulgaria | 4 years old | Must wear warm comfortable clothes. Maximum age limit 72 years. Maximum weight limit: 120 kg/264 lbs. |
| Bali | 10 years old | Maximum age limit: 65 years. Maximum weight limit: 80 kg/176 lbs. Must not fly on a full stomach. Must have eaten not less than 2 hours before flying. |
| Brazil | 14 years old | Must be 16 years and above to train as a pilot. Weight limit: 50 kg/110 lbs - 110 kg/240 lbs. |
| Barbados | 14 years old | Individuals may be required to know how to swim. Parents must provide parental consent for those below 18 years. Parents for children under 15 years might be required to participate in tandem flights and training with their kids. |
| Canada | No minimum age limit | Minimum age required to learn and hold a license is 16 years. Must have a Minimum Medical Certificate Category 4 for licensing. Pilot must have acquired a minimum of 5 hours flight time and a minimum of 30 takeoffs and landings. Maximum weight limit: 120 kg/265 lbs. |
| Crete | 7 years old | Anyone below 18 years must have written parental consent for tandem flying. Maximum weight limit: 100 kg/220 lbs. Participants should not have serious health problems such as cardiac issues or disabilities. |
| Corfu | 18 years old | Maximum weight limit: 120 kg/265 lbs. |
| Cyprus | 14 years old | Minors must have written consent from a parent or a legal guardian. May be required to know how to swim. |
| Croatia | 7 years old | Must wear warm comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes. Maximum weight limit: 130 kg/285 lbs. |
| Colombia | No minimum age limit | Minors must be accompanied by their guardians. Participants should not suffer from lung condition, heart condition, back problems, seizures, or fainting spells. Maximum weight limit: 120 kg/240 lbs. Must not be under heavy medication. |
| Dubai | 5 years old | Must be 16 years old and above for solo flying. Minors must have written parental consent. No maximum age limit. |
| Egypt | 12 years old | Minimum age to start training is 16 years. Minimum age to get a license is 17 years. Maximum age limit for training: 65 years. |
| Ecuador | No minimum age limit | 8 years old is the most recommended age for tandem flights. |
| France | 4 years old | Children can go for tandem flights in the morning when winds are light. Maximum weight for males is 95 kg/210 lbs while for females is 80 kg/175 lbs. |
| Florida | 6 years old | Persons under 18 years must have a guardian or a parent sign a liability waiver. Minimum weight is 40 kg/90 lbs while maximum is 200 kg/450 lbs. |
| Greece | 7 years old | Maximum weight limit: 110 kg/240 lbs. Maximum age limit: 60 years. Persons should have no history of heart disease. |
| Hungary | 5 years old | Minors must have consent from parents/guardians. Weight limit: 25 kg/55 lbs - 120 kg/265 lbs. Wheelchair users can go for tandem flights. |
| Hawaii | No minimum age limit | Recommended minimum age is 8 years. Maximum weight limit: 159 kg/350 lbs. Not for persons with mobility issues, cardiovascular, neck, back problems or recent injuries. |
| India | 10 years old | Maximum weight limit: 110 kgs/240 lbs. Not for persons with sinus/heart/respiratory problems or claustrophobia and ear infection. |
| Ibiza | 8 years old | Minimum height limit: 120 cm/3 ft. 11 in. Weight limit: 35 kg/75 lbs - 120 kg/265 lbs. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Italy | 6 years old | Weight limit: 30 kg/65 lbs -100 kg/220 lbs. Great physical and mental health. |
| Ireland | 4 years old | Maximum weight limit: 150 kg/330 lbs. Minors must be accompanied by their guardians. Training starts at 14 years. |
| Iceland | 14 years old | Must wear warm clothes and closed shoes. Persons under 18 years must have written permission from their parents. |
| Israel | 10 years old | Maximum weight limit: 120 kg/265 lbs. Must have empty pockets and closed shoes. Warm clothing. Children under 10 years must get special permission for flights. |
| Jersey | 5 years old | Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Weight limit: 7- kg/150 lbs – 180 kg/400 lbs. |
| Japan | No minimum age limit | Weight limit: 20 kg/45 lbs -110 kg/240 lbs. Minors need consent from a parent or legal guardian. |
| Majorca | 4 years old | Adolescents (16 and 17 years) must have written consent from their parents. Weight limit: 50 kg/110 lbs -250 kg/550 lbs. Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Malta | 6 years old | No maximum age limit. Weight limit: 100 kg/220 lbs |
| New Zealand | No minimum age limit | Minimum weight limit: 25 kg/55 lbs. Must be 16 and over to learn how to fly. Minors must have parental consent to undertake lessons. |
| Norway | No minimum age limit | Maximum weight 110 kg/220 lb. Passengers under 16 years require consent from a legal guardian or parent. |
| Portugal | 3 years old | Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult. Minimum height limit: 100 cm/3 ft 2 in. Minimum weight limit: 20 kg/45 lbs. Must be over 15 years to start training. |
| Poland | 4 years old | Weight limit: 25 kg/55 lbs – 140 kg/300 lbs |
| Qatar | 5 years old | Weight limit: 40 kg/90 lbs– 110 kg/240 lbs. Maximum age limit: 65 years. Must obtain doctor’s approval if having any major health problems. |
| Switzerland | No minimum age limit | Maximum weight limit: 100 kg/220 lbs. No maximum age limit. Recommended minimum age is 5 years. |
| Spain | 12 years old | Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Minimum age for solo flying is 14 years Weight limit: 40 kg/90 lbs – 100 kg/220 lbs. |
| Scotland | 12 years old | Minors need parental consent. Maximum weight limit: 100 kg/220 lbs. Must have normal fitness level. Participants must be a member of the British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (BHPA) to undertake training. |
| Slovenia | 8 years old | Weight limit: 30 kg/65 lbs – 120 kg/265 lbs. Minimum height limit 125 cm/ 4 ft 1 in. Not suitable for pregnant women. |
| South Africa | No minimum age limit | Recommended minimum age is 3 years. Height limit: 50 cm/1 ft. 6 in. – 250 cm/8 ft 2 in. Maximum weight limit: 135 kg/300 lbs. |
| Turkey | 4 years old | Minimum age for training is 16 years. Weight limit is 40 kg/ 90 lbs – 130 kg/290 lbs. Participants with major health issues such as epilepsy, heart disease, keel disorders, and asthma cannot participate. Maximum age limit: 84 years. |
| Tenerife | 5 years old | Weight limit: 20 kg/45 lbs – 120 kg/265 lbs. Maximum age limit: 108 years. |
| Tunisia | 3 years old | Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Minimum weight limit: 20 kg/45 lbs. |
| Thailand | No minimum age limit | Minors must be accompanied by an adult. |
| United Kingdom | No minimum age limit | You must be 14 years and above for training and 16 years to get a solo license. Minors need consent from parents to paraglide. |
| United States | No minimum age limit | Minors must be accompanied by an adult who signs a legal waiver for them. |
| Vietnam | No minimum age limit | No legislation available. |
Other considerations aside from age limits
Learning how to paraglide is highly influenced by how good your general health, mental state, and fitness are. Other considerations include medical conditions, your ability to make rational decisions, and your eyesight. You need to be fit enough to jump and run around for long periods. Sometimes, you may be required to carry a pack up a hill or run while carrying your gear. This brings about the need to set a minimum age limit required for paragliding.
Children may have some of these activities done for them by an instructor during tandem flights. This is to ensure they do not miss out on the experience. Most countries are yet to set laws and age limits governing paragliding. Where there are none, paragliding schools have set the limits themselves.
Conclusion
How old do you have to be to paraglide? As a general rule, flying as a passenger (also known as tandem flying) has no age limit. Famous spots have flown with children as young as 4 years old going all the way to adults in their 80s and 90s. Some places have flown with passengers as young as 13 months old.