Guide to Commercial

Drone Regulations Around the World

As drones have rapidly risen into popularity, countries are quickly trying to adjust to the safety and security threats they can impose. From banning drones altogether to requiring a pilot’s license, new laws and regulations are constantly going into effect or changing. Here is our guide to the current regulations on drones around the world.*

Drones Defined

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), or Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs) all basically mean the same thing: drones. However, drones can also be model aircraft or military weapons. In this guide, we define drones as remote-controlled quadcopters with a video camera attached.

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Commercial or Hobby

Drones with cameras that are used for aerial work like photography and filming are generally considered to be ‘commercial’ drones. This means that the operator intends to profit from the work while a hobbyist flies for private use or recreation. Most countries with drone laws have different regulations based on whether the drone is being flown for a hobby or for profit.

Hobby drones usually have much lighter restrictions on their use while commercial drone regulations can get complex and depend on drone weight and flight altitude. Countries with drone regulations often require commercial drone operators to have a pilot’s license or written permission from the local government.

The regulations in this guide are for commercial drone operatorsjournalists, filmmakers, videographers, photographers, and others who intend to profit from their work, or take images and video that is not purely for personal use.

Best Practices

No matter whether you are in a regulated or unregulated country, when it comes to flying your drones, there are certain safety tips and common regulations that you should follow.

  • Keep your drone’s take-off weight under 25kg (55lbs). (There are often added restrictions to drones over 25kg.)
  • Maintain visual line-of-sight.
  • Keep your drone away from crowds.
  • Fly your drone in the daytime.
  • Yield right of way to other aircraft.
  • Don’t rely on your drone camera’s first-person view.
  • Don’t fly your drone higher than 100m (~330ft).
  • Keep your drone at least 8km (5 miles) away from airports.
  • Conduct a preflight inspection of your drone to make sure it’s safe to fly.
  • Don’t fly around government buildings, prisons, power plants, or other sensitive locations.
  • Make a precise flight plan.
  • Contact the local aviation authority of where you plan to fly if their rules are not clear.

FAA Drone Laws in the United States

Under new FAA regulations, drones flown for commercial purposes must be registered and the operator must have a remote pilot’s certificate. Here is what you need to know before flying and filming:

Drone Requirements:

  • Take-off weight must be under 55 lbs (25kg).
  • Drones must be registered here.

How To Get A Remote Pilot License:

Operating Rules:

  • Your drone must stay in Class G airspace, less than 1,200ft (365m) above the ground.
  • Keep your drone in visual line-of-sight.
  • Don’t fly above 400ft (~120m).
  • Don’t fly at night.
  • Don’t fly over 100mph.
  • Yield to manned aircraft.
  • Don’t fly over people.
  • Don’t fly from a moving vehicle.
  • Apply for waivers if you need to operate beyond these rules.

Countries without specific drone laws:

Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Micronesia, Nauru, Niger, Pakistan, Palau, Palestinian Territories, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sint Maarten, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia

Countries that ban commercial drones:

Argentina, Brazil, Brunei, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan

Countries that require drone operators to have a pilot license, certificate, or permit:

Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Fiji, France, Ghana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, Netherlands, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe

Countries with exceptions and permission requirements:

Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry recently restricted the media from flying drone cameras in sensitive areas like government and military facilities. Other restrictions are unknown.

Azerbaijan

While regulations seem to vary depending on drone weight and pilot experience, drones must generally meet the same safety and operational standards as manned aircraft.

Barbados

Barbados has banned importing drones until April 1, 2017. However, drone operators already there who want to fly commercially must send an application to the Permanent Secretary, Defense and Security, Prime Minister’s Office and have a telecommunications radio-controlled license.

Bhutan

After the government banned drones in 2015, they’re now allowing drone operators to register their drones and apply for a “Permit to Fly.”

Cambodia

Flying drones is banned without approval in the capital, Penom Penh. However, drone use isn’t prohibited throughout the rest of the country and the sale and purchase of drones is still permitted.

Chile

Drone operators flying as a hobby must get a license, permit, and register their drones. At this time, flying for commercial use is banned, except on a case-by-case basis.

Croatia

Drone operators must submit flight plans at least fifteen days before they plan to fly to the State Geodetic Administration.

Denmark

No license or permit is required, but drones must weigh less than 25kg.

Finland

Drone operators must give advance notice of their flight to the Finnish Transport Safety Agency and the drone must be marked with the operator’s name and contact information.

Germany

Follow European Aviation Safety Agency regulations.

Grenada

Drone operators must apply to local police for permission with the details about their flight.

Guatemala

Drones must be registered with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Guyana

Drone operators must apply to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority with the details of their flight and receive written permission before flying.

Iceland

Drones are not permitted in Bessastaðir, the presidential residence, police stations, prisons, and Þingvellir National Park. Drone operators need special permission to fly over densely populated areas.

India

Drone operators must apply for a unique identification number for their drone, have pilot training, and notify local authorities before and after the flight.

Ireland

Drone operators must register their drones with the Irish Aviation Authority. They do not need permission to fly commercially as long as they are flying within the IAA’s regulations.

Israel

Commercial drone operators may require a license, but it was unclear in the translation of their Civil Aviation Authority’s site. There are many no-fly zones in Israel that could put operators at risk if their drone gets too close.

Italy

Drone operators need to register their drones and may require a pilot’s license or certification depending on the weight and use of their drone.

Japan

Drones are banned from flying over government facilities, in most cities, and in parks. Police are authorized to destroy drones if they are not following regulations.

Jordan

Drone operators must apply for permission to fly from the Jordan Aviation Authority.

Kuwait

It appears to be illegal to use drones commercially at the moment, but there may be new proposals underway that would require registration and licenses or permits.

Latvia

While it is not clear if it is a law yet, Latvia may require drone operators to register their drones.

Macedonia

Drones cannot be operated within 500 meters of any government buildings, public gatherings, or protests.

Mexico

Drones under 2kg don’t require a permit, but must stay over 5 miles away from airports. Drones between 2 to 25kg require a permit, and drones over 25kg require a permit and a pilot’s license.

Myanmar

If not enacted already, a new law will soon be passed requiring drones to be registered.

Nepal

Operators must have permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to fly their drones for aerial work.

New Zealand

Drone operators do not need a license if their drone is under 15kg, but may need one if it is between 15 to 25kg. Drones over 25kg are not permitted.

Norway

Drone operators with drones that are over 2.5kg must have a license to operate.

Peru

Their regulations are being drafted and are pending.

Qatar

Drone operators must receive permission from the Civil Aviation Authority before being permitted to fly.

Russia

Drones over 250 grams must be registered.

Samoa

Samoa follows New Zealand’s drone laws.

South Korea

Zones where drones are allowed to fly are severely limited and commercial drones may need to be registered.

Sri Lanka

Regulations are pending and it is unclear whether they are being enforced yet. The Sri Lanka Aviation Authority’s drone webpage does not work.

Swaziland

Witches are prohibited from flying over 150m high on their broomsticks, but the actual drone regulations are unclear.

Switzerland

Drone operators with drones that weigh over 30kg need to get approval from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. However, no permits or licenses are required if the drone is under 30kg.

Taiwan

Drones over 15kg are regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority and drones under 15kg are regulated by local governments.

Tanzania

Drones are banned in all of Tanzania’s national parks.

Turkey

Drones over 500 grams must be registered and operators whose drones are over 25kg must have a license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

United Arab Emirates

Drones must be registered and operators must have security clearance from the Local Civil Aviation Authority before flying a drone with a camera.

*This is a constantly evolving list. Please leave us a comment or send us a message if your country has changed their laws, or if we have misunderstood them, so that we may update our guide.

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