{"id":501,"date":"2019-11-01T16:06:25","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T16:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/?p=501"},"modified":"2021-12-08T16:09:38","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T16:09:38","slug":"are-drones-illegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/are-drones-illegal\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Can I Fly My Drone? Are Drones Illegal?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Drones have evolved from a niche hobby for geeks to become\nmainstream, all in the space of a few years. And with each passing year they\nbecome more popular as their capabilities continue to evolve and they are\nincorporated across several industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regulators have not failed to notice the trend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drone laws continue to evolve along with drones in order to keep the pedestrian public, other aircrafts, and even drone pilots, safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But while this constant evolution is a good thing for all parties involved, it does make it difficult to stay current on what is legal and what is not. Hence the need for this guide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"aawp\">\n\n            \n            \n<div class=\"aawp-product aawp-product--horizontal\"  data-aawp-product-asin=\"B07ZJZMFFH\" data-aawp-product-id=\"4470\" data-aawp-tracking-id=\"dronesvilla20-20\" data-aawp-product-title=\"DJI Mavic Mini CP.MA.00000120.01\" data-aawp-geotargeting=\"true\">\n\n    \n    <div class=\"aawp-product__thumb\">\n        <a class=\"aawp-product__image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07ZJZMFFH?tag=dronesvilla20-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1\" title=\"DJI Mavic Mini Drone\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\" target=\"_blank\">\n            <img class=\"aawp-product__image\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/31iPTd2nOyL._SL160_.jpg\" alt=\"DJI Mavic Mini Drone\"  \/>\n        <\/a>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"aawp-product__content\">\n        <a class=\"aawp-product__title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07ZJZMFFH?tag=dronesvilla20-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1\" title=\"DJI Mavic Mini Drone\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\" target=\"_blank\">\n            DJI Mavic Mini Drone        <\/a>\n        <div class=\"aawp-product__description\">\n            <ul><li>12MP \/ 2. 7K Quad HD 3-Axis Gimbal Camera<\/li><li>Up to 30 Minutes of Flight Time<\/li><li>Stream HD Video from up to 2. 5 Miles<\/li><\/ul>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"aawp-product__footer\">\n\n        <div class=\"aawp-product__pricing\">\n            \n                            <span class=\"aawp-product__price aawp-product__price--current\">&#36;301.39<\/span>\n            \n                    <\/div>\n\n                <a class=\"aawp-button aawp-button--buy aawp-button aawp-button--amazon rounded\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07ZJZMFFH?tag=dronesvilla20-20&#038;linkCode=ogi&#038;th=1&#038;psc=1\" title=\"Buy on Amazon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">Buy on Amazon<\/a>\n            <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Are Drones Illegal?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>That depends on where you are, and what you are doing. For example, if you are in the US, drone regulations would designate your drone as illegal <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.faa.gov\/news\/updates\/?newsId=94424\" target=\"_blank\">if you ever attached dangerous weapons to it<\/a>, and breaking this rule could come with a fine of up to $25,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a pilot it is your responsibility to make sure that you\ndo not fly afoul of the law by keeping abreast of the regulations in place in\nyour locality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you take to the skies, ask the local aviation\nauthorities about what you should keep in mind. You don\u2019t want to risk\nincurring big fines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you intend flying your drone for educational, recreational, or commercial purposes, the drone laws apply to everybody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drone regulations change from location to location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have specific guides that cover: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/us-drone-laws\/\">USA drone laws<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/uk-drone-laws\/\">UK &amp; Ireland drone laws<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/australia-drone-laws\/\">Australia drone laws<\/a>, and<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/india-drone-laws\/\">India drone laws<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll certainly find it interesting to see how the laws differ from country to country. If you&#8217;re looking for laws regarding different countries, that&#8217;s something you&#8217;ll have to research locally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Countries Where Drones Are Banned (or Have Strict Drone Laws)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The use of drones is growing, and there are already over 7\nmillion registered drones operating worldwide. But there are still a few places\nthat are yet to catch up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drone laws in some countries ban the flying of drones\noutright, or make it so difficult to get permission to fly that drones could\nstill be considered banned anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may be wondering why anybody would clip their citizen\u2019s\nwings by banning drones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually, it is a case of national authorities not knowing\nwhat to do about drones and therefore banning their use until appropriate legislation\ncan be passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other times, the governments of these countries simply want\nto stifle the spread of information by limiting their citizen\u2019s access to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time of writing this article, there are 16 countries where laws prohibit you from flying drones. You need to be careful if you&#8217;re visiting to these countries and aim to take some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/review\/best-travel-drones\/\">drone travel<\/a> photos and videos:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Algeria <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You cannot fly a drone recreationally or commercially in Algeria without a special permit. And if you do manage to do the herculean task of surmounting the legal obstacles to get a permit, you can only fly your drone in the day time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Barbados<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The government of Barbados is working on a legislative\nframework to serve as drone regulations, and has been doing so since 2015.\nUntil that initiative is completed, the importation and licensing of remotely\npiloted aircrafts is effectively banned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, according to their Ministry of Tourism and\nInternational Transport, the government is willing to grant temporary exemptions\non a case-by-case basis for drones that are imported and exported immediately\nafter use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cote D\u2019Ivoire<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Drones were previously banned outright in Ivory Coast and were only permitted for military use. But now you can get your drone licensed and obtain a permit\u2014albeit the process is so complicated they may as well have maintained the ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you better have your drone registered before\nyou bring it into an Ivorian airport as a foreigner. It may be confiscated\notherwise. You can only get a permit as an Ivorian citizen, resident,\ncorporation, or institution. Foreigners need the back up of these in order to\nregister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you are able to fly, among myriad other requirements, you\nalso need the permission of the private land owner or the manager of the public\nspace you intend to take off from and land to (If they are different), and also\nthe permission of the nearest civil aviation authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cuba<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Presently, foreigners cannot import drones into Cuba. Anyone\nwho attempts to do so will have their drone confiscated. But you can recover\nyour drone and take back with you when you leave, if you pay a hefty fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, the use of drones is allowed in Cuba. While you\nare there you can rent one or buy one in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, before you can fly your drone, you need to take 5\nseparate authorizations from various bodies like Cuba\u2019s Civil Aviation\nAuthority, the armed forces, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Science,\nthe Historian\u2019s Office in the city you plan to fly in, and also the local government\nin every area you plan to fly in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Authorization could take as long as 30 days to come through\nfrom any of these departments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Egypt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2017, Egypt passed a law that prohibited the import, manufacture, collecting,\nsale, possession or use of drones unless a permit is obtained from the Ministry\nof Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This ban is\nbinding on all, from individuals all the way up to government ministries.\nHowever, you can obtain special permission from to use a drone locally. But\npermits are rarely given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being caught in\ncontravention of this ban could result in jail time of 1 to 7 years and a hefty\nfine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Kenya<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While the public awaits Kenyan parliament to approve a framework\nof drone laws, drones remain effectively banned in Kenya. Hundreds of drones have\nbeen seized at the Jomo Kenyatta airport because they were imported during this\nperiod of waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you happen to be represent a media organ or a film production company, you may be able to get permission to fly your drone. You would have to reach out to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Kenya Department of Defense, separately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Private individuals are not allowed to import or fly drones in Kenya for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Kuwait<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Drones laws in Kuwait do not differentiate between recreational\ndrones and commercial drones, and both are effectively banned for security\nreasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can fly drones in Kuwait if you can manage to get permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. And if you do get permission, you are prohibited from flying them over private properties. Offenders could face up to 3 years jail time or a $9,800 fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Importing a drone into Kuwait without permission is forbidden. Kuwait City Airport is notorious for their bag checks as they try to enforce injunctions like this. Authorities may confiscate your drone should they discover it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/drones-in-hand-luggage\/\">in your luggage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information on the nitty-gritties of Kuwait\u2019s drone laws, you can reach to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation through this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dgca.gov.kw\/en\/travellers\/contact-us\/sugg-comp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">online form<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Iran<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Officially, drones are allowed in Iran. But, because of the many unpleasant stories reported by drone pilots in the country, one would not be advised to try flying in the country\u2014not without explicit permission, at least. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Flying privately owned drones is also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-middle-east-39025933\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">banned in Tehran for security reasons<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There have been cases where people have been arrested by Iranian\nauthorities on suspicion of being spies because they use GPS-enabled devices\nlike drones. Whether or not you have a permit, inform yourself of the security\nsituation before taking to the skies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Iraq<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Drone laws in Iran do not differentiate between recreational and commercial drone use. Drone use is supervised by the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.iraqcaa.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Iraq Civil Aviation Authority<\/a>, and laws are strict enough to be considered veiled bans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not travel to Iraq with your drone except you have\nobtained permission to do so. Should you happen to have a drone when you\narrive, do well to declare it. Airports like Baghdad International Airport are\nnotorious for their bag checks and two things are likely to happen if you do\nnot declare your drone while there:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>It will be confiscated and, in the best\nscenario, will be stored at the airport where you may you be able to retrieve\nit should you depart from the same airport.<\/li><li>You succeed in sneaking your drone in, but you\nget discovered upon departure (from Baghdad Airport) and not only will your\ndrone confiscated, you will also face heavier sanctions for smuggling a drone\ninto the country.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Madagascar<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The use of drones outdoors is strictly forbidden in Madagascar, except if you have obtained a permit from the Civilian Aviation Directorate of Madagascar\u2014and that is only for commercial use. You cannot get a permit for flying your drone recreationally outdoors, but you can get a permit to fly it indoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Permits issued will tell you when and where you can fly your\ndrone. The authorities at the Civilian Aviation Directorate decide these\ndetails on a case by case basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Importing a drone into Madagascar is prohibited unless you have\na permit for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Morocco<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The import of drones is completely forbidden in Morocco. You can expect your drone to be confiscated if you are found with one while in the country.&nbsp;Companies may use drones with a permit, but getting one is extremely rare. Individuals do not get issued permits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to having your drone confiscated, if you are\nseen with a drone in Morocco you risk paying a fine of about 110 Euros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you do have a drone with you when you are entering the\ncountry, you can declare it and have it taken from you upon entry so that you\ncan leave with it when you exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Permits are tendered by the Moroccan Directorate Of Civil Aeronautics (DCA) and you contact for more information through their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.onda.ma\/en\/I-discover-ONDA\/Newsroom\/Press-contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact form<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Nicaragua<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Nicaragua has zero tolerance for drones. Both recreational drones and commercial drones are strictly forbidden under <a href=\"http:\/\/www.inac.gob.ni\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/RESOLUCION_34-2014.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">RESOLUCION No. 34-2014<\/a>. Any drone you try to bring in will be confiscated at the point of entry if found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Saudi Arabia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has one of the most stringent drone regulations in the Arab world. Up until very recently, privately-owned drones were banned outright in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, in January 2019, the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) began receiving applications for permits from commercial drone operators and recreational pilots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Applications can be gotten submitted through the website: <a href=\"https:\/\/eaviation.gaca.gov.sa\/uas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">https:\/\/eaviation.gaca.gov.sa\/uas\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drones remain heavily regulated and you need a permit from\nGACA before you can import one into the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sri Lanka<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to terrorist attacks that occurred in April\n2019, the government of Sri Lanka has banned all drones until further notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All previously granted permits are no longer valid and will remain\nso until the ban is lifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Previously, the rules were rather stringent, but you could\napply for a permit to fly your drone after registering it with the Civil\nAviation Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Syria<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Drones are currently banned in Syria, according to the Syrian\nCivil Aviation Authority (SCAA). With a full scale war involving the active use\nof weaponized drones, it is not hard to imagine why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Uzbekistan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2015, the import, sale, and flying of drones has been banned outright. Going against this ban could result in jail time spanning up to 3 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Are Drone Laws\nBecoming Stricter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Are regulations lagging behind the pace at which drones are evolving, thus resulting in overly strict laws? <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/federal-aviation-administration-drone-rules-overly-strict-report\/story?id=55818226\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Some reports believe so<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this is the natural consequence of the rapid way in\nwhich drone technology and innovation is evolving. Regulators are choosing to\ntake a conservative approach to make sure no lives are endangered by these\nflying devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But hopefully, lawmakers will catch up in time to avoid\nbecoming stumbling blocks to the wonderful new world which drones are opening\nup for hobbyists and commercial operators in different industries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Drones have evolved from a niche hobby for geeks to become mainstream, all in the &#8230; <a title=\"Where Can I Fly My Drone? Are Drones Illegal?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/are-drones-illegal\/\" aria-label=\"More on Where Can I Fly My Drone? Are Drones Illegal?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1.jpg",825,457,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1-300x166.jpg",300,166,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1-768x425.jpg",768,425,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1.jpg",825,457,false],"img_rate_products_categories":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1-552x306.jpg",552,306,true],"img_rate_products_slideshow":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1.jpg",825,457,false],"img_rate_products_preview":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1-168x93.jpg",168,93,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1.jpg",825,457,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/are-drones-illegal-1.jpg",825,457,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Sam","author_link":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/author\/sam\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Drones have evolved from a niche hobby for geeks to become mainstream, all in the ... Read more","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=501"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3012,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501\/revisions\/3012"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}