🖐 In this blog post we’ll share all drone laws links & known rules around recreational & commercial drone use in Kiribati (Tarawa). Give a 👍 at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in The Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our knowledge & does not replace official sources & your research.
Recreational vs Commercial drone use in Kiribati
✅ Kiribati follows the same drone's regulation as New-Zealand, therefore to avoid miss-updated context, please refer to the Ultimate Guide to New Zealand Drone Laws and Rules for up to date information. When it comes to the onsite contacts, drone regulation in Kiribati falls under the Ministry of Information, Transport & Tourism Development which can be contacted anytime via:
Email: ans.ai@mcttd.gov.ki
Phone: (+686) 7402 6003 (🕔 Mon-Fri: 8 am - 4.15 pm)
Response sent to us by the Minister of Kiribati (19.07.19).
Can I travel to Kiribati with my drone?
✅ Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within Kiribati as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
🚨 Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
Where can I fly my drone in Kiribati?
✅ We did not find an official fly zone map for drones in Kiribati "If you have more information about this, please let us know in the Forum". Thankfully, app.airmap.io has listed all flight zones in a convenient way based on your flight intentions organised in a 3 colours.
Kiribati drone fly map
🦅 National parks & reserves might be on a case by case permission & you might need to check directly with the local park or reserve authorities.
🛬 Fly at least 4 km away from Bonriki Airport which is represented in yellow by the map above. The small archipelago country counts no less than 12 airports, most used only once or twice a day to connect the islands between them. Please take extra care on smaller islands and study the arrivals and departure times. Only Bonriki Airport operated international flights, thus bigger planes.
Do I need to register my drone before flying over Kiribati?
🚨 Yes, an official from the Kiribati government confirmed us such but without mentioning how to proceed despite our enquiries as you will find below. If you have more information about the process, please let the community know in the Forum so we can update this post in turn.
Response sent to us by the Minister of Kiribati (19.07.19).
Once you got everything in order, you can start flying above Kiribati's awesome landscapes & create videos like this one:
If you are considering getting your first drone or upgrade, feel free to check our recommendations in the travel page or click on the model you like below to get its full specs. Any purchase done from one of our affiliate links helps Dronemade stay free and available to all. Thanks for your support and safe flights ahead!
✅ Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Kiribati! Have fun & safe flight!
Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about local drone regulations.
Other resources
Kiribati drone fly map (Airmap)