🖐 In this research we are going to overview South American countries' drone rules and policies. Turns out drone rules will vary a lot and sometimes in neighbouring countries thus it is important to know while preparing your trip. A number of reasons can trigger institutions and governments to welcome or restrict drones and we will try to give some context for those countries not welcoming your drone.
Give a 👍 at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to comment your experience or any updates in The Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
South America is an exceptional place to fly your drone with a large variety of landscapes to see. From crystal clear waters in the North seas to cold mountains in the South of Chile and Argentina, there is something for everyone. After several trips to this beautiful continent we thought good to share our experiences and travels with a drone and what's to consider.
As you will see from the map, each country has been given a colour code:
Green = you should be sweet to fly your drone.
Yellow = you will need some kind of paperwork or registration/permission to take off.
Red = drone flying is forbidden or made so hard that it will be hard to take off legally here.
*Note that if you're after using a drone for commercial use in South America, then you should check our Commercial Drone Laws World Map. Making money with a drone or even giving a service saving money to your entourage will often imply you to have a license, thus different requirements apply. In this blog post, we will only focus on the recreational use of drones.
💡 Smart! Get your drone batteries' firecase today and make sure you're complying with South America's aviation safety rules.
In which South American countries can I fly a drone?
✅ The first excellent news is that South America is the only continent where your drone will be welcomed in every country (with more or less difficulty). The following South American countries will welcome your drone should you follow the rules. Note that the max weight or altitude mentioned below is before any registration or declaration of your drone. You may fly higher or fly a heavier drone after complying to one or several registration/licencing step(s) required by the country's aviation authority. To find out what they are, simply click on the country's name.
Argentina (max altitude: 122m | max drone weight: 10kg)
Bolivia (max altitude: N/A | max drone weight: N/A)
Chile (max altitude: 130m | max drone weight: 750g)
Ecuador (max altitude: 122m | max drone weight: 2kg)
Guyana (max altitude: 150m | max drone weight: 7kg)
Paraguay (max altitude: N/A | max drone weight: N/A)
Uruguay (max altitude: 120m | max drone weight: 25kg)
Additionally, you will be able to fly a drone within the below countries providing that you register and/or apply for a permit (check on the country's post to find out what is needed).
💡 Smart! Pack some spare drone batteries, you never know how close is the next power plug overseas. Also make sure you have a travel adaptor to charge everywhere.
Which South American countries have forbidden drones?
✅ None! South America is the only continent on Earth where drones are welcome in every single country making it the ultimate drone paradise!
We hope you found this information useful and that it will allow you to prepare your trip more safely. Note that this post only refers countries where we found official drone rule references. If you're travelling to another destination, always check our 170 drone laws world map before heading overseas!
✅ Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in a country so we can update information for others in turn.
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.
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