Can you fly your drone in Panama?
Whether you can fly depends on your drone, your registration and exactly where you fly. Here is what applies: key rules, no-fly zones and the official sources, in one place.
Regulator
Autoridad Aeronáutica Civil (AAC)
Framework
Reglamento de Aeronáutica Civil de Panamá (RACP) — RPA section
Pilot credential
RPA Pilot License
KEY RULES
- Maximum height depends on weight: ≤250 g → 30 m; 250 g–25 kg → 60 m; 25–150 kg → 120 m
- Drones weighing more than 250 g (all uses) require AAC registration — cost: US$5; in-person registration at Albrook
- Recreational drones weighing ≤250 g: Registration is NOT required, but all other rules apply
- Minimum distance of 8 km from airports and airfields
- A minimum distance of 30 m horizontally and 10 m vertically from people
- Always keep the drone within direct line of sight (VLOS)
- Night flights are PROHIBITED without a specific AAC exemption
- Civil Liability Insurance is MANDATORY for all transactions
- Mandatory Informed Consent Form regarding: private property, indigenous reserves, protected areas, and the Panama Canal watershed
- Commercial use requires an RPA pilot license in addition to drone registration
No-fly zones and restrictions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence or certificate to fly a drone in Panama?
In Panama, the credential to know about is RPA Pilot License. Whether you need it depends on your drone's weight and how you fly — Autoridad Aeronáutica Civil (AAC) runs the scheme, and the official sources below spell out exactly when it applies.
Can I fly a drone as a tourist or foreign visitor in Panama?
Yes with paperwork: drones over 250 g must be registered in person at the AAC office in Albrook, Panama City (about 5 US dollars, bring the drone) — visitors staying 14 days or less can instead request a special short-stay authorization; allow a few working days. Liability insurance is required, and altitude caps depend on weight: only 30 m for sub-250 g drones. The Canal, parks and comarcas need extra consent. Rules for foreign pilots can change, so always double-check with Autoridad Aeronáutica Civil (AAC) before you travel, and see the official sources below.
What are the most important drone rules in Panama?
The short version: Maximum height depends on weight: ≤250 g → 30 m; 250 g–25 kg → 60 m; 25–150 kg → 120 m. On top of that: Drones weighing more than 250 g (all uses) require AAC registration — cost: US$5; in-person registration at Albrook. Also: Recreational drones weighing ≤250 g: Registration is NOT required, but all other rules apply. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Panama, so always check the official sources.
Where am I not allowed to fly a drone in Panama?
What you need to avoid are the restricted zones — typically around airports, prisons, military areas and protected nature. You'll find the official map for Panama under Sources below, and the DroneKoll app keeps the country's rules, weather and checklists in one place before you fly.
Who regulates drone flying in Panama?
Drone flying in Panama is regulated by Autoridad Aeronáutica Civil (AAC), which handles both the rules and the airspace. Their official pages are linked under Sources below — that is where changes appear first.
Good to know
OFFICIAL SOURCES
- AAC — Civil Aviation Authority of Panama Official website of the Civil Aviation Authority of Panama. Information on drone registration, RACP regulations, and procedures for domestic and foreign operators aeronautica.gob.pa
- RACP — Civil Aviation Regulations of Panama Access to the complete Panama Civil Aviation Regulations. Section on regulations applicable to unmanned aircraft (RPA) sigob.aeronautica.gob.pa
- AAC Albrook Office (in-person registration required) Building 805, Albrook, first floor — Aviation Safety Directorate. Drone registration MUST be done in person: bring identification, the drone itself, and the completed form. Cost: US$5 aeronautica.gob.pa
- AAC — Press Releases and Current Regulations Official AAC announcements regarding regulatory updates, temporary restrictions, and changes to drone procedures aeronautica.gob.pa
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- STRI/Smithsonian — AAC Research Guide Detailed guide from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on the AAC authorization process, including the Informed Consent Form for restricted areas stri.si.edu
- MiAmbiente — Protected Areas (National Parks) Panama's Ministry of the Environment. Special permits for drones in protected areas: Soberanía National Park, Barú Volcano, Coiba, Darién, etc. miambiente.gob.pa
- Panama Canal — Official Information Panama Canal Authority. The Canal basin requires a mandatory Letter of Informed Consent—without it, the AAC will not grant authorization pancanal.com
Always check the AAC's official sources before flying. This app is a tool, not a legal authority. Panama enforces the Civil Aviation Regulations (RACP), which include weight-dependent maximum altitudes and special restrictions over the Panama Canal basin.
The app
The whole picture, up to date — in your pocket
DroneKoll brings together the country's rules, weather, flight log and checklists — everything you need before you fly.
More in the app: Interactive zone map · Flight log · Planning & measuring · Pre-flight checklists
