DR Congo CD
DR Congo has a codified drone framework (RACD 06) requiring registration of every civilian RPAS with the Civil Aviation Authority (AAC/RDC), a Class 3 medical certificate for pilots, third-party liability insurance, and an operating permit (PER) for commercial use — but no simple tourist track was confirmed, so visitors should apply well ahead of travel. Independent of the national drone rules, North and South Kivu provinces in the east are under active armed conflict (M23), rated 'Do Not Travel' by Western governments, and effectively off-limits regardless of any national permit — this includes Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks, both in the conflict zone.
Your plan
Choose your home country (top right) to see steps tailored to you.
2 things to sort out before you fly
- Do not travel to eastern DR Congo — active M23 conflict in North/South Kivu
The US, Canada and Australia rate North and South Kivu provinces 'Do Not Travel' (Level 4), citing active fighting between the Congolese Army and the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, which occupies major cities including Goma and Bukavu. Violent crime (murder, rape, kidnapping, pillaging) is common throughout the Kivus, and a WHO-declared Ebola outbreak added a public-health emergency in the DRC in May 2026. This includes Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks, both located in the conflict zone. The rest of the country (including Kinshasa) sits at the lower Level 3 'Reconsider Travel.' Do not bring or fly a drone anywhere in North or South Kivu under current conditions.
- Register your drone in DR Congo
Applies to any operator or owner of civilian RPAS regardless of weight, per RACD 06. No public fee schedule was found.
- Carry liability insurance
Required. Check that your policy covers flights in DR Congo.
- Bringing your drone in
No specific personal-effects import allowance for drones was confirmed. Given the mandatory registration and insurance requirements, visitors should register with AAC/RDC and arrange insurance before travelling rather than assuming casual import as ordinary luggage. Batteries: Standard international lithium-battery air-travel rules are expected to apply; no DRC-specific drone battery rule was confirmed.
- Before each flight
Every civilian RPAS operator or owner must register with AAC/RDC under regulation RACD 06, regardless of weight · Recreational/sport category flights are capped at 300 ft (about 91 m) AGL; anything higher requires specific authorisation · Professional pilots operating RPAS of 25 kg or more must hold an RPAS pilot licence; all remote pilots need a valid Class 3 medical fitness certificate
Flying
- Every civilian RPAS operator or owner must register with AAC/RDC under regulation RACD 06, regardless of weight
- Recreational/sport category flights are capped at 300 ft (about 91 m) AGL; anything higher requires specific authorisation
- Professional pilots operating RPAS of 25 kg or more must hold an RPAS pilot licence; all remote pilots need a valid Class 3 medical fitness certificate
- All operations require valid third-party liability insurance, with an original certificate kept at the operator's base
- Commercial operation additionally requires a PER (operating permit) issued by AAC/RDC, with operating heights set by the Authority per the PER's conditions
- North and South Kivu provinces are under active armed conflict (M23) and rated 'Do Not Travel' — this includes Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks; do not plan to fly, or travel, there regardless of any national AAC/RDC registration or permit held
Commercial use: Commercial operators need a PER (operating permit) from AAC/RDC in addition to RPAS registration, an RPAS pilot licence (for RPAS of 25 kg+), a Class 3 medical certificate and third-party liability insurance. No public fee schedule or timeline was confirmed from an official source.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (all drones) Applies to any operator or owner of civilian RPAS regardless of weight, per RACD 06. No public fee schedule was found. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Sometimes (from 25 kg) RPAS pilot licence (Class 3, 25 kg+) plus Class 3 medical certificate for all remote pilots. An RPAS pilot licence is specifically required for professional pilots operating RPAS of 25 kg or more; a Class 3 medical fitness certificate is required of all remote pilots regardless of drone weight. It is not confirmed whether ordinary tourist/recreational flying with a small consumer drone requires the full licence. |
| Remote ID | Unknown No public Remote ID / broadcast identification requirement was found for DR Congo. |
| Insurance | Yes All drone operations require valid third-party liability insurance, with an original civil liability insurance certificate required to be kept at the operator's base. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Visitors must register the drone with AAC/RDC, arrange third-party liability insurance and, if flying beyond 300 ft or commercially, secure additional authorisation/a PER. North and South Kivu provinces, including Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks, are under active armed conflict and rated 'Do Not Travel' — avoid entirely regardless of any national drone permit. The rest of the country (including Kinshasa) sits at the lower 'Reconsider Travel' level, but should still be approached with the standard AAC/RDC registration and insurance in place. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 0-5 kg | Registration required; 300 ft (91 m) altitude cap for recreational/sport category; insurance required. |
| Class 2 | 5-25 kg | Registration required; same operational caps as Class 1 unless commercially authorised via a PER. |
| Class 3 | 25 kg and above | Requires an RPAS pilot licence for professional pilots, plus registration, PER (if commercial), Class 3 medical certificate and insurance. |
Import & export
- No specific personal-effects import allowance for drones was confirmed. Given the mandatory registration and insurance requirements, visitors should register with AAC/RDC and arrange insurance before travelling rather than assuming casual import as ordinary luggage.
- No separate consumer radio-equipment type-approval scheme specific to drones was confirmed from an official source.
- Batteries: Standard international lithium-battery air-travel rules are expected to apply; no DRC-specific drone battery rule was confirmed.
- Register the drone with AAC/RDC and arrange third-party liability insurance before travelling.
- Under no circumstances bring a drone into North or South Kivu given the active M23 conflict — this is a personal-safety issue separate from the aviation rules.
- No public information was found on customs-specific handling of drones on arrival; confirm directly with AAC/RDC ahead of travel.
Export
- No drone-specific export ban was found; general Congolese export-control rules would apply to any dual-use or restricted UAV technology, particularly relevant given the active conflict in the east.
Costs
| Operator registration | Unknown Validity: Not confirmed from an official source. |
|---|---|
| RPAS pilot licence (Class 3, 25 kg+) plus Class 3 medical certificate for all remote pilots | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in DR Congo as a visitor Visitors
- Register with AAC/RDC before travelling
Every civilian RPAS operator or owner must register under RACD 06, regardless of drone weight. Open
- Arrange third-party liability insurance
All operations require valid insurance; keep the original certificate with you at your operating base.
- Stay within the 300 ft recreational cap
Recreational/sport flights are capped at 300 ft (about 91 m) AGL; anything higher needs specific authorisation.
- Rule out North and South Kivu completely
Active M23 conflict makes this region 'Do Not Travel' — this includes Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks, so do not plan gorilla trekking with a drone there under current conditions.
- Check current conditions before any trip
Given the volatile security situation, confirm both the drone rules and the security situation directly before finalising any itinerary outside Kinshasa.
Sources
- drone-laws.com - DR Congo Drone Laws 2026 · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- US Department of State - Democratic Republic of the Congo Travel Advisory · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- OSAC - Travel Advisory: Democratic Republic of the Congo - Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Special situation: Do not travel to eastern DR Congo — active M23 conflict in North/South Kivu−30
- Operator registration−15
- Pilot test (unknown)−5
- Remote ID−3
- Mandatory insurance−6
- Night flight unknown−3
- Low ceiling (91 m)−5
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Import restricted−25
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works