Cape Verde CV
Cape Verde has one of the more permissive drone regimes in the region: the civil aviation agency (AAC) allows drone flights below 120 m outside restricted areas without any prior authorisation, registration or pilot licence — this applies to tourists as much as residents. Flying above 120 m, within 2,000 m of an aerodrome, or in other restricted areas requires written AAC authorisation via a form submitted at least 10 working days ahead. No drone-specific import or customs rule was found; carry the drone as hand luggage and declare it if asked.
Your plan
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You're good to go, just follow the local rules
- No registration needed
A 249 g drone with camera doesn't need to be registered in Cape Verde.
- Bringing your drone in
No drone-specific import restriction or duty was found. General guidance for visitors is to carry the drone as carry-on luggage; no airline or customs source found a specific ban or special declaration requirement. Batteries: No Cape Verde-specific lithium-battery rule was found; carry the drone and spare batteries in cabin baggage per standard international air-travel limits.
- Before each flight
No AAC authorisation is needed if the flight is outside restricted areas, at or below 120 m (400 ft) above ground, the operator stays within about 100 m of the drone with direct control, and visibility is good · Flying above 120 m, or in a restricted area, requires prior written AAC authorisation · Drone operation is prohibited within 2,000 m of any aerodrome or landing site, and along manned-aircraft flight routes
Flying
- No AAC authorisation is needed if the flight is outside restricted areas, at or below 120 m (400 ft) above ground, the operator stays within about 100 m of the drone with direct control, and visibility is good
- Flying above 120 m, or in a restricted area, requires prior written AAC authorisation
- Drone operation is prohibited within 2,000 m of any aerodrome or landing site, and along manned-aircraft flight routes
- Manned aircraft always have right of way
- The operator must maintain visual line of sight and keep the drone's navigation lights on
- This applies equally to foreign visitors — no separate tourist restriction beyond the general rules was found
Commercial use: No separate commercial licensing regime was identified beyond the same altitude/area-based authorisation process; operations above 120 m or in restricted areas need the same AAC written authorisation (aeronautical easement form, 10 working days' notice) regardless of recreational or commercial purpose.
Registration & classes
| Registration | No Registration is described in secondary sources as mandatory only for government/state-owned drones, following a distinct government registration mandate; ordinary tourist and hobbyist drones are not required to be registered. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | No No pilot licence required for hobbyist, commercial or tourist flying. Secondary sources note a pilot licence requirement only for government drone operators; no recreational or commercial pilot test/licence scheme was found. |
| Remote ID | No No Remote ID broadcast requirement was found for any category. |
| Insurance | No Not required for hobbyist or tourist flying, though recommended. No insurance requirement was found for commercial operators either, based on available sources. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Tourists can fly under the same rules as residents: no permit needed below 120 m outside restricted areas. If you want to fly above 120 m or near an aerodrome/restricted area, submit the AAC aeronautical easement form at least 10 working days before your trip. AAC can be reached at +238 260 3430 for questions on restricted areas or authorisation. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| All drones (≤ 120 m, outside restricted areas) | any weight | No AAC authorisation, registration or pilot licence required, provided the operator keeps the drone within about 100 m, maintains VLOS, and stays outside restricted areas/2,000 m of an aerodrome. |
| Above 120 m or in a restricted area | any weight | Requires prior written AAC authorisation via the aeronautical easement/servitude form, submitted at least 10 working days before the operation. |
| Government/state-owned drones | any weight | Subject to a distinct mandatory registration and pilot-licence requirement not applicable to private tourists. |
Import & export
- No drone-specific import restriction or duty was found. General guidance for visitors is to carry the drone as carry-on luggage; no airline or customs source found a specific ban or special declaration requirement.
- No import certification or licence requirement was found for personal drones.
- Batteries: No Cape Verde-specific lithium-battery rule was found; carry the drone and spare batteries in cabin baggage per standard international air-travel limits.
- No official customs guidance specific to drones was found; treat it as ordinary personal electronics for customs purposes.
- Confirm with your airline on battery/carry-on rules before travelling, since this varies by carrier rather than by Cape Verdean law.
Export
- No drone-specific export rule was found.
Costs
| Operator registration | Not needed Validity: Not applicable — no registration scheme exists for hobbyist, commercial or tourist drones. |
|---|---|
| No pilot licence required for hobbyist, commercial or tourist flying | Not needed |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in Cape Verde as a visitor Visitors
- Check if you even need a permit
Below 120 m, outside restricted areas and away from aerodromes, no AAC authorisation, registration or licence is required — most tourist photography/video falls into this category. Open
- Stay clear of restricted zones and aerodromes
Do not fly within 2,000 m of any aerodrome or landing site, or in other posted restricted areas.
- Apply ahead if you need to exceed the limits
For flights above 120 m or within a restricted area, submit AAC's aeronautical easement form at least 10 working days before you plan to fly.
- Keep VLOS and yield to manned aircraft
Stay within about 100 m of your drone with direct control, keep it in sight, and give way to any manned aircraft.
- Pack it as carry-on
No Cape Verde-specific import rule was found; bring the drone and batteries in cabin baggage per your airline's standard lithium-battery policy.
Sources
- Agência de Aviação Civil (AAC) de Cabo Verde — Drones · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- drone-laws.com — Cape Verde Drone Laws 2026 · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Feel Cape Verde — Drones in Cape Verde (rules and regulations) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Night flight unknown−3
- Long lead time (10 days)−8
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works