Dominican Republic DO
The Dominican Republic regulates small RPAS (0.25-25 kg) through the Instituto Dominicano de Aviación Civil (IDAC) under RAD-107 and RAD-48. Tourists are strongly advised to email IDAC and obtain a written authorisation letter before arriving, since airport customs frequently holds undocumented drones pending duty/permit checks. Registration itself is free, but processing an application (form IDAC-1500-9 plus supporting documents and flight-location coordinates) takes up to two weeks, and some sources cite up to 25 business days — apply well ahead of travel.
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 Dominican Republic.
- Bringing your drone in
No confirmed blanket personal-use exemption: airport customs (DGA) frequently holds drones without an IDAC authorisation letter pending duty assessment or permit checks. Obtaining an IDAC letter of permission before arrival is the recommended way to avoid this. The Dominican Republic's general ITBIS (VAT) is 18%; no drone-specific duty percentage was confirmed. Batteries: Carry-on only for spare lithium batteries. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100-160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares); over 160 Wh not permitted on passenger aircraft.
- Before each flight
Fly at or below 120 m (400 ft) AGL, in visual line of sight, in daylight and good visibility only · Stay at least 5 nautical miles (about 9 km) from airports unless separately authorised · Do not fly over people, crowds or private property without specific permission; below 50 m over people/property needs a permit
Flying
- Fly at or below 120 m (400 ft) AGL, in visual line of sight, in daylight and good visibility only
- Stay at least 5 nautical miles (about 9 km) from airports unless separately authorised
- Do not fly over people, crowds or private property without specific permission; below 50 m over people/property needs a permit
- Foreign visitors should obtain an IDAC authorisation letter before arrival — describing planned flight locations with satellite map coordinates — since airport customs frequently holds undocumented drones pending duty/permit checks
- Drones under 0.25 kg (250 g) fall outside RAD-107's small-RPAS scope; drones from 250 g up to 25 kg are covered by the full framework
Commercial use: Commercial operation requires IDAC pilot certification: minimum age 18, IDAC-approved initial training, Spanish-language proficiency, an aeronautical knowledge exam, and a medical fitness assessment, in addition to drone registration.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Depends on use RAD-107 covers small RPAS between 0.25 kg (250 g) and 25 kg; several sources describe drones under about 2 kg as generally not needing registration, which is somewhat inconsistent with the 250 g regulatory scope — treat 250 g as the safer threshold to plan around. Registration itself is free. Apply via email (siaga@idac.gov.do or dtac@idac.gov.do) using form IDAC-1500-9, submitting at least 5 days ahead; sources vary on processing time, citing anywhere from about 2 weeks to 25 business days, so apply well in advance of travel. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Sometimes (in person, from 250 g) IDAC RPAS operator/pilot certification. Required for operators of RPAS within RAD-107's scope: minimum age 18, IDAC-approved initial training, demonstrated Spanish-language proficiency, an aeronautical knowledge examination, and a medical fitness assessment. No public fee schedule was found. Foreign visitors should hold or obtain equivalent credentials and submit them (a color scan of their drone operator licence) as part of the IDAC authorisation application. |
| Remote ID | Unknown No broadcast Remote ID requirement was found. Traceability relies on IDAC's registration/authorisation paperwork rather than an electronic broadcast system. |
| Insurance | Depends The IDAC application process asks for insurance documentation 'if required in your country', suggesting the requirement may depend on the applicant's home jurisdiction rather than a flat Dominican mandate. No confirmed minimum cover amount was found; RAD-48 covers registration/labelling requirements separately. |
| Foreign registration accepted | Depends Email IDAC (siaga@idac.gov.do or dtac@idac.gov.do) to get the registration form (IDAC-1500-9) and instructions before travelling. Submit the completed form with a scan of your drone operator licence, drone registration proof, insurance documentation (if required in your home country), satellite map photos with coordinates of your planned flight locations, and ID scans; submit at least 5 days ahead, though real processing time can run up to about two weeks or, per some sources, up to 25 business days. Carry the resulting IDAC authorisation letter through customs and while flying — it is the main thing separating a smooth trip from a held drone. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Under 250 g | < 250 g | Outside RAD-107's small-RPAS scope; general safety rules likely still expected to apply, though not explicitly detailed in sources reviewed. |
| 250 g – 25 kg (small RPAS) | 250 g – 25 kg | Covered by RAD-107: registration (free), pilot certification for operation, and the standard altitude/VLOS/daylight/no-fly-zone rules. RAD-48 covers registration and labelling requirements. |
| Over 25 kg | > 25 kg | Falls outside RAD-107's defined small-RPAS category; expected to require full aviation-style certification, though not detailed in sources reviewed. |
Import & export
- No confirmed blanket personal-use exemption: airport customs (DGA) frequently holds drones without an IDAC authorisation letter pending duty assessment or permit checks. Obtaining an IDAC letter of permission before arrival is the recommended way to avoid this. The Dominican Republic's general ITBIS (VAT) is 18%; no drone-specific duty percentage was confirmed.
- No confirmed source on whether the Dominican telecom regulator (INDOTEL) requires separate radio/type-approval homologation for personal drones.
- Batteries: Carry-on only for spare lithium batteries. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100-160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares); over 160 Wh not permitted on passenger aircraft.
- Apply for the IDAC authorisation letter well before travel (processing estimates range from about 2 weeks to 25 business days across sources) and carry a printed/digital copy to present at customs on arrival.
- Without this letter, customs may hold the drone pending duty payment or a permit check, which can disrupt short trips.
Export
- No drone-specific export controls were found; general Dominican foreign-trade and any applicable dual-use/strategic-goods rules would apply to specialised or military-grade UAV technology, not ordinary consumer drones.
Costs
| Operator registration | Free Validity: Not specified as time-limited in available sources |
|---|---|
| IDAC RPAS operator/pilot certification | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + 18 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying in the Dominican Republic as a tourist Visitors
- Email IDAC well before your trip
Contact siaga@idac.gov.do or dtac@idac.gov.do for the registration form and current instructions; allow up to 2-4 weeks for processing. Open
- Submit form IDAC-1500-9 with full documentation
Include your drone operator licence, drone registration, insurance proof (if applicable), ID scans, and satellite map coordinates of your planned flight locations.
- Carry the authorisation letter through customs
Present it on arrival to avoid your drone being held pending duty assessment or a permit check.
- Keep to the basic flight rules
Stay at or below 120 m AGL, in sight, in daylight, at least 5 nautical miles (~9 km) from airports, and get specific permission before flying under 50 m over people or property.
- Confirm site-specific rules for popular spots
Some tourist areas and islands (e.g. Saona Island) have their own local drone restrictions — check before you fly there specifically.
Sources
- Mesa Abogados — Executive Summary of the Regulation for Operating Drones in the Dominican Republic (RAD-107) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Casa Dominicana — How to Legally Fly a Drone in the Dominican Republic? · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Instituto Dominicano de Aviación Civil (IDAC) — official site · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−5
- Pilot test (in-person)−10
- Remote ID−3
- Mandatory insurance−3
- Night flight banned−8
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Long lead time (14 days)−8
- Import permit−40
- Duty + VAT ≈ 23 %−14
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works