Ecuador EC
Ecuador's DGAC introduced RDAC 101, in force since 5 May 2025, with an Open category for recreational drones up to 4 kg (no pilot license, minimum age 14) and a Specific category for commercial/heavier operations. Drones over 250 g must be registered free online with DGAC, a process that asks for an Ecuadorian cédula and is reported to take about 2-3 weeks. The mainland's national parks (e.g. Cotopaxi) restrict drones, and the Galápagos Islands ban drones outright except under a narrow, hard-to-obtain National Park authorization.
Your plan
Choose your home country (top right) to see steps tailored to you.
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 Ecuador.
- Bringing your drone in
A drone carried as personal luggage should be declared on arrival under Ecuador's general traveler customs rules; reviewed sources did not identify drone-specific import bans or a special tourist exemption beyond the standard personal-effects allowance. Ecuador's general IVA (VAT) rate is 15% (in effect since April 2024 and confirmed unchanged for 2026); goods above the personal allowance or shipped separately follow the general import/customs regime. Radio-transmitting drones fall under ARCOTEL's telecommunications equipment homologation regime; the process is free and done online per brand/model, typically handled once by the importer/distributor rather than by each end user. Mainstream consumer drones sold through official channels are generally already homologated. 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
Register any drone over 250 g with DGAC before flying; registration is free and done online, but the form is built around an Ecuadorian cédula and reviewed sources do not confirm a passport-only path for visitors — third-party guides estimate about 2-3 weeks processing · Open category (recreational, up to 4 kg, minimum age 14) needs no pilot license; Specific category (commercial, or any operation beyond Open-category limits) requires a completed UAS course, DGAC pilot authorization and an Unmanned Operator Certificate (UOC) · Fly within visual line of sight (VLOS), at or below 122 m (400 ft) AGL, in daylight and good weather; no autonomous flight, swarming, or carrying objects to drop
Flying
- Register any drone over 250 g with DGAC before flying; registration is free and done online, but the form is built around an Ecuadorian cédula and reviewed sources do not confirm a passport-only path for visitors — third-party guides estimate about 2-3 weeks processing
- Open category (recreational, up to 4 kg, minimum age 14) needs no pilot license; Specific category (commercial, or any operation beyond Open-category limits) requires a completed UAS course, DGAC pilot authorization and an Unmanned Operator Certificate (UOC)
- Fly within visual line of sight (VLOS), at or below 122 m (400 ft) AGL, in daylight and good weather; no autonomous flight, swarming, or carrying objects to drop
- Night flying is only permitted with anti-collision lights fitted and a visual-support system in place — not a default option for casual tourist flying
- No flying over or near airports and aeronautical facilities, hospitals, prisons, or government installations
- National parks such as Cotopaxi restrict or ban drones; Quito's airspace is highly restrictive due to the airport, urban density and the historic center's UNESCO heritage status
- The Galápagos Islands ban drones outright as protected natural heritage; flights are authorized only in narrow cases (scientific research, search and rescue, environmental management, or approved commercial/educational filming with a park guide) under Galápagos National Park Directorate Resolution MAE-PNG/DIR-2026-0006-RM (March 2026) — not realistic for ordinary tourists
- European (EASA) drone registrations and operator numbers are not recognized in Ecuador
Commercial use: Specific-category (commercial/professional) operation requires the UAS course, DGAC pilot authorization, an Unmanned Operator Certificate (UOC), an approved operation permit, and mandatory civil liability insurance.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (from 250 g) Free online registration through the DGAC website: create a system user, submit owner and aircraft details (manufacturer, serial number, intended use, photos), and receive a certificate with a unique ID number and QR code to mark on the drone. The published process asks for a cédula (national ID); reviewed sources do not confirm whether a foreign passport is accepted instead. Third-party estimates put processing at around 2-3 weeks, longer than DGAC's own description of a straightforward online form — plan well ahead of travel. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Sometimes (mixed, from 4 kg) UAS course + DGAC Specific-category pilot authorization (UOC). Not required for Open-category recreational flying (drones up to 4 kg, minimum age 14). Required for the Specific category — drones over 4 kg or any commercial/professional operation — via a UAS course, DGAC pilot authorization, and an Unmanned Operator Certificate (UOC). No official fee figure was found. |
| Remote ID | Unknown No broadcast Remote ID mandate was found in reviewed sources. Traceability relies on the physical registration number/QR code issued at DGAC registration. |
| Insurance | Depends Mandatory for Specific-category (commercial/professional or over-4kg) operations. Recommended but not legally required for Open-category recreational flying. |
| Foreign registration accepted | Unknown DGAC's online registration form is built around an Ecuadorian cédula; reviewed sources do not confirm a passport-only registration path for short-term visitors, and third-party estimates suggest allowing about 2-3 weeks for the process. European (EASA) registrations, including those from EASA-extension countries, are not recognized in Ecuador — register locally regardless of any existing foreign registration. If travelling to the Galápagos Islands, assume drones cannot be flown at all: the National Park bans them outright except for narrow, pre-arranged scientific, rescue or authorized commercial/educational purposes. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Under 250 g | < 250 g | No DGAC registration required; general safety rules and no-fly zones still apply. |
| Open category | 250 g – 4 kg | Free DGAC registration required. No pilot license needed, minimum operator age 14. VLOS, ≤122 m AGL, daylight, no autonomous flight or object dropping. |
| Specific category | > 4 kg, or any commercial/professional use | UAS course, DGAC pilot authorization, Unmanned Operator Certificate (UOC), operation permit and mandatory liability insurance. |
Import & export
- A drone carried as personal luggage should be declared on arrival under Ecuador's general traveler customs rules; reviewed sources did not identify drone-specific import bans or a special tourist exemption beyond the standard personal-effects allowance. Ecuador's general IVA (VAT) rate is 15% (in effect since April 2024 and confirmed unchanged for 2026); goods above the personal allowance or shipped separately follow the general import/customs regime.
- Radio-transmitting drones fall under ARCOTEL's telecommunications equipment homologation regime; the process is free and done online per brand/model, typically handled once by the importer/distributor rather than by each end user. Mainstream consumer drones sold through official channels are generally already homologated.
- 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.
- Exact customs duty percentage for a separately imported/shipped drone was not confirmed against Ecuador's current tariff schedule; IVA (VAT) is 15%.
- No drone-specific import ban or brand restriction was found for Ecuador generally — the practical barriers for visitors are DGAC registration/cédula requirements and the Galápagos-specific drone ban, not customs.
Export
- No drone-specific export controls beyond Ecuador's general dual-use/strategic goods rules were found; not expected to affect ordinary consumer/prosumer camera drones.
Costs
| Operator registration | Free Validity: Not stated as time-limited in reviewed sources |
|---|---|
| UAS course + DGAC Specific-category pilot authorization (UOC) | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + 15 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying in Ecuador as a tourist Visitors
- Register the drone well before travelling
Any drone over 250 g needs free DGAC online registration; the process references a cédula and can reportedly take 2-3 weeks, so start early. Open
- Stay in the Open category
Keep the drone at or under 4 kg to avoid needing a UAS course, pilot authorization and operator certificate.
- Follow the core flight rules
VLOS, ≤122 m AGL, daylight only, and stay clear of airports, hospitals, prisons and government sites.
- Check local restrictions before flying near Quito or national parks
Quito's airspace is tightly restricted, and parks like Cotopaxi limit or ban drone use.
- Leave the drone behind for the Galápagos, or plan months ahead
Drones are banned in the Galápagos Islands except for narrow authorized purposes arranged in advance with the National Park Directorate — not a realistic option for casual tourism.
Sources
- DGAC Ecuador — Normativa UAS / Drones · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- DGAC Ecuador — Registro de Drones · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Primicias — Conozca cómo registrar un dron en Ecuador · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- NMS Law — El Parque Nacional Galápagos expide la normativa para el uso y manejo de drones · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- FreeDrone — Normativa de Drones en Ecuador 2026 · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- ARCOTEL — Homologación de Equipos Terminales de Telecomunicaciones · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−10
- Pilot test (mixed)−8
- Remote ID−3
- Mandatory insurance−3
- Night flight permit−6
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Long lead time (21 days)−8
- Duty + VAT ≈ 20 %−12
- Radio / type certification−12
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works