Georgia GE
Georgia is one of the more open countries in the region for drone tourists: the Civil Aviation Agency (GCAA) runs a free online registration portal (uas.gov.ge) open to both individuals and companies, no pilot licence is needed for ordinary recreational (Open-category) flying, and there is no dedicated foreigner-only barrier like a national ID requirement. A visitor can realistically register online, label the drone with the issued operator number, and fly within standard limits — the main friction is that Georgia has adopted an EASA-style Open/Specific/Certified category system with online theory exams for closer-range (A2) flying.
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 Georgia.
- Remote ID may apply
Georgia's UAS class system (C0-C6) factors in remote ID and geo-awareness capability similarly to the EASA framework, implying Remote ID applies to higher drone classes, but no standalone broadcast Remote ID mandate distinct from the class system was confirmed on an official page.
- Bringing your drone in
Tourists may bring a personal consumer drone into Georgia; no drone-specific import ban or special customs declaration process was found for personal-use quantities. Batteries: Standard international air-travel lithium-battery rules are expected to apply (carry-on only); no Georgia-specific restriction was found.
- Before each flight
Georgia uses an EASA-style Open/Specific/Certified category system with A1 (over/near people), A2 (30 m from people, or 5 m in low-speed mode) and A3 (150 m from populated areas) subcategories under Open · Register on the GCAA's uas.gov.ge portal to get a user registration number, and label the drone exterior with it before flying · Maximum altitude 120 m (400 ft) above the nearest surface point, except when overflying an obstacle
Open official page
Flying
- Georgia uses an EASA-style Open/Specific/Certified category system with A1 (over/near people), A2 (30 m from people, or 5 m in low-speed mode) and A3 (150 m from populated areas) subcategories under Open
- Register on the GCAA's uas.gov.ge portal to get a user registration number, and label the drone exterior with it before flying
- Maximum altitude 120 m (400 ft) above the nearest surface point, except when overflying an obstacle
- Keep at least 6 km from any aerodrome
- Keep within visual line of sight at all times
- No flying over crowds, busy intersections, high-tension power lines, or (without consent) private property — aerial photography over property without consent can violate Georgian privacy law
- Check current airspace restrictions on airspace.gov.ge before flying, since specific zones (e.g. near the administrative boundary lines with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, or other security-sensitive areas) can be closed
Commercial use: Commercial or higher-risk (Specific-category) operations need either a standard-scenario declaration to GCAA or full GCAA authorisation depending on the operation, plus the same A1-A3 remote-pilot competency requirements as recreational flying where applicable.
Official airspace mapRegistration & classes
| Registration | Yes (from 250 g) Both individuals and legal entities (including presumably foreign visitors) can register online at uas.gov.ge for drones with MTOW of 250 g or more. A conflicting secondary source instead states a 5 kg registration threshold with drones under 250 g 'exempt from most regulations' — this reads like a mixed-up citation and is not consistent with the official-platform description; treat 250 g as the more reliable threshold. No registration fee amount was confirmed, though one source references a 'registration fee payment' step. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Sometimes (online, from 250 g) GCAA remote pilot theory exam / A2 competency certificate. A1 (over/near people, C0 class) and A3 (far from people) operations require an online theoretical knowledge exam. A2 (closer to people) operations additionally require a GCAA-issued certificate of remote pilot competency after theory plus practical training. Hobbyist/tourist flying that stays within A1/A3 limits needs no separate standalone pilot licence beyond the relevant online exam. |
| Remote ID | Some classes Georgia's UAS class system (C0-C6) factors in remote ID and geo-awareness capability similarly to the EASA framework, implying Remote ID applies to higher drone classes, but no standalone broadcast Remote ID mandate distinct from the class system was confirmed on an official page. |
| Insurance | Depends Sources conflict: one describes liability insurance as required for all drone operators, another as 'recommended' for hobbyists/tourists specifically. Not resolved from official GCAA material found; treat as advisable but not clearly enforced for casual recreational flying. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No The GCAA's uas.gov.ge online registration platform is open to individuals (physical persons) generally, without an official statement restricting it to Georgian citizens/residents, which makes registration realistically achievable for a visitor before or shortly after arrival. No reported requirement for a local ID number or in-country digital signature (unlike some neighbouring countries), though this was not explicitly confirmed as open to foreigners on the official portal text retrieved. Always check current airspace restrictions on airspace.gov.ge, since areas near the administrative boundary lines and other sensitive zones can be closed even though general drone use is otherwise permissive. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Under 250 g | < 250 g | Exempt from GCAA registration; general flight rules (VLOS, 120 m ceiling, no-fly zones) still apply. |
| Open category (A1/A2/A3) | 250 g – 25 kg | GCAA registration required; A1/A3 need an online theory exam, A2 needs a competency certificate; no standalone commercial-style licence needed for compliant recreational flying. |
| Specific category | higher-risk operations, any weight | Requires either a standard-scenario declaration to GCAA or full GCAA authorisation, depending on the operation. |
| Certified category | high-risk: over assemblies, carrying people/dangerous goods | Requires full certification; not relevant to ordinary tourist use. |
Import & export
- Tourists may bring a personal consumer drone into Georgia; no drone-specific import ban or special customs declaration process was found for personal-use quantities.
- No drone-specific radio/telecom type-approval requirement was confirmed for import; general Georgian customs and telecom-equipment rules may apply to the drone's transmitter.
- Batteries: Standard international air-travel lithium-battery rules are expected to apply (carry-on only); no Georgia-specific restriction was found.
- No official page describing drone-specific customs duty or VAT treatment was found; import of a personal drone as ordinary luggage is not reported as a problem for tourists.
Export
- No drone-specific export control information was found; general Georgian customs rules would apply.
Costs
| Operator registration | Unknown Validity: One secondary source describes the registration certificate as valid for the aircraft's lifetime with a biennial confirmation step; this was not independently confirmed on the official GCAA portal. |
|---|---|
| GCAA remote pilot theory exam / A2 competency certificate | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in Georgia as a tourist Visitors
- Register on the GCAA UAS portal
Create an account at uas.gov.ge for any drone 250 g or heavier and obtain your user registration number before your trip if possible. Open
- Label your drone
Mark the drone's exterior with your registration number in a way that cannot easily be removed or damaged.
- Check airspace restrictions
Review current no-fly zones and restricted areas at airspace.gov.ge before each flight, especially near borders and administrative boundary lines. Open
- Fly within Open-category limits
Stay under 120 m altitude, within visual line of sight, at least 6 km from aerodromes, and away from crowds and private property without consent.
- Complete the online exam if flying closer to people
A1/A3 flying needs an online theory exam; A2 (closer-range) flying needs a GCAA competency certificate after theory and practical training. Open
Sources
- GCAA — Unmanned Aircraft Systems and General Aviation Department · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- GCAA — UAS operator/drone registration portal (uas.gov.ge) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- GCAA — Agency launches online platform for registration of unmanned aircraft and drone operators · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- drone-laws.com — Drone Laws in Georgia (the country) 2026 · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−10
- Pilot test (online)−5
- Remote ID−4
- Mandatory insurance−3
- Night flight unknown−3
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works