Guyana GY
Guyana's Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) exempts only very limited drones (7 kg or less, non-commercial, with no ability to record or transmit data beyond basic flight control) from needing written permission. Since almost every tourist camera drone records and transmits video, in practice nearly all visiting drone owners need GCAA written approval plus a separate aerial-surveillance authorization, both gated behind a mandatory security clearance check that takes a minimum of about 29-30 days — arriving without an approved permit risks confiscation at the airport.
Your plan
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1 thing to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Guyana
There is no simple online registration portal; approval is granted through GCAA's written-permission and (for any drone that records/transmits data) separate aerial-surveillance-authorization process, both requiring the mandatory ~29-30 day security clearance check. Apply by emailing a formal letter, the completed UAV Information Sheet, and passport/ID bio-data pages to dronesunit@gcaa-gy.org. No published fee was found — confirm current charges with the GCAA Drones Unit directly. One secondary source separately describes a '250 g and up' recording requirement in the GCAA system, which may reflect the same underlying process rather than a distinct extra step; treat the recording-capability trigger as the operative rule. Allow about 30 days before your trip.
Open official page - Bringing your drone in
Bringing a drone into Guyana without a pre-approved GCAA permit risks confiscation at the airport. Apply for GCAA clearance (formal letter to the Director General, UAV Information Sheet, passport copy) at least 30 days before travelling; present the approval document to customs/the revenue authority on arrival and pay any applicable import duty and VAT before the drone is released. Guyana's general VAT rate is 14%. 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
Drones of 7 kg or less used purely non-commercially, with no ability to record or transmit information beyond basic flight control, are exempt from needing GCAA written permission — but must still follow all other operating restrictions · Any drone that can record or transmit photos/video/data — which covers virtually every consumer camera drone, regardless of size — needs a separate written aerial-surveillance authorization from GCAA, in addition to the basic operating permission · All applicants (permit or aerial-surveillance authorization) undergo a mandatory GCAA security clearance check, taking a minimum of about 29-30 days — apply well before travelling, using passport bio-data page, a formal letter to the Director General, and the UAV Information Sheet
Flying
- Drones of 7 kg or less used purely non-commercially, with no ability to record or transmit information beyond basic flight control, are exempt from needing GCAA written permission — but must still follow all other operating restrictions
- Any drone that can record or transmit photos/video/data — which covers virtually every consumer camera drone, regardless of size — needs a separate written aerial-surveillance authorization from GCAA, in addition to the basic operating permission
- All applicants (permit or aerial-surveillance authorization) undergo a mandatory GCAA security clearance check, taking a minimum of about 29-30 days — apply well before travelling, using passport bio-data page, a formal letter to the Director General, and the UAV Information Sheet
- Maximum altitude 150 m (492 ft) AGL; stay within 500 m of the pilot with direct, unaided visual contact (VLOS) unless separately authorized otherwise
- No night or low-visibility flights
- Stay at least 50 m from any person (30 m minimum during takeoff/landing, except pilots/assistants), 100 m from vessels, vehicles or structures not under the operator's control, and outside 150 m of congested areas or open-air assemblies without approval
- No flying over private or public property without the owner's permission, or within aerodrome traffic zones without air traffic control clearance
- Georgetown has a no-fly zone within a 5 km radius of the lighthouse, and airports/helipads generally require an 8 km buffer
- Breaches can bring fines up to roughly GYD 1 million and/or up to two years' imprisonment, and may also trigger prosecution under Guyana's Customs Act and Telecommunications Act
Commercial use: Commercial or aerial-work operation needs Director General written permission plus a Commercial Operator Certificate, supported by an operations manual covering company organization, staff training, maintenance schedules, emergency procedures and record-keeping.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (all drones) There is no simple online registration portal; approval is granted through GCAA's written-permission and (for any drone that records/transmits data) separate aerial-surveillance-authorization process, both requiring the mandatory ~29-30 day security clearance check. Apply by emailing a formal letter, the completed UAV Information Sheet, and passport/ID bio-data pages to dronesunit@gcaa-gy.org. No published fee was found — confirm current charges with the GCAA Drones Unit directly. One secondary source separately describes a '250 g and up' recording requirement in the GCAA system, which may reflect the same underlying process rather than a distinct extra step; treat the recording-capability trigger as the operative rule. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | No No standard knowledge exam found — permission is security-clearance based. No public pilot knowledge test was identified for recreational operators; the gating mechanism is GCAA written permission plus a security clearance check rather than an exam. Commercial/aerial-work operators instead need a Commercial Operator Certificate backed by an operations manual. |
| Remote ID | No No broadcast Remote ID mandate was found in reviewed sources. |
| Insurance | Depends Proof of liability insurance is listed among the documents required for the aerial-surveillance (recording/transmitting) authorization, which applies to virtually all consumer camera drones. Not required for the narrow ≤7 kg, non-commercial, non-recording exemption. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Foreign visitors follow the same GCAA process as residents: formal letter, UAV Information Sheet, and passport bio-data page, subject to the same ~29-30 day minimum security clearance. Because almost any consumer camera drone triggers the separate aerial-surveillance authorization (not just the basic operating permit), budget for the fuller application — including liability insurance proof and flight details — rather than assuming the ≤7 kg exemption will apply. Arriving without an approved permit risks having the drone confiscated at the airport, so this is not a process that can be completed on arrival. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt (narrow) | ≤ 7 kg, non-commercial, no recording/transmission | No GCAA written permission needed, but standard altitude/distance/no-fly-zone rules still apply. Rarely applies to a real camera drone, since it excludes any recording or data-transmission capability. |
| Recording-capable (most tourist drones) | any weight, can record/transmit data | Needs both GCAA written operating permission and a separate aerial-surveillance authorization, gated by a ~29-30 day security clearance check, with proof of liability insurance and details of the intended flights. |
| Commercial / aerial work | any weight, commercial use | Director General written permission plus a Commercial Operator Certificate backed by a full operations manual. |
Import & export
- Bringing a drone into Guyana without a pre-approved GCAA permit risks confiscation at the airport. Apply for GCAA clearance (formal letter to the Director General, UAV Information Sheet, passport copy) at least 30 days before travelling; present the approval document to customs/the revenue authority on arrival and pay any applicable import duty and VAT before the drone is released. Guyana's general VAT rate is 14%.
- No specific telecom/radio-equipment homologation requirement for drones was confirmed in reviewed sources; GCAA's own permit process, not a separate telecom regulator step, is the primary gate described.
- 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.
- Guyana import duty rates vary widely by product classification (roughly 5-150% across categories); no specific confirmed rate for drones was found — consumer electronics in related categories range from 0% to 20% duty.
- The real gating step for a tourist is the GCAA import/operating permit, not customs duty rates as such — without the permit, expect confiscation regardless of tax payment.
Export
- No drone-specific export controls beyond Guyana's general rules were found; not expected to affect ordinary consumer/prosumer camera drones.
Costs
| Operator registration | Unknown Validity: Not stated as time-limited in reviewed sources |
|---|---|
| No standard knowledge exam found — permission is security-clearance based | Not needed |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + 14 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Bringing a drone to Guyana as a tourist Visitors
- Apply to GCAA at least 30 days before travelling
Email a formal letter to the Director General, the completed UAV Information Sheet, and your passport bio-data page to dronesunit@gcaa-gy.org. Open
- Expect to need the aerial-surveillance authorization too
If your drone has a camera or transmits data — true of nearly all tourist drones — you'll also need this separate authorization, including proof of liability insurance.
- Carry your approval document when you fly and through customs
Present the GCAA approval on arrival; without it, your drone can be confiscated and you may still owe import duty and 14% VAT.
- Follow the operating limits
≤150 m AGL, VLOS within 500 m of the pilot, daylight only, and respect distance rules from people, vehicles, and congested or restricted areas (including Georgetown's 5 km lighthouse no-fly zone).
- Budget real lead time
The mandatory security clearance takes a minimum of about 29-30 days — this is not something you can arrange after landing.
Sources
- GCAA — Drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- 592Hub — Drone Permits in Guyana: How to Fly Legally (GCAA) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Drone-Traveller — Flying drones in Guyana – Rules and Laws · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Stabroek News — Drone operators warned to comply with regulations or face the law · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−15
- Mandatory insurance−3
- Night flight banned−8
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Long lead time (30 days)−8
- Import permit−40
- Duty + VAT ≈ 19 %−11
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works