Kazakhstan KZ
Kazakhstan allows tourists to bring and fly consumer drones, but almost any drone with a camera (and any drone 250 g or heavier) must be registered with the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan before flying. Registration is free but requires a local digital signature (EDS) and an IIN, which foreigners typically need help arranging, and approval can take up to 10 working days.
Your plan
Choose your home country (top right) to see steps tailored to you.
1 thing to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Kazakhstan
Apply via the eGov/eOtinish online portals with a technical compliance declaration, passport copy and proof of ownership. Foreigners generally need a Kazakhstani Individual Identification Number (IIN) and an Electronic Digital Signature (EDS) to use these portals; review takes up to 10 working days. Free. Allow about 10 days before your trip.
Open official page - Bringing your drone in
Tourists can bring a personal consumer drone into Kazakhstan; no general import ban or drone-specific customs declaration was found for personal-use quantities. Batteries: Standard international air-travel lithium-battery rules apply (carry-on only); no Kazakhstan-specific restriction was found.
- Before each flight
Nearly all camera-equipped drones, and any drone of 250 g or more, must be registered with the AAK before flying; some sources describe higher-weight or 'specific category' UAS as needing separate approval · Recreational flights must stay within visual line of sight, in daylight, outside densely populated areas, and not in autonomous/waypoint mode · Drones must stay at least 150 m horizontally from crowds of people and vehicles
Flying
- Nearly all camera-equipped drones, and any drone of 250 g or more, must be registered with the AAK before flying; some sources describe higher-weight or 'specific category' UAS as needing separate approval
- Recreational flights must stay within visual line of sight, in daylight, outside densely populated areas, and not in autonomous/waypoint mode
- Drones must stay at least 150 m horizontally from crowds of people and vehicles
- Sources disagree on the exact default altitude ceiling for uncontrolled recreational flight (as low as 50 m has been cited); flying higher requires coordination with air traffic control
- Night flight is not clearly addressed in public guidance; treat it as requiring special authorisation rather than assuming it is allowed
- Flying near military installations, the Baikonur Cosmodrome area, and border zones is a security-sensitive matter and should be avoided
- Flying an unregistered drone risks fines under Article 563 of the Administrative Code (about 10 MCI, roughly 43,250 KZT for individuals in 2026) plus possible confiscation
Commercial use: Commercial/aerial-work operators need a remote pilot certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Committee after CAC-specified training, valid for one year, in addition to drone registration.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (from 250 g or camera) Apply via the eGov/eOtinish online portals with a technical compliance declaration, passport copy and proof of ownership. Foreigners generally need a Kazakhstani Individual Identification Number (IIN) and an Electronic Digital Signature (EDS) to use these portals; review takes up to 10 working days. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Sometimes (mixed) CAC Remote Pilot Certificate (commercial aerial work). Not required for hobby or tourist flying. Required for commercial aerial-work operations, via CAC-specified training and a completion certificate, valid for one year. |
| Remote ID | No No Remote ID broadcast requirement was found for hobbyist, commercial, tourist or government drone use. |
| Insurance | No Not legally mandated for recreational flying, though recommended, especially for commercial or higher-risk operations. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Foreigners must register in Kazakhstan itself; foreign drone registrations are not recognised. Using the eGov/eOtinish registration portals typically requires a local IIN and an Electronic Digital Signature (EDS), which can mean extra paperwork before or soon after arrival. Registration review takes up to 10 working days once submitted, so this cannot be done at the airport — plan well ahead of any flight. Flying without registration risks fines (about 10 MCI / roughly 43,250 KZT in 2026) and possible confiscation. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Under 250 g, no camera/sensor | < 250 g | Reported as exempt from AAK registration, though sources vary; general VLOS/daytime flight rules would still apply. |
| Camera/sensor drones and 250 g+ | any weight with camera, or ≥ 250 g | AAK registration required before flying, via the eGov/eOtinish portals; free of charge, review up to 10 working days. |
| Heavier / 'specific category' UAS | reported around 1.5 kg and above | Additional approval and likely commercial pilot certification required; realistically applies to professional operators, not tourists. |
Import & export
- Tourists can bring a personal consumer drone into Kazakhstan; no general import ban or drone-specific customs declaration was found for personal-use quantities.
- No drone-specific radio type-approval or certification scheme was confirmed; general Kazakhstan customs and telecom-equipment rules may apply to the drone's radio transmitter.
- Batteries: Standard international air-travel lithium-battery rules apply (carry-on only); no Kazakhstan-specific restriction was found.
- No official customs page describing drone-specific duty or VAT treatment was found; treat duty/VAT figures as unconfirmed rather than zero.
Export
- No drone-specific export control information was found; general Kazakhstan customs and export rules would apply.
Costs
| Operator registration | Free Validity: Reported as 5 years, or the term of a lease agreement for a rented drone; one secondary source instead cites a much shorter processing/validity window, so treat the exact duration as unconfirmed |
|---|---|
| CAC Remote Pilot Certificate (commercial aerial work) | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in Kazakhstan as a tourist Visitors
- Check if registration applies
Almost any drone with a camera, and any drone 250 g or heavier, needs AAK registration before it can legally fly.
- Arrange an EDS and IIN
Foreigners generally need a Kazakhstani Individual Identification Number and Electronic Digital Signature to use the eGov/eOtinish portals; arrange this via a local contact, agency or after arrival.
- Submit the registration application
File the technical compliance declaration with your passport copy and proof of ownership; approval is free but can take up to 10 working days.
- Fly within the rules
Stay within visual line of sight, fly by day, keep 150 m from crowds and vehicles, and avoid densely populated areas and autonomous flight modes.
- Avoid sensitive areas
Do not fly near military sites, the Baikonur Cosmodrome area, or border zones — these carry security, not just administrative, risk.
Sources
- Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK) / Civil Aviation Committee — About · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Astana Hub — How I registered a drone in Kazakhstan under the new rules of 2026 · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- drone-laws.com — Kazakhstan Drone Laws 2026 · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- ANS.kz — Kazakhstan has introduced a registering drone procedure · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−10
- Pilot test (mixed)−8
- Night flight restricted−3
- Low ceiling (50 m)−5
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Long lead time (10 days)−8
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works