Papua New Guinea PG
Papua New Guinea permits drone flying under CASA PNG's Part 101 (under 10 kg) and Part 102 (heavier/complex operations) rules, but the official CASA PNG site publishes little detail online and visitor-specific registration/authorisation requirements are not clearly documented. Expect to register and possibly need authorisation even for simple recreational flying — verify directly with CASA PNG before travelling.
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 Papua New Guinea.
- Bringing your drone in
No drone-specific customs allowance or prohibition was confirmed; treat a personal camera drone as ordinary electronics for customs purposes, but be ready to declare it and show CASA PNG registration/authorisation if asked. Batteries: Standard international air-transport lithium battery rules are expected (carry-on only; spares under 100 Wh freely, 100-160 Wh with airline approval), but no PNG-specific confirmation was found.
- Before each flight
Maximum altitude 120 m (400 ft) AGL · Daylight operation only, in clear weather, within visual line of sight · Do not fly over people or congested areas
Flying
- Maximum altitude 120 m (400 ft) AGL
- Daylight operation only, in clear weather, within visual line of sight
- Do not fly over people or congested areas
- Stay at least 4 km from aerodromes/airfields (one secondary source cites 5 nautical miles for the remote-pilot-licence exemption)
- No flying in controlled airspace, low-flying zones, danger areas, restricted areas, or military operational areas
- Get consent from property owners and affected persons before flying over their land
Commercial use: Commercial and any operation outside standard Part 101 limits needs CASA PNG authorisation; aircraft between 10-25 kg must be built/operated under the authority of a person authorised by the Director, and aircraft over 25 kg must be certificated under Part 102.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Depends on use Secondary sources indicate hobbyists, commercial operators and visitors all need some form of registration/authorisation, but CASA PNG's own website does not publish the detailed procedure, fees or a self-service registration threshold online. Contact CASA PNG directly (info@casapng.gov.pg, +675 302 7500) before travelling. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Sometimes Remote pilot licence — appears required except for simple Part 101 flying more than roughly 4 km / 5 nm from the nearest aerodrome. Secondary sources describe a remote-pilot-licence exception for basic Part 101 flying away from aerodromes, but exact test format, content and fee are not published by CASA PNG online. |
| Remote ID | No No Remote ID broadcast requirement found in available sources. |
| Insurance | Depends Not legally required per available sources, but recommended for hobbyists and tourists; likely mandatory for commercial/Part 102 operations. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Secondary sources list visitors as needing registration/authorisation and, for some operations, a licence — but CASA PNG's own site does not spell out a visitor process, so contact them well ahead of travel. If your flying stays under simple Part 101 limits (under 10 kg, VLOS, daylight, well clear of aerodromes), requirements are lighter, though still not fully documented online. For anything beyond basic recreational flying, expect to apply for authorisation in advance rather than on arrival. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 kg (Part 101) | < 10 kg | Standard recreational/simple-operation rules: 120 m AGL, VLOS, daylight, stay clear of aerodromes and people. |
| 10-25 kg | 10-25 kg | Must be constructed, inspected, approved and operated under the authority of a person authorised by the CASA PNG Director. |
| Over 25 kg / Part 102 | > 25 kg | Requires an Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certificate: aircraft specifications, risk and airworthiness assessment, and flight procedures submitted to CASA PNG; certificates can run up to 5 years. |
Import & export
- No drone-specific customs allowance or prohibition was confirmed; treat a personal camera drone as ordinary electronics for customs purposes, but be ready to declare it and show CASA PNG registration/authorisation if asked.
- No radio/type-approval scheme for drones was confirmed for PNG.
- Batteries: Standard international air-transport lithium battery rules are expected (carry-on only; spares under 100 Wh freely, 100-160 Wh with airline approval), but no PNG-specific confirmation was found.
- CASA PNG's public website does not detail import/customs procedures for drones; this entry relies on secondary sources and general Pacific-region practice, so verify directly with CASA PNG and PNG Customs before travelling with a drone.
- Given the registration/authorisation requirements described by secondary sources, budget time to contact CASA PNG in advance rather than assuming you can fly on arrival.
Export
- No drone-specific export controls were found; ordinary consumer/prosumer drones are not expected to be restricted on departure.
Costs
| Operator registration | Unknown Validity: Not published |
|---|---|
| Remote pilot licence — appears required except for simple Part 101 flying more than roughly 4 km / 5 nm from the nearest aerodrome | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in Papua New Guinea as a tourist Visitors
- Contact CASA PNG before you travel
Documentation online is sparse; email info@casapng.gov.pg to confirm current visitor registration/authorisation requirements. Open
- Keep your drone under 10 kg and within Part 101 limits
This is the lightest-touch category: 120 m AGL, VLOS, daylight only.
- Stay well clear of aerodromes
Keep at least 4 km (one source cites 5 nm) from any aerodrome or airfield.
- Get landowner consent
Ask permission before flying over private property or people.
- Carry documentation
Bring proof of any registration/authorisation obtained, plus your drone's specifications, in case customs or authorities ask.
Sources
- Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Papua New Guinea (CASA PNG) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- UAV Coach — Drone Laws in Papua New Guinea · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- drone-laws.com — Papua New Guinea Drone Laws · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−5
- Pilot test (unknown)−5
- Mandatory insurance−3
- Night flight banned−8
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−5
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works