Puerto Rico PR
Puerto Rico is a US territory, so FAA rules apply exactly as in the mainland United States: recreational flyers take the free TRUST test, drones 250 g and up must be registered with the FAA and broadcast Remote ID, and visitors register the same way as in any other US airport arrival. There is no separate territory-wide drone law, but specific sites are off-limits locally — most notably El Yunque National Forest (the US's only tropical rainforest in the National Forest System), where recreational drone launching is banned in Wilderness areas and across most visited areas including La Mina, and the San Juan National Historic Site, where any unmanned aircraft operation is illegal under National Park Service policy.
Your plan
Choose your home country (top right) to see steps tailored to you.
1 thing to sort out before you fly
- No registration needed
A 249 g drone with camera doesn't need to be registered in Puerto Rico.
- Pass the TRUST (Recreational UAS Safety Test)
Online. Free. Free and can't be failed, identical to the mainland US requirement. Carry the completion certificate.
Open official page - Bringing your drone in
As a US territory with no separate customs border from the US mainland for domestic travellers, bringing a drone to Puerto Rico from the US mainland involves no customs/import process at all. International visitors flying into Puerto Rico go through normal US customs and immigration and can bring a personal drone as ordinary luggage, the same as entering the US mainland. Batteries: Carry-on only. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100-160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares) — standard US domestic/international airline rule.
- Before each flight
Fly at or below 400 ft (122 m) and keep the drone in sight, exactly as under mainland FAA rules · Stay at least 5 miles from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (San Juan) and other regional airports without LAANC/FAA authorisation · El Yunque National Forest: recreational drone launching/landing is prohibited across Wilderness-designated areas and most visited areas, including the popular La Mina Recreation Area — treat the forest as a no-drone zone for casual tourist flying; commercial filming/photography needs a separate US Forest Service permit with insurance and land-use fees
Open official page
Flying
- Fly at or below 400 ft (122 m) and keep the drone in sight, exactly as under mainland FAA rules
- Stay at least 5 miles from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (San Juan) and other regional airports without LAANC/FAA authorisation
- El Yunque National Forest: recreational drone launching/landing is prohibited across Wilderness-designated areas and most visited areas, including the popular La Mina Recreation Area — treat the forest as a no-drone zone for casual tourist flying; commercial filming/photography needs a separate US Forest Service permit with insurance and land-use fees
- San Juan National Historic Site: it is illegal to launch, land or operate any unmanned aircraft here under National Park Service policy
- Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge and other wildlife refuges restrict drone flying — check with the refuge before flying
- Night flights need anti-collision lights visible for 3 miles, same as the mainland US rule
- There is no separate territory-wide (Puerto Rico government) drone statute beyond federal FAA rules; the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) may require a permit for certain commercial operations
Commercial use: Any non-recreational flight needs a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, exactly as in the rest of the US. Commercial filming in protected federal sites (e.g. El Yunque, San Juan National Historic Site) additionally needs the relevant land-managing agency's own commercial filming permit, separate from Part 107.
Official airspace mapRegistration & classes
| Registration | Yes (from 250 g) Same FAA registration as anywhere else in the US: register on FAADroneZone and mark the registration number on the drone. No separate Puerto Rico territorial registration exists. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Yes (online) TRUST (Recreational UAS Safety Test). Free and can't be failed, identical to the mainland US requirement. Carry the completion certificate. |
| Remote ID | Yes (from 250 g) Every registered drone must broadcast Standard Remote ID (built-in or add-on module), the same federal requirement as the mainland US. |
| Insurance | No Not required federally, same as the mainland US. Commercial filming permits for federal sites like El Yunque separately require liability insurance (commonly cited at $30,000+ minimum property-damage coverage) as part of the permit application. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No International visitors register exactly as they would for the mainland US: as a foreign operator on FAADroneZone, receiving a certificate of registration before the trip. Visitors flying recreationally still need the TRUST certificate, identical to the mainland requirement. US mainland travellers need no additional registration step specific to Puerto Rico — their existing FAA registration and TRUST certificate carry over directly. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Under 250 g (recreational) | < 250 g | TRUST certificate only. No registration or Remote ID. Site-specific bans (El Yunque, San Juan National Historic Site) still apply regardless of weight. |
| 250 g – 25 kg | 250 g – 25 kg | Register, mark the drone, broadcast Remote ID, TRUST certificate. |
| Commercial (Part 107) | < 25 kg | Remote Pilot Certificate and Part 107 registration, any weight, plus any site-specific commercial filming permit. |
| 25 kg and more | ≥ 25 kg | Special exemption required, as in the mainland US. |
Import & export
- As a US territory with no separate customs border from the US mainland for domestic travellers, bringing a drone to Puerto Rico from the US mainland involves no customs/import process at all. International visitors flying into Puerto Rico go through normal US customs and immigration and can bring a personal drone as ordinary luggage, the same as entering the US mainland.
- Radio equipment must be FCC-authorised, the same federal requirement as the mainland US. New foreign-made drone models added to the FCC Covered List can't get new authorisations; check current status.
- Batteries: Carry-on only. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100-160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares) — standard US domestic/international airline rule.
- No Puerto Rico-specific import rule exists beyond standard US federal customs and FCC equipment-authorisation requirements.
Export
- Same as the mainland US: Export Administration Regulations (EAR) control some high-end drones and components; ordinary consumer drones are unaffected for personal travel.
Costs
| Operator registration | 5 USD (≈ €4.6) Validity: 3 years |
|---|---|
| TRUST (Recreational UAS Safety Test) | Free |
| Import taxes | 0 % duty + 0 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying in Puerto Rico as a visitor Visitors
- Take TRUST
Free online safety test from an FAA-approved provider, identical to the mainland US requirement. Save the certificate. Open
- Register your drone (250 g+)
Register as a foreign operator on FAADroneZone ($5, valid 3 years) — the same process as for the US mainland. Open
- Check Remote ID
Make sure your drone broadcasts Standard Remote ID or fit a broadcast module.
- Check airspace with B4UFLY
Use the app to check restrictions near San Juan and other airports; request LAANC authorisation where needed. Open
- Skip El Yunque and San Juan National Historic Site for casual flying
El Yunque bans recreational drone launching in Wilderness areas and most visited spots (including La Mina); San Juan National Historic Site bans unmanned aircraft outright. Plan ground-based photography there instead, or apply for a commercial filming permit well in advance if you have a professional need.
Sources
- FAA – Recreational flyers · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- US Forest Service — Recreational Use of UAS on National Forest System Lands · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Droneblog — Can You Fly a Drone in El Yunque? · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Pilot Institute — Drone Laws in Puerto Rico · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−10
- Pilot test (online)−10
- Remote ID−8
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Radio / type certification−6
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works