Paraguay PY
Paraguay currently has no weight-based drone registration system. Under DINAC Regulation R1103 (Resolution 2170/2017), each drone operation needs prior DINAC approval requested by email at least 5 business days ahead, with night flying banned outright. A more comprehensive drone law — introducing a standing registry, Remote ID and category-based pilot rules — was converted into a law project by the Chamber of Deputies' Defense Commission in July 2026 but was not yet in force as of this review; expect the framework to change once it is enacted.
Your plan
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1 thing to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Paraguay
There is no online registration portal under the current regime; approval is requested by emailing dac@dinac.gov.py at least 5 business days ahead with operator ID, drone specs, activity description, requested maximum height, GPS coordinates and timing. This applies regardless of drone weight under current rules. A pending 2026 law would replace this with a standing DINAC drone registry ('Registro obligatorio de todos los drones'), but as of this review it had only been converted into a law project by a legislative committee and was not yet enacted — if it has since been promulgated, the government would have up to 180 days to issue implementing regulations and existing operators 120 days to comply. Allow about 5 days before your trip.
- Bringing your drone in
No drone-specific import ban was found. A drone carried as personal luggage should be declared under Paraguay's general traveler customs rules; Paraguay's general IVA (VAT) rate is 10% (a reduced 5% rate applies only to specific goods like fresh agricultural products, not electronics). Exact duty treatment and any personal duty-free threshold for a drone specifically were not confirmed against the current tariff schedule. Radio-transmitting equipment marketed in Paraguay needs CONATEL (Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones) homologation; commercial imports/sales clearly require this, while reviewed sources suggest some allowance exists for personal, non-commercial imports but do not clearly confirm whether a tourist's single personal drone needs separate homologation. Mainstream consumer models sold through official channels are typically already homologated by their distributor. 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
Under the current DINAC Regulation R1103, every drone operation needs prior DINAC approval — this functions as both authorization and de facto registration, since Paraguay does not yet have a standing weight-based drone registry · Request approval by email to dac@dinac.gov.py at least 5 business days before the planned flight, including applicant/operator details, drone specifications (brand, model, serial number), a description of the activity, maximum height requested, precise GPS coordinates and the planned time window · Night flying is explicitly prohibited
Flying
- Under the current DINAC Regulation R1103, every drone operation needs prior DINAC approval — this functions as both authorization and de facto registration, since Paraguay does not yet have a standing weight-based drone registry
- Request approval by email to dac@dinac.gov.py at least 5 business days before the planned flight, including applicant/operator details, drone specifications (brand, model, serial number), a description of the activity, maximum height requested, precise GPS coordinates and the planned time window
- Night flying is explicitly prohibited
- Approval is specifically required near airports/aerodromes, within cities, and wherever there are large concentrations of people — DINAC guidance suggests these are the areas scrutinized most closely, but the per-operation approval requirement applies generally
- No confirmed fixed national altitude/VLOS figures were found in reviewed sources; DINAC sets the approved maximum height case-by-case as part of each operation's approval — treat 120 m (400 ft) AGL and VLOS as a safe general assumption pending DINAC's specific approval
- A pending 2026 reform (not yet in force as of this review) would add mandatory registration for all drones, electronic Remote ID, tiered pilot certification, and expanded no-fly zones covering airports, military installations, power plants, prisons and border areas
Commercial use: Commercial operators need the same per-operation DINAC approval as everyone else, plus mandatory liability insurance; hobbyist/tourist insurance is not required but is recommended.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (all drones) There is no online registration portal under the current regime; approval is requested by emailing dac@dinac.gov.py at least 5 business days ahead with operator ID, drone specs, activity description, requested maximum height, GPS coordinates and timing. This applies regardless of drone weight under current rules. A pending 2026 law would replace this with a standing DINAC drone registry ('Registro obligatorio de todos los drones'), but as of this review it had only been converted into a law project by a legislative committee and was not yet enacted — if it has since been promulgated, the government would have up to 180 days to issue implementing regulations and existing operators 120 days to comply. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Unknown No standard current pilot exam confirmed. One secondary source claims pilot licensing is not required for local hobbyists but is required for foreign visitors — this is unusual and was not confirmed against an official DINAC source, so treat it with caution. No standard public pilot exam for recreational flying was otherwise identified under the current regime. The pending 2026 law would introduce tiered pilot certification. |
| Remote ID | No No Remote ID mandate exists under the current regulation. The pending 2026 drone law proposes introducing electronic Remote ID, but this was not yet in force as of this review. |
| Insurance | Depends Not required for hobbyist/tourist flying, though recommended by some guidance. Required for commercial operators. |
| Foreign registration accepted | Unknown Every flight — by residents or visitors alike — currently needs DINAC approval requested by email at least 5 business days ahead; this is not a quick same-day option, so plan specific flight dates, locations and heights before travelling. One secondary source claims foreign visitors specifically need pilot licensing even though local hobbyists don't — this was not confirmed officially and should be treated with caution; email DINAC in advance to clarify your situation. Watch for the pending 2026 drone law, which would overhaul this system with a standing registry and Remote ID — confirm the current framework close to your travel dates. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| All drones (current regime) | any weight | No weight-based tiers under the current rules — every operation needs prior DINAC approval requested at least 5 business days ahead, regardless of drone size. |
| Pending 2026 reform (not yet in force) | any weight | Proposed law would introduce mandatory registration, Remote ID, and tiered pilot certification by category (recreational through commercial/security); not yet enacted as of this review. |
Import & export
- No drone-specific import ban was found. A drone carried as personal luggage should be declared under Paraguay's general traveler customs rules; Paraguay's general IVA (VAT) rate is 10% (a reduced 5% rate applies only to specific goods like fresh agricultural products, not electronics). Exact duty treatment and any personal duty-free threshold for a drone specifically were not confirmed against the current tariff schedule.
- Radio-transmitting equipment marketed in Paraguay needs CONATEL (Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones) homologation; commercial imports/sales clearly require this, while reviewed sources suggest some allowance exists for personal, non-commercial imports but do not clearly confirm whether a tourist's single personal drone needs separate homologation. Mainstream consumer models sold through official channels are typically already homologated by their distributor.
- 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.
- No confirmed reports of drones being routinely seized at Paraguayan customs when carried as ordinary personal luggage were found in reviewed sources.
- The bigger practical hurdle for tourists is DINAC's per-operation flight approval process, not customs.
Export
- No drone-specific export controls beyond Paraguay's general rules were found; not expected to affect ordinary consumer/prosumer camera drones.
Costs
| Operator registration | Unknown Validity: Not a standing registration under current rules — authorization is requested and granted per individual operation, not once for the aircraft |
|---|---|
| No standard current pilot exam confirmed | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + 10 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying in Paraguay as a tourist Visitors
- Email DINAC well before your trip
Request operation approval from dac@dinac.gov.py at least 5 business days ahead, with your details, drone specs, planned activity, requested maximum height, GPS coordinates and timing. Open
- Plan specific flights, not open-ended trips
Since approval is granted per operation rather than as a standing license, decide on locations, dates and heights in advance rather than expecting to fly spontaneously.
- Never fly at night
Night flying is explicitly banned under current DINAC rules.
- Expect extra scrutiny near airports, cities and crowds
These are the areas DINAC guidance highlights most, though approval is required everywhere under current rules.
- Check for updated rules close to your travel date
A comprehensive drone law was advancing through Paraguay's Congress in 2026 and could change registration and pilot requirements once enacted.
Sources
- DINAC — Dirección de Aeronáutica, categoría Drone · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Drone-Laws.com — Paraguay Drone Laws 2026 · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Maitemedia — Drones en Paraguay: Regulaciones y Permisos · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- DPL News — Comisión de Defensa convierte en proyecto de ley la normativa que regula el uso de drones · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- La Nación — IVA en Paraguay: el impuesto que está presente en casi todas las compras · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−15
- Pilot test (none)−3
- Mandatory insurance−3
- Night flight banned−8
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
- Radio / type certification−12
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works