Solomon Islands SB
The Solomon Islands regulates drones under Civil Aviation Rules Part 101 (operating rules, drones up to 25 kg) and Part 102 (operator certification, over 25 kg), administered by CAASI. CAASI has been actively pushing for all drones to be registered, including hobbyist and visitor equipment, using Form 24101/01, but detailed fees and a clear visitor/tourist process are not published online — contact CAASI directly before travelling with a drone.
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 Solomon Islands.
- Bringing your drone in
No published personal-use exemption was found. Given CAASI's registration push, a visitor's drone may be asked about at customs or by the aviation authority; no confirmed blanket ban exists, but treat documentation (registration, if obtained) as good practice. 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 Solomon Islands-specific confirmation was found.
- Before each flight
Maximum altitude 122 m (400 ft) AGL and always below the cloud base · Keep at least 4 km from any airport or airfield · No night operation unless indoors or in a shielded/controlled environment
Flying
- Maximum altitude 122 m (400 ft) AGL and always below the cloud base
- Keep at least 4 km from any airport or airfield
- No night operation unless indoors or in a shielded/controlled environment
- Get the property owner's permission before flying over private land
- Maximum gross mass 25 kg under Part 101; heavier aircraft need Part 102 operator certification
Commercial use: A permit is required for commercial drone use. Aircraft over 25 kg fall under Part 102 (Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certification), which requires submitting an exposition/manual documenting hazard identification, risk assessment and mitigation strategies to CAASI.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Depends on use CAASI has publicly encouraged all drone owners, including hobbyists, to register using the Aircraft Registration Application (Form 24101/01), but a firm legal registration mandate, fee schedule and visitor-specific process are not clearly published online. Contact CAASI (+677 36563) to confirm current requirements before travelling. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Unknown Pilot/drone-operator licences are granted and renewed by CAASI via application forms, but no public knowledge-test scheme was found. CAASI's licensing page states pilot/drone licences are handled through form submission to the Director, but does not describe a public recreational knowledge test. |
| Remote ID | No No Remote ID broadcast requirement found in available sources. |
| Insurance | No Not required per secondary sources, but recommended for hobbyists, commercial operators and visitors alike. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No CAASI has been urging all drone owners, including visitors, to register — contact CAASI ahead of travel since the online process is not fully documented for tourists. Keep to the Part 101 limits (25 kg or under, 122 m AGL, VLOS, 4 km from airports, daylight only) to stay in the lightest-touch category. Get landowner permission before flying over private property, which covers most land in the Solomon Islands' village-based land tenure system. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Part 101 — up to 25 kg | ≤ 25 kg | Standard operating rules: 122 m AGL, VLOS, below cloud base, 4 km from airports, daylight only (unless shielded). |
| Part 102 — over 25 kg | > 25 kg | Requires CAASI Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certification: submit an exposition covering hazard identification, risk assessment and mitigation. |
Import & export
- No published personal-use exemption was found. Given CAASI's registration push, a visitor's drone may be asked about at customs or by the aviation authority; no confirmed blanket ban exists, but treat documentation (registration, if obtained) as good practice.
- No separate radio/type-approval scheme for drones was confirmed beyond CAASI's aircraft registration process.
- 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 Solomon Islands-specific confirmation was found.
- Official guidance for tourists bringing a personal drone into the Solomon Islands is sparse; this entry relies mainly on secondary sources and CAASI's general registration push, so confirm directly with CAASI before travelling.
- No drone-specific import ban or duty/VAT rate was confirmed.
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 |
|---|---|
| Pilot/drone-operator licences are granted and renewed by CAASI via application forms, but no public knowledge-test scheme was found | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in the Solomon Islands as a tourist Visitors
- Contact CAASI before you travel
Ask about current visitor registration requirements and forms (Form 24101/01) since the online process is limited. Open
- Keep your drone under 25 kg
This keeps you under Part 101 rather than needing Part 102 operator certification.
- Stay within altitude and distance limits
122 m AGL, below cloud base, at least 4 km from airports/airfields, daylight only.
- Get landowner permission
Most land is customarily owned; ask before flying over villages or private property.
- Carry documentation
Bring proof of any registration obtained and your drone's specifications in case asked by customs or CAASI.
Sources
- CAASI — Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (services page) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Ministry of Communication and Aviation — Pilot & Drone licences · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- drone-laws.com — Solomon Islands Drone Laws · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−5
- Pilot test (unknown)−3
- Night flight banned−8
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−5
- Import restricted−25
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works