São Tomé and Príncipe ST
São Tomé and Príncipe's National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) has not published a general codified civilian drone framework, but prior written authorisation from INAC is specifically required to fly a drone near São Tomé International Airport, with unauthorised flights there resulting in prosecution and equipment forfeiture. Away from the airport, rules are informal and unconfirmed. Given the small size of São Tomé island, a meaningful share of accessible locations may fall within the airport's restricted zone, so visitors should apply for authorisation before assuming they can fly anywhere.
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 São Tomé and Príncipe.
- Bringing your drone in
No published personal-effects allowance for drones was found. Given the small size of the country and the airport-proximity authorisation requirement, contact INAC before travelling to confirm whether your planned flight locations fall within a restricted zone. Batteries: Standard international lithium-battery air-travel rules are expected to apply; no country-specific drone battery rule was confirmed.
- Before each flight
No general codified civilian drone regulation has been confirmed for São Tomé and Príncipe as a whole · Prior written authorisation from INAC is specifically required before flying a drone near São Tomé International Airport, given it also handles low-flying transport aircraft and emergency medical helicopters · Authorisation applications reportedly require a valid remote pilot licence, equipment serial numbers and a mission schedule
Flying
- No general codified civilian drone regulation has been confirmed for São Tomé and Príncipe as a whole
- Prior written authorisation from INAC is specifically required before flying a drone near São Tomé International Airport, given it also handles low-flying transport aircraft and emergency medical helicopters
- Authorisation applications reportedly require a valid remote pilot licence, equipment serial numbers and a mission schedule
- Flying without authorisation near the airport can result in prosecution and forfeiture of the equipment
- Away from the airport, general best-practice recommendations (not confirmed as binding law) suggest staying below about 150 m, keeping the drone within visual line of sight, and avoiding flight over people or property
- Daytime, good-weather operation only is recommended/expected
Commercial use: A permit is reported as required for commercial drone use, but no public application process, fees or timelines beyond the airport-specific authorisation were confirmed from an official source.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Unknown No general public registration portal or scheme was found; the only confirmed formal process is the airport-proximity flight authorisation. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Unknown Remote pilot licence required as supporting document for airport-proximity authorisation. A valid remote pilot licence is reportedly required to support an airport-proximity flight authorisation application; whether a foreign-issued licence is accepted, or whether any licence is needed away from the airport, was not confirmed. |
| Remote ID | Unknown No public Remote ID / broadcast identification requirement was found for São Tomé and Príncipe. |
| Insurance | Unknown No public information found on drone insurance requirements in São Tomé and Príncipe. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No No general tourist drone framework was confirmed; the one clearly documented requirement is written INAC authorisation to fly near São Tomé International Airport. Given the small size of São Tomé island, check with INAC whether your planned flight locations fall within the airport's restricted zone before assuming you can fly freely. Contact INAC directly ahead of travel, since public information on general (non-airport) drone rules is very limited. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| All drones | any weight | No general weight-based classification was confirmed; the only formal rule found is the airport-proximity authorisation requirement. |
Import & export
- No published personal-effects allowance for drones was found. Given the small size of the country and the airport-proximity authorisation requirement, contact INAC before travelling to confirm whether your planned flight locations fall within a restricted zone.
- No separate consumer radio-equipment type-approval scheme specific to drones was confirmed from an official source.
- Batteries: Standard international lithium-battery air-travel rules are expected to apply; no country-specific drone battery rule was confirmed.
- Apply for INAC authorisation before travelling if any part of your itinerary could fall near São Tomé International Airport.
- Flying without authorisation near the airport risks prosecution and forfeiture of the drone.
- Given the very limited public information, confirm current requirements directly with INAC well ahead of travel.
Export
- No drone-specific export ban was found; general national export-control rules would apply to any dual-use or restricted UAV technology.
Costs
| Operator registration | Unknown Validity: Not confirmed from an official source outside the airport-specific authorisation process. |
|---|---|
| Remote pilot licence required as supporting document for airport-proximity authorisation | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in São Tomé and Príncipe as a visitor Visitors
- Contact INAC before you travel
Ask specifically whether your planned flight locations fall within the São Tomé International Airport authorisation zone, and what documents (pilot licence, serial numbers, mission schedule) are needed.
- Never fly near the airport without written authorisation
Unauthorised flights there risk prosecution and forfeiture of your equipment, given the airport also handles low-flying transport aircraft and medical helicopters.
- Follow general best practice elsewhere
Stay below about 150 m, keep the drone within visual line of sight, avoid flying over people or property, and fly only in daylight and good weather.
- Keep documentation on hand
Carry any INAC correspondence or authorisation with you while flying, in case local officials ask.
- Don't assume Príncipe island's rules mirror São Tomé's
Available information focuses on São Tomé island and its international airport; confirm separately for Príncipe if that is part of your trip.
Sources
- DroneMap - Drone Rules for São Tomé International Airport · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- UAV Coach - Drone Laws in Sao Tome and Principe · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- drone-laws.com - Sao Tome and Principe Drone Laws · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−3
- Pilot test (unknown)−3
- Remote ID−3
- Mandatory insurance−2
- Night flight banned−8
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−3
- 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