El Salvador SV
El Salvador regulates drones (UAS/VANT) through the Autoridad de Aviación Civil (AAC) under the RAC-RPAS/RAC-VANT regulation (issued 27 April 2017). Both the drone and the operator must be registered with AAC ($20 each), and civil liability insurance is required even for recreational and private flying — a stricter baseline than most neighbouring countries. Tourists can bring and fly a drone, but should register and get insured before travelling, since customs treatment at the airport varies by officer.
Your plan
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2 things to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in El Salvador
Registration applies to essentially all consumer drones under RAC-VANT (UAS over 25 kg fall outside this specific regulation and into standard aircraft rules). Both the aircraft (USD 20) and the operator (USD 20) must be registered with AAC; the operator registration is described as being for census purposes only and does not certify competence. Foreign visitors registering must submit a passport copy and travel details. Fee: 20 USD.
Open official page - Carry liability insurance
Required (min. USD 1,000,000 minimum civil liability coverage for commercial/private non-recreational operators; recreational operators are also described as needing civil liability insurance, though a specific minimum for purely recreational flying was not confirmed.). Check that your policy covers flights in El Salvador.
- Bringing your drone in
Tourists can bring a personal drone into El Salvador, but should declare it at customs on arrival at San Salvador International Airport. Treatment varies by customs officer — having a pre-filled AAC registration application and insurance documentation ready is reported to reduce the risk of the drone being held or confiscated. No drone-specific customs duty rate was confirmed; El Salvador's general IVA (VAT) is 13%. 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
Fly at or below 400 ft (about 122 m) AGL, in visual line of sight at all times · Keep at least 6 km from international airports, 2 km from private airports, and 250 m from heliports · Do not fly over public areas with concentrations of people
Flying
- Fly at or below 400 ft (about 122 m) AGL, in visual line of sight at all times
- Keep at least 6 km from international airports, 2 km from private airports, and 250 m from heliports
- Do not fly over public areas with concentrations of people
- Do not transport dangerous substances with a drone
- Both the aircraft and the operator must be registered with AAC before flying, and the assigned identification number must be physically marked on the drone
- Civil liability insurance is mandatory for recreational and private operators, not just commercial ones
Commercial use: Non-recreational (private non-commercial and commercial) operation requires an AAC Operator Certificate in addition to registration, and USD 1,000,000 minimum civil liability insurance covering damage to third parties and property throughout Salvadoran territory.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (all drones) Registration applies to essentially all consumer drones under RAC-VANT (UAS over 25 kg fall outside this specific regulation and into standard aircraft rules). Both the aircraft (USD 20) and the operator (USD 20) must be registered with AAC; the operator registration is described as being for census purposes only and does not certify competence. Foreign visitors registering must submit a passport copy and travel details. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | No No formal recreational pilot exam. No pilot licence or knowledge test is required for recreational use. AAC may issue specific operating permits/conditions in some cases, but there is no standard public exam comparable to other countries' recreational certificates. |
| Remote ID | Unknown No broadcast Remote ID requirement was found. Traceability relies on the physical AAC-issued identification number marked on the drone. |
| Insurance | Yes (min. USD 1,000,000 minimum civil liability coverage for commercial/private non-recreational operators; recreational operators are also described as needing civil liability insurance, though a specific minimum for purely recreational flying was not confirmed.) Insurance is required more broadly than in most neighbouring countries — even recreational and private (non-commercial) flying reportedly needs civil liability coverage, not just commercial work. Confirm current minimum cover for recreational use directly with AAC or a local insurer before travelling. |
| Foreign registration accepted | Unknown Foreign visitors must register both the drone and themselves as operator with AAC, submitting a copy of their passport and travel details alongside the standard registration fees. Given inconsistent customs treatment, complete AAC registration and arrange civil liability insurance before travelling rather than trying to sort it out on arrival. No confirmed processing-time estimate was found for foreign registrations — allow extra time before your trip. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer UAS | up to 25 kg | Covered by RAC-VANT: aircraft and operator registration (USD 20 each), civil liability insurance, and the general operating rules (altitude, VLOS, distances, no flying over crowds). |
| Over 25 kg | > 25 kg | Falls outside RAC-VANT; treated under standard manned-aircraft airworthiness and certification rules. |
Import & export
- Tourists can bring a personal drone into El Salvador, but should declare it at customs on arrival at San Salvador International Airport. Treatment varies by customs officer — having a pre-filled AAC registration application and insurance documentation ready is reported to reduce the risk of the drone being held or confiscated. No drone-specific customs duty rate was confirmed; El Salvador's general IVA (VAT) is 13%.
- No confirmed source on whether El Salvador's telecom regulator (SIGET) requires separate radio/type-approval homologation for personal drones.
- 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.
- Customs enforcement is described as inconsistent: some officers confiscate undeclared or unregistered-looking drones, others do not — travellers should not assume a smooth entry.
- Completing AAC registration before travel, and carrying proof of insurance, is the best way to reduce friction at the border.
Export
- No drone-specific export controls were found; general Salvadoran foreign-trade and any applicable dual-use/strategic-goods rules would apply to specialised or military-grade UAV technology, not ordinary consumer drones.
Costs
| Operator registration | 20 USD (≈ €18.4) Validity: Not specified as time-limited in available sources |
|---|---|
| No formal recreational pilot exam | Not needed |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + 13 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying in El Salvador as a tourist Visitors
- Register your drone and yourself with AAC before travelling
Both the aircraft and the operator need separate USD 20 registrations; submit a passport copy and travel details as a foreign visitor. Open
- Arrange civil liability insurance
El Salvador expects civil liability insurance even for recreational and private flying, not only commercial work — confirm current minimum cover with a local insurer or AAC.
- Carry your paperwork through customs
Bring your completed registration application and insurance proof to San Salvador International Airport; treatment varies by officer, and undocumented drones are sometimes held.
- Mark your drone with its AAC ID number
Physically label the drone with the identification number AAC assigns on registration.
- Keep to the basic flight rules
Stay at or below about 122 m (400 ft) AGL, in sight, in daylight, at least 6 km from international airports and 2 km from private airports, and never over crowds.
Sources
- Autoridad de Aviación Civil (AAC) — official site · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- L2B Aviation — Drone Regulations: El Salvador · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- García & Bodán — About Drones and Law in El Salvador · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−15
- Remote ID−3
- Mandatory insurance−6
- Night flight banned−8
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Duty + VAT ≈ 18 %−11
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works