Togo TG
Togo's civil aviation authority (ANAC-Togo) requires prior authorisation for every drone flight, including recreational/visitor use — there is no exemption for casual tourist photography. The process has real teeth: a formal Phase 1 application (ANAC Form 025 with technical specs, pilot information, a risk analysis and security measures), a Phase 2 document review plus an in-person test flight supervised by ANAC to verify procedures and pilot competency, and a Phase 3 special authorisation with possible operational restrictions. Separately, the Ministry of Defense must approve the drone's import/entry into Togolese territory and its overflight/landing. A short online pilot portal exists (since August 2024), but this remains a substantial, multi-step process rather than a walk-up permit, so plan well ahead if you want to fly.
Your plan
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2 things to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Togo
Registration with ANAC-Togo is required before any use, mirroring the regional (Senegal/Côte d'Ivoire-style) weight-class framework. No public fee schedule was found; the online portal launched in August 2024 is described as a pilot phase rather than a complete self-service system.
- Pass the ANAC-Togo Operational Authorization (all categories) / Pilot Exploitation Permit (PER) for professional Category C
Online and in person. Even recreational/visitor flying requires ANAC's document review plus an in-person, ANAC-supervised test flight to verify pilot competency (Phase 2 of the Operational Authorization process) — this is heavier than a simple online exam. Category A (recreational/private) has a minimum age of 15; Category B (sport/model-aircraft clubs) minimum age 12; Category C (professional) minimum age 18 and requires the formal PER with theoretical and practical training.
- Bringing your drone in
No personal duty-free drone allowance was confirmed. Beyond ordinary customs treatment, the Ministry of Defense must separately approve the drone's entry into Togolese territory and its overflight/landing — this is required in addition to, not instead of, ANAC's operational authorisation. The Ministry of Defense issues a distinct authorisation covering (a) an import agreement for the drone's entry into Togo and (b) authorisation to overfly/land it on national soil. No public fee schedule or turnaround time was found. Batteries: No Togo-specific lithium-battery rule was found; standard international air-travel limits apply.
- Before each flight
No drone may be operated in Togo without ANAC authorisation — this applies to hobbyist/visitor use as well as commercial operations, with no confirmed tourist exemption · The 'Operational Authorization' process has three phases: (1) submit ANAC Form 025 with technical drone specifications, pilot information/qualifications, a risk analysis, and security measures covering physical, cyber and command-and-control (C2) link security; (2) ANAC reviews the documents and conducts a supervised test flight to verify procedures and pilot competency; (3) ANAC issues a special authorisation, which may include operational restrictions and ongoing compliance monitoring · Operations exceeding 12 months' cumulative duration additionally require Ministry of Transport approval — not relevant to a short tourist trip
Flying
- No drone may be operated in Togo without ANAC authorisation — this applies to hobbyist/visitor use as well as commercial operations, with no confirmed tourist exemption
- The 'Operational Authorization' process has three phases: (1) submit ANAC Form 025 with technical drone specifications, pilot information/qualifications, a risk analysis, and security measures covering physical, cyber and command-and-control (C2) link security; (2) ANAC reviews the documents and conducts a supervised test flight to verify procedures and pilot competency; (3) ANAC issues a special authorisation, which may include operational restrictions and ongoing compliance monitoring
- Operations exceeding 12 months' cumulative duration additionally require Ministry of Transport approval — not relevant to a short tourist trip
- Some sector-specific operations (e.g. medical/vaccine transport) need authorisation from the relevant ministry on top of the above
- An online application pilot launched 5 August 2024 via Togo's national public-services portal, but the underlying multi-phase, test-flight-based process still applies
- Altitude and VLOS limits were not confirmed on an official page; treat the regional norm of roughly 120 m (400 ft) AGL and VLOS-only flying as the likely baseline pending confirmation
Commercial use: Professional (Category C) operators need a Pilot Exploitation Permit (PER), minimum age 18, with theoretical certification and practical training, on top of the same ANAC operational authorisation process described above.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (all drones) Registration with ANAC-Togo is required before any use, mirroring the regional (Senegal/Côte d'Ivoire-style) weight-class framework. No public fee schedule was found; the online portal launched in August 2024 is described as a pilot phase rather than a complete self-service system. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Yes (mixed) ANAC-Togo Operational Authorization (all categories) / Pilot Exploitation Permit (PER) for professional Category C. Even recreational/visitor flying requires ANAC's document review plus an in-person, ANAC-supervised test flight to verify pilot competency (Phase 2 of the Operational Authorization process) — this is heavier than a simple online exam. Category A (recreational/private) has a minimum age of 15; Category B (sport/model-aircraft clubs) minimum age 12; Category C (professional) minimum age 18 and requires the formal PER with theoretical and practical training. |
| Remote ID | No No Remote ID broadcast requirement was found for any operator category. |
| Insurance | No Not mandated for any category; described as recommended but not required for hobbyists and tourists. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Visitors must go through the same ANAC operational authorisation process as residents, including document review and an in-person test flight — there is no confirmed lighter tourist track. No official minimum lead time was found, but given the multi-phase process (application, document review, supervised test flight, then a separate Ministry of Defense import/overflight approval), budget significant time — likely several weeks at minimum. Contact ANAC-Togo directly before your trip to confirm current forms, fees and timelines. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | ≤ 5 kg | Covers Category A (recreational/private, min age 15) and Category B (sport/model-aircraft clubs, min age 12); still requires ANAC operational authorisation before flying. |
| Class 2 | > 5 kg – 25 kg | Same ANAC authorisation framework as Class 1, with correspondingly more scrutiny in the risk-assessment phase. |
| Class 3 | > 25 kg | Professional (Category C) use, requiring the Pilot Exploitation Permit (PER) and the fullest version of ANAC's operational authorisation process. |
Import & export
- No personal duty-free drone allowance was confirmed. Beyond ordinary customs treatment, the Ministry of Defense must separately approve the drone's entry into Togolese territory and its overflight/landing — this is required in addition to, not instead of, ANAC's operational authorisation.
- The Ministry of Defense issues a distinct authorisation covering (a) an import agreement for the drone's entry into Togo and (b) authorisation to overfly/land it on national soil. No public fee schedule or turnaround time was found.
- Batteries: No Togo-specific lithium-battery rule was found; standard international air-travel limits apply.
- Apply for both ANAC operational authorisation and Ministry of Defense import/overflight clearance well before travelling — this is not a same-day or on-arrival process.
- Keep all authorisation paperwork with you and be ready to show it at customs and during any flight.
- The August 2024 online portal (service-public.gouv.tg) may be a useful starting point for submissions, but expect the full multi-phase review to still apply.
Export
- No drone-specific export rule was found; treat cross-border movement of authorised equipment as subject to the same Ministry of Defense oversight that governs its import.
Costs
| Operator registration | Unknown Validity: Not specified publicly; ownership changes require re-registration within two months. |
|---|---|
| ANAC-Togo Operational Authorization (all categories) / Pilot Exploitation Permit (PER) for professional Category C | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in Togo as a visitor Visitors
- Start the ANAC application early
Submit ANAC Form 025 with your drone's technical specifications, pilot information, a risk analysis, and security measures — this is Phase 1 of the Operational Authorization process. Open
- Apply for Ministry of Defense import clearance
Separately from ANAC, request the Defense Ministry's import agreement and overflight/landing authorisation for your drone before bringing it into Togo.
- Expect a document review and test flight
ANAC's Phase 2 includes reviewing your application and conducting a supervised test flight to confirm your procedures and competency as a pilot.
- Receive your special authorisation
Phase 3 issues ANAC's authorisation, which may include specific operational restrictions and ongoing compliance monitoring — carry this with you at all times.
- Try the online portal, but plan for delays
Togo launched an online drone-services application pilot in August 2024 (service-public.gouv.tg), but the underlying multi-step review still applies, so start well ahead of your trip.
Sources
- ANAC-Togo — Espace professionnel: Drones · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Togo Drone Academy — Informations sur la réglementation · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- drone-laws.com — Drone Laws in Togo · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−15
- Pilot test (mixed)−15
- Night flight unknown−3
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Import permit−40
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
- Radio / type certification−12
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works