Trinidad and Tobago TT
Trinidad and Tobago requires two separate approvals before a drone over 250 g can be legally imported and flown: TATT (the telecom regulator) type-approval/import clearance for the radio equipment — reported to take 5-6 weeks — and a TTCAA meeting/webinar plus registration for drones with a take-off mass of 750 g or more (or capable of 40 m/s). Customs will generally not clear a drone without seeing TATT's approval. This makes Trinidad and Tobago one of the longer lead-time destinations in the region; short-notice tourist trips with a normal camera drone need weeks of preparation, not days.
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 Trinidad and Tobago.
- Bringing your drone in
Drones over 250 g require TATT (Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago) approval as radio equipment before import — this involves completing form N1 and a letter to the TATT CEO stating intended use (private/commercial), weight in grams, and confirmation the drone will be operated within TTCAA guidelines. TATT type-approval is reported to typically take 5-6 weeks once a complete application is submitted. Customs will generally not clear a drone without seeing this TATT approval, independent of any TTCAA flight registration. Trinidad and Tobago's general VAT is 12.5%; no drone-specific duty rate was confirmed. TATT type-approval (or import clearance under the N1 process) is required for drones over 250 g as radio-transmitting equipment, separate from and in addition to TTCAA's aviation-side registration/webinar process. 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 120 m AGL, in visual line of sight, in daylight unless a special permit is granted · Do not fly over people, moving vehicles, or congested areas · Never record people without their permission
Flying
- Fly at or below 120 m AGL, in visual line of sight, in daylight unless a special permit is granted
- Do not fly over people, moving vehicles, or congested areas
- Never record people without their permission
- Check the TTCAA No Fly Zones Webmap before every flight to confirm the area is not restricted
- All foreign operators must meet with TTCAA (a virtual webinar plus a fillable form) before any recreational or commercial operation in Trinidad and Tobago
- UAS with a maximum take-off mass of 750 g or more, or capable of 40 m/s, must be registered with TTCAA; registration is optional for lighter Category 1 drones
Commercial use: Commercial operations, or any activity that goes beyond the basic Civil Aviation Regulations limits, need TTCAA approval plus clearance from relevant stakeholders: an operational-details letter (coordinates, time, duration, altitude), a Letter of Indemnity, and proof of insurance.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Depends on use Mandatory for UAS with a maximum take-off mass (MTOM) of 750 g or more, or a speed of 40 m/s or more; optional for lighter Category 1 drones. All foreign operators, regardless of drone weight, must still attend a TTCAA virtual webinar and complete a fillable form before flying recreationally or commercially. No public fee schedule was found; contact drones@caa.gov.tt to start the process. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Unknown TTCAA foreign-operator webinar/meeting. No standard public knowledge exam was confirmed; instead, all foreign operators must attend a TTCAA webinar/meeting and complete a form before operating. No details on the webinar's content or a separate formal pilot licence were found for recreational visitors. |
| Remote ID | Unknown No broadcast Remote ID requirement was found. Traceability relies on TTCAA registration (750 g+) and the foreign-operator webinar/form process. |
| Insurance | Depends Proof of insurance is explicitly required as part of the approval package for commercial/non-standard operations (alongside an operational-details letter and Letter of Indemnity). No confirmed insurance requirement for straightforward recreational tourist flying was found. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No All foreign operators must meet with TTCAA (webinar plus fillable form) before any recreational or commercial drone use — contact drones@caa.gov.tt to begin. If your drone is over 250 g, also start the TATT N1 import-approval process (form plus a letter to the CEO) well ahead of travel — this step alone commonly takes 5-6 weeks. Given the combined TATT and TTCAA lead times, a normal consumer camera drone (almost always over 250 g) needs roughly six weeks or more of preparation before a trip, not a last-minute arrangement. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 (light) | < 750 g | Registration optional, but foreign operators must still attend the TTCAA webinar/meeting and complete the fillable form before flying. |
| 750 g and over, or ≥ 40 m/s | ≥ 750 g | TTCAA registration mandatory, in addition to the foreign-operator webinar/form. Import also requires prior TATT type-approval/clearance. |
Import & export
- Drones over 250 g require TATT (Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago) approval as radio equipment before import — this involves completing form N1 and a letter to the TATT CEO stating intended use (private/commercial), weight in grams, and confirmation the drone will be operated within TTCAA guidelines. TATT type-approval is reported to typically take 5-6 weeks once a complete application is submitted. Customs will generally not clear a drone without seeing this TATT approval, independent of any TTCAA flight registration. Trinidad and Tobago's general VAT is 12.5%; no drone-specific duty rate was confirmed.
- TATT type-approval (or import clearance under the N1 process) is required for drones over 250 g as radio-transmitting equipment, separate from and in addition to TTCAA's aviation-side registration/webinar process.
- 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.
- Start the TATT N1 application and the TTCAA foreign-operator process well in advance of travel — TATT approval alone has been reported to take 5-6 weeks, and this is on top of any TTCAA registration/webinar step.
- Local news coverage has reported drones being confiscated by Customs and Excise when arriving without the required approvals — do not expect to sort this out on arrival.
Export
- No drone-specific export controls were found; general Trinidad and Tobago 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 | Unknown Validity: Not specified as time-limited in available sources |
|---|---|
| TTCAA foreign-operator webinar/meeting | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + 12.5 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying in Trinidad and Tobago as a tourist Visitors
- Start the TATT import approval early if your drone is over 250 g
Submit form N1 plus a letter to the TATT CEO stating intended use, weight, and confirmation you'll follow TTCAA rules; allow about 5-6 weeks for approval.
- Contact TTCAA and complete the foreign-operator webinar/form
Email drones@caa.gov.tt — all foreign operators must do this before any flight, recreational or commercial. Open
- Register the drone with TTCAA if it's 750 g or heavier
Registration is mandatory at or above this weight (or 40 m/s capability); optional below it, though the webinar/form step still applies.
- Check the No Fly Zones Webmap before every flight
Confirm your planned location is not restricted before taking off.
- Carry your TATT and TTCAA approvals through customs
Customs will generally not clear a drone without seeing TATT's approval — travel with printed or digital copies of everything.
Sources
- Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) — Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/Drones · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast — How to Import a Drone into Trinidad & Tobago: The Ultimate TATT Approval Guide (2026) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- TATT — Equipment Standardisation & Certification · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−5
- Pilot test (mixed)−5
- Remote ID−3
- Mandatory insurance−3
- Night flight permit−6
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Long lead time (42 days)−8
- Import permit−40
- Duty + VAT ≈ 18 %−11
- Radio / type certification−12
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works