Vanuatu VU
Vanuatu requires every drone and operator — resident or visiting — to be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV) and each flight approved in advance: applications need a flight plan, exact location, date/time and height/radius, and take about 5 business days to process. Foreign drones must be registered before arrival and are checked at customs; camera-equipped drones flown by visitors also need separate registration with the Vanuatu Cultural Centre.
Your plan
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1 thing to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Vanuatu
Every drone and operator must register with CAAV and obtain a Reference Number (RARN) before flying; foreign visitors must complete this before arrival. Secondary sources cite a combined fee of roughly USD 50 (individual) plus USD 50 (drone), but CAAV's own official fee schedule (likely quoted in Vatu, VUV) was not directly confirmed — verify the exact current amount with CAAV before applying. Camera-equipped drones flown by foreign visitors additionally need registration with the Vanuatu Cultural Centre. Allow about 5 days before your trip.
Open official page - Bringing your drone in
No blanket personal-use exemption was found. Foreign drones must be registered with CAAV before arrival and are subject to inspection at customs; bringing an unregistered drone risks delay or issues at the border. 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 Vanuatu-specific confirmation was found.
- Before each flight
Maximum altitude 120 m in uncontrolled airspace · No flying over residential areas, villages or cultural sites without permission · Stay at least 4 km from airports, airstrips and helipads
Flying
- Maximum altitude 120 m in uncontrolled airspace
- No flying over residential areas, villages or cultural sites without permission
- Stay at least 4 km from airports, airstrips and helipads
- Get local landowner/village permission before flying, and do not fly over crowds or ceremonies without approval
- Aircraft must not exceed 25 kg
- Minimum age to register as a drone pilot is 16
Commercial use: Commercial operations go through the same CAAV application process (flight plan, coordinates, date/time, height/radius) with an RPAS licence where applicable; expect closer scrutiny and possibly longer lead times than a simple recreational flight.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (all drones) Every drone and operator must register with CAAV and obtain a Reference Number (RARN) before flying; foreign visitors must complete this before arrival. Secondary sources cite a combined fee of roughly USD 50 (individual) plus USD 50 (drone), but CAAV's own official fee schedule (likely quoted in Vatu, VUV) was not directly confirmed — verify the exact current amount with CAAV before applying. Camera-equipped drones flown by foreign visitors additionally need registration with the Vanuatu Cultural Centre. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Sometimes RPAS licence, where applicable, submitted as part of the CAAV flight application. The CAAV application form asks for an RPAS licence 'if applicable', implying a licence is required for some operations; details of the licensing scheme itself were not found on the public site. |
| Remote ID | Unknown No Remote ID broadcast requirement found in available sources. |
| Insurance | No Not legally required per secondary sources, but recommended for both hobbyists and tourists. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Apply to CAAV (info@caav.vu) before travelling: include flight plan, exact location (map coordinates), date/time, height/radius, RPAS licence if applicable, and a copy of your passport. Processing takes about 5 business days, so apply well ahead of your trip rather than on arrival. If your drone has a camera, also register it with the Vanuatu Cultural Centre before flying near villages or cultural sites. Get local landowner or village permission before flying, even after CAAV approval. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| All drones, up to 25 kg | ≤ 25 kg | Must register with CAAV (operator + drone), obtain a flight-specific approval (about 5 business days), stay 120 m AGL, 4 km from airports/airstrips/helipads, and avoid villages/cultural sites without permission. |
Import & export
- No blanket personal-use exemption was found. Foreign drones must be registered with CAAV before arrival and are subject to inspection at customs; bringing an unregistered drone risks delay or issues at the border.
- No separate radio/type-approval scheme for drones was confirmed beyond the CAAV registration/permit 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 Vanuatu-specific confirmation was found.
- Register the drone and operator with CAAV, and obtain the RARN reference number, before travelling to Vanuatu.
- Camera-equipped drones brought by foreign visitors need separate registration with the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, reflecting sensitivity around filming villages and cultural sites.
- Exact duty/VAT treatment for a personal drone was not confirmed; ask CAAV or Vanuatu Customs directly.
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; a fee restructuring took effect under Decision 1 of 2025 (from January 2026) and an earlier fee requirement began September 2024 |
|---|---|
| RPAS licence, where applicable, submitted as part of the CAAV flight application | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in Vanuatu as a tourist Visitors
- Register with CAAV before you travel
Email info@caav.vu with your flight plan, coordinates, date/time, height/radius, RPAS licence (if any) and passport copy. Open
- Allow about 5 business days for approval
CAAV needs a specific flight plan, not just a blanket registration, so apply early.
- Register camera drones with the Vanuatu Cultural Centre too
This separate registration applies specifically to foreign visitors with camera-equipped drones.
- Stay within the standard limits
120 m AGL, 4 km from airports/airstrips/helipads, avoid villages and cultural sites without permission.
- Get local permission on the ground
Ask landowners or village authorities before flying, even with CAAV approval in hand.
Sources
- Vanuatu Tourism Office — Photography & Drone Permits in Vanuatu · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV) — Civil Aviation Act · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- drone-laws.com — Vanuatu Drone Laws · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−15
- Pilot test (unknown)−5
- Remote ID−3
- Night flight unknown−3
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- 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