🖐 In this blog post we’ll share all law links & known rules about recreational & commercial drone use in Colombia (Bogotá). Give a 👍 at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in The Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
Recreational vs Commercial drone use in Colombia
Colombia does not differentiate commercial & recreational drone use - see our post to differentiate recreational vs commercial drone usage. Both are subject to very strict restrictions & a long code of conduct.
✅ In Colombia, drone regulations falls under the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC). They can be contacted via:
Phone: (+57) 1 425 1000
✅ Colombia distinguishes your drone into 2 categories:
Small: less than 25 kg
Big: more than 25 kg (forbidden at this point in time)
Can I travel to Colombia with my drone?
✅ Currently, there are no restrictions on bringing drones within Colombia as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
🚨 However, if you're a local & going overseas bringing back a drone with you, you might face an import duty fee if you do not have proof if was bought prior your Colombian boarding time. So make sure to carry your receipt with you.
🚨 Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
Where can I fly my drone in Colombia?
✅ We did not find an official fly zone map for drones in Colombia "If you have more information about this, please share it in the Forum". Thankfully in the meantime, app.airmap.io has listed all flight zones in a convenient way organised in a 3 color legend.
Colombia Drone Fly Map
🚨 You should not fly above or near military installations & strategic infrastructure. Fly away from airports & any aerodromes or airports in the country. You're also not allowed to fly closer than 1.8 km close to wherever is the president & vice president of Colombia &/or any other & international officials.
🚨 Borders are sensible in Colombia, local drone laws forbid you from flying within 9.2 km close of any of the country's borders.
🦅 National parks & reserves are on a case by case permission & you might need to check directly with the local park or reserve authorities. We are aware that drone use is forbidden in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - see here.
Recreational & Commercial Drone use in Colombia
🚨 You will not need a license to fly your drone for recreational or commercial purposes in Colombia. Additionally each drone should be registered & ask for a permit prior taking off.
Within the permitted zones, you will need to follow a few rules:
mark your drone with your full details & registration number (see below)
fly your drone during daylight at a maximum altitude of 152 m & 750 m max from you.
fly your drone away from property, people (50 m) & respect individuals' privacy.
fly a drone weighting less than 25 kg (🚨 heavier drones are not allowed by law).
fly a drone equipped with non metallic propellers, GPS (& recall function), a backlog system recording images & flight paths (Mavic Pro 2 fits these requirements).
fly 5 km away from airports, heliports & give priority to all other categories of aircraft. If you see an aircraft during your flight, land immediately.
fly 9.2 km away from the country's borders.
you will need an insurance covering third party damages.
stay in touch with the closest air traffic control operator during your flight.
do not carry any animals with your drone &/or drop anything when flying your drone.
How to obtain my drone license in Colombia?
To obtain your drone license in Colombia, you will need to contact a registered training organisation within the country. We did not find an official page referencing them but during our research APD Profesionales de Drones seemed as one of the most legit ones.
✅ Your license will be valid for 6 months, once over, you will need to complete to renew it (without the need to undertake the full course again).
💲 The examination undertaken in registered training organisations will vary according to the one you choose (but you can expect around 4,000€).
💡 You might need find useful to contact someone onsite who already undertaken all these steps; Colombia recently published this list of licensed drone operators & the drone model they fly.
How to register my drone in Colombia?
✅ One simple step is required here, simply complete the Solicitud Inclusion en la Base de Datos RPAS de la UAEAC Form & send it to: Secretaria de Seguridad Aérea Av. Eldorado 103-15, Primer Piso Nuevo Edificio Aerocivil, Bogotá, D. C. – Colombia. Make sure to include the following documentation & information:
the owner's full contact and personal details
the full details of the drone pilot (if not the owner)
your drone's complete technical information.
How to ask for a permit to fly my drone in Colombia?
✅ One simple step is required here, simply complete the Solicitud de Permiso para Operacion RPAS ante la UAEAC Form & send it to: Direccion de Servicios a la Navegacion Aérea, Av. Eldorado 103-15, Primer Piso Nuevo Edificio Aerocivil, Bogotá, D. C. – Colombia. Make sure to include the following documentation & information:
the owner's full contact and personal details
the full details of the drone pilot (if not the owner)
your registration and license numbers (identification)
a complete explanation of where, when and how you want to fly (you will need to justify why this can't be done by plane 🙃).
🚨 You will need to ask each single you wish to undertake a different flight
🕔 Allow 15 working days to process according to Colombian administration, we recommend send it as soon as possible.
What do I risk for flying a drone illegally in Colombia?
The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction and/or if you had any commercial purposes to do such.
Once you've got everything in order, you can start flying above Colombia's awesome landscapes and create videos like this one:
✅ Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in the Colombia! Have fun and safe flight!
Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about local drone rules and regulations.
Other resources
Register my drone in Colombia form (in Spanish)
Permission to fly your drone form (in Spanish)
Source