š In this blog post weāll share all drone law links & known regulation around recreational & commercial drone use in Tunisia (Tunis). Give a š 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 Tunisia
Tunisia does not seem to differentiate commercial & recreational drone use - see our post to differentiate recreational vs commercial drone usage. Local rules are however really strict, you may ask for a permission by seeking the help of a local established company which seems to be the easiest way today.
šØ For the moment, drone use is under the responsibility of the Tunisian Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA), they can be contacted via:
Phone: (+216) 71 754 000
A current process for obtaining permission does exist but it is so uncertain & unclear that we prefer not to expose our findings on it for the moment. If you're interested in further read on this subject, we found this post (in French) as the most complete to date.
Can I travel with my drone to Tunisia?
šØ Drones are not welcome in Tunisia without prior permission. The Tunisian international airports (Tunis, Djerba & Monastir) are infamous for their bag checks & it seems hard to go through without being asked to open them so you better declare it. Be aware upon return that there is a very little chance that your drone passes again the on boarding x-rays. In both scenarios your drone gets found:
upon arrival, it will be confiscated and stored in your arrival airport, if you want to retrieve it you can do such by departing from the same airport.
upon departure (from Tunisia), it will be ceased & you might face heavier sanctions as you imported illegally a drone in the county.
šØ 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.
š¢ If you thought coming by boat would help, think again.
How to retrieve my drone at Tunisian airport customs?
First things first, you should declare it upon arrival to avoid complications if found upon your departure time.
You will need to return from the same airport as they've essentially stored your drone upon your return.
48 H prior the end of your holiday over & you return to the same airport, contact the airport customs to inform them of your return so they have your drone ready for you.
On your return day, allow extra time in case they "forgot" your call.
Where can I fly my drone in Tunisia?
šØ Do not fly your drone if you do not have a permit.
What do I risk for flying a drone illegally in Tunisia?
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. With this in mind, you risk one or a combination of:
a fine
jail time
your drone cease
ā The excellent news is that once you're there & if you got the permissions, you can start flying above Tunisia's awesome landscapes & create videos like this one:
ā Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Tunisia!
Disclaimer: Although greatĀ 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 authoritiesĀ for needed information about local drone regulations.
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