Drone Regulations in Nepal

Drones have become a must-have gadget for professional and aspiring travel photographers, videographers, and influencers. Who wouldn't love to have a few breathtaking aerial shots of their trip on the socials?

As impressive as drone shots are and provide an excellent aerial overview of destinations and landmarks, operating them also requires some legwork to obtain permits and learn the regulations of the area you plan to shoot in.

If you plan to travel to Nepal and use a drone during your trip, you need to know a few things about the regulations for drone use in this country. Note that there are different regulations for different kinds of drones in Nepal.

Are drones allowed in Nepal? Can you bring a drone while trekking, climbing, and city tours?

Legally, drones are allowed to be used in Nepal. However, you must follow the proper procedure and obtain flying permits to use your drone. There are different regulations in city and national parks. Travelers must get permission from the related authorities of the area where they plan to shoot footage by drone.

Foreigners need the following documents with a letter to operate a drone while traveling in Nepal:

• Synopsis of the project
• Itinerary
• Registration of drone
• Equipment list
• Authorization letter from relevant authorities
• Authorization letter for your local travel partner

General drone rules and laws in Nepal

We have made a list of Nepal's general drone rules and laws for travelers. All the information mentioned below is strictly for travel drone footage. If your drone footage is for another purpose, you must follow different rules. Kindly talk to the local authority for more information or check the official site of the Civil Aviation Body of Nepal (CAAN).

• Travelers must register their drones and obtain the necessary permissions from the Department of Tourism, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Information Department Office, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
• If you plan to shoot drone videos or photos while trekking or climbing, you must also get a permit from the concerned national park or Conservation Area Authority.
• If your drone weighs less than 2 kg and flies below 200 Feet, you will not need approval from these many government departments.
• Likewise, if you plan to fly above 200 meters from the ground, clearly mention it to the authority and get clearance.
• An experienced and knowledgeable pilot must operate the drone.
• Do not jeopardize the security and safety of nearby aircraft. Flying drones within the airport or nearby is prohibited.
• Flying a drone without permission is not illegal, and doing so will involve penalties and legal actions.
• Do not fly a drone more than 500 meters from your standing point.
• Keep the drone in visibility.
• Do not fly drones within 50 meters of vehicles, buildings, and construction sites.
• Do not hurt people while flying drones, and do not damage anything.
• While flying to Nepal with your drone, make sure to check and follow the airline's drone travel policies.

Airline regulation for drones in Nepal

• If your trip to Nepal includes domestic flights, you should know the following things:
• First, every airline has specific rules for flying with a drone. The regulations usually include restrictions on the size and weight of the drone. Travelers may need extra packaging and documentation.
• Your drone should not be equipped with any dangerous material.
• You have to remove the batter of the drone before the security check. Stone the drone and battery separately.
• Carry the drone in a sturdy, padded bag/container for safety.
• Label your drone to pass by the security check quickly.
• We recommend carrying a drone in the cabin luggage instead of a check-in bag (unless you have a dedicated check-in bag that will ensure your drone's safety).

Custom clearance in Nepal

Upon landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, travelers must clear their drones. You must present a few documents to get the customs clearance certificate.

Drone registration in Nepal

In Nepal, it is mandatory to register any flying equipment used for any purpose with the Civil Aviation Authority Nepal (CAAN) and receive a UIN (unique identification number) for your device. You must mark your device with the given UIN number.

To obtain the UIN number, you must complete a registration form at the Flight Safety Standard Department (FSSD). Carry your drone and the below documents with you while visiting FSSD:

• Duly filled RPA/Form/001 for drone registration (application form)
• Passport-size colored photo
• Picture of drone showing its serial number
• Copy of your passport with at least six months of validity and Nepal visa
• Tribhuvan International Airport Custom Declaration of drone
• Registration fee that is USD 10 + 13% VAT
• Purpose of operation and commitment Letter – RPA/Form/002

Category of drone

Category Operations Weight

• A: Very low risk , Less than 250 gms
• B: Low risk 250 gms to 2 kg
• C: Regulated low-risk 2 kg to 25 kg
• D: Regulated high risk Above 25 kg

Step-by-step process to get a drone permit in Nepal

Follow the below instructions to register your drone and get a permit in Nepal:

Step 1:

• Register your drone with CAAN and obtain the Unique Identification Number (UIN).
• If your drone weighs less than 2 kg, you can get approval from the District Administration Office. However, if it weighs more than 2kg, you must visit the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Information Department Office for approval.
• Foreigners must get permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Tourism, Concerned Conservation Area/ National Parks, and CAAN.
• If your drone has a bandwidth exceeding 2.4 MHz, clearance from the Information Department is mandatory.

Step 2:

• Upon approval, complete the application form and all the documents mentioned above.
• Please provide details of why you are using the drone, the desired area and location with a Google/Flight location map, and the time you will fly the drone. This information must be mentioned clearly.

Step 3:

• Letters of compliance issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, and Ministry of Defence of Nepal.
• A letter from your local guide/trekking agency.
• Your passport, visa, and general information.
• A letter from the drone operator (you) pledging to follow the regulations
• After you submit all the documents, the concurrent authority will thoroughly review them before they permit you to fly a drone.

Drone Permit validity

• Once your drone permit is issued, it is valid for only three months. After this duration, you can apply for an extension.

Drone Permit cancellation

You must be responsible and follow the regulations. The agency that issues your drone permit can also cancel it if you violate the rules. So, be wise while flying your drone.

Flying a drone during trekking or climbing in national parks/conservation areas in Nepal

The trekking regions in Nepal are breathtaking. The lush valleys, verdant hills, deep gorges, picturesque villages, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, rocky peaks, rivers, lakes, and streams create unimaginable views. We understand trekkers would love to capture aerial shots. Nepal's trekking routes and mountains are protected under a national park or conservation area. So, if you want to use a drone during a trip to the Himalayas, you must get permits from the local authorities.

The process is the same as mentioned above and only requires one additional permit from the related Department of National Park and Conservation Area.

For instance, if you want to use a drone during the famous Everest Base Camp trek, you have to follow the below rules to get a permit:

• Register your drone with CAAN and get your UIN.
• Submit a map of the area showing where you will use a drone, including location coordinates and dates on which you will use the drone.
• Submit drone permit application to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MOCIT).
• MOCIT will send an agreement letter to the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, including the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
• Once you receive clearance from all the authorities, pay the permit fee and obtain the documents.

Operational guidelines and no-fly zones

Flying drones safely requires experience and knowledge. Make sure you can handle your drone and have flown it previously. Apart from obtaining drone permits, you must follow the flying instructions set by the authorities to ensure everyone's safety.

For example, do not fly a drone at night or during low visibility. There is no fixed period of the day during which you can fly a drone. However, it is advised not to fly drones in low visibility to prevent unseen accidents.

Likewise, the below places are no-fly zones in Nepal:

• Do not fly within 1000 meters of Military ground and high-security zones.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites and sacred temples.
• Maitighar Mandala
• Airports and international borders up to a radius of 5km.
• The official residences of the President, Prime Minister, and other important officials and Singh Durbar are within a 1 km radius.
• Conflict zones.

Safety and privacy concerns

Flying a drone is fun and exciting. But you also have to consider your surroundings and ensure others' safety. We highly suggest travelers check their drone's condition before flying. Likewise, study the surroundings and check the weather.

If you are on a trekking route, climb to an upper level to see the surrounding geography, trees, etc. It will help you plan perfect shots and prevent your drone from getting hit and falling. Also, ensure you are not disturbing fellow trekkers, animals, and birds.

Similarly, do not invade other people's privacy and ask them if they are okay with being included in your drone footage. Also, get permission from private property owners to avoid unnecessary legal actions. We have shared some more helpful information below:

• Fly 50 meters away from buildings, people, and other objects.
• Ask local authorities about drone regulation in the area.
• Check your drone before flying it.
• Always have your permits and necessary documents on you.
• Do not fly near no-fly zones.
• Do not harm anyone or anything while flying the drone.
• Respect people's privacy and do not invade private spaces.
• Do not fly a drone if the weather is foggy or hazy. Your drone must be within your vision.
• Keep your drone under 200 meters.

Penalties for non-compliance

Breaking the rules will result in legal action by the authorities, including penalties and arrests in worse situations. Depending upon the gravity of the breach, you may have to pay NPR 2000 to NPR 5000 as a penalty. The authorities can also seize your drone.

Your device may also get sized if you have not obtained all the necessary permits. Likewise, you may face legal action if you harm people, violate others' privacy, or damage property while flying a drone.

Below, we have shared some drone law violations and potential consequences:

One of the grave mistakes you can make as a foreign traveler in Nepal is flying your drone without permission and getting caught. It is a straight-up crime to fly a drone without permission, and this violation can lead to hefty fines, the seizing of the drone, and other legal actions.

• Flying drones in no-fly zones and restricted areas would lead to the seizure of your drone and severe legal punishment.
• Causing harm to another person and private/public property while flying a drone will result in a fine. Likewise, you may be liable for the losses, and your drone permits may be canceled.
• A privacy breach is considered severe. You may get arrested and face legal consequences.
• Irresponsible drone operations will lead to arrests and serious legal charges.

I hope, you are able to get some helpful information about the Drone use in Nepal.