Drone Laws in Bhutan

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Kingdom of Bhutan

Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA)

Bhutan Drone Regulations


UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Bhutan

The Bhutan agency responsible for drone safety, BCAA, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details go to the link above to check for recent updates.

Are drones allowed in Bhutan?

According to BCAA, drone operations are limited to government use in Bhutan, subject to regulations provided by the BCAA. Read on for details.

Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Bhutan:

This Regulation is developed in line with section 66(1) of the Civil Aviation Act of Bhutan 2016 and shall apply to the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS):

  1. Having a maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) of up to 6 kg.
  2. Flying outdoors.
  3. Operating in Visual line of sight (VLOS) and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)
  4. Operating during daytime (after sunrise and before sunset – as per Aeronautical Information Publication).
  5. Having MTOW above 6kg and below 25kgs – under exceptional circumstances.
  6. Shall be permitted only for Government organizations.

Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Bhutan

See the general rules above.


Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Bhutan

See the general rules above.


Useful published information on flying drones in Bhutan

Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in Bhutan…


NOTE: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), Small UAS, Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and drone are interchangeable terms unless specified. Model Aircraft, toy, remote-controlled, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.


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Traveling with a Drone?

Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.



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IMPORTANT NOTE

The content on this site (The latest Drone Laws/Drone Regulations) is collated by volunteers from public general information. It is based on user experience, our own research, understanding, and interpretation of the laws. We always go back to the regulatory source as a starting point and apply our expertise in simplifying where possible what the authorities publish. To that understanding, we add our own first hand experience, and users experience to build a more complete picture.

This material is not presented as legal advice of any kind, and we cannot guarantee that the information is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. Do not substitute the information you find here for legal advice from a licensed attorney who is authorized to practice in the jurisdiction. When in doubt, contact the local aviation authority responsible for drone safety, utilize a licensed drone service operator, and/or consult a qualified attorney.

When your experience is different, we want to know. We welcome any feedback, corrections, or updates that can be shared with our community.

Finally, we urge you to operate your drone safely and to follow the drone laws of the location in which you are flying!

The contents of this website are open-sourced and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC By-SA 3.0 US). Feel free to share, remix, or otherwise.

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