Drone Laws in Cuba [Can You Fly a Drone in Cuba in 2024?]

Cuba has a beautiful and fascinating history, diverse culture, and stunning natural beauty. If you have only seen Cuba in the Fast & Furious movie, you have missed its beauty.

You should get out of the film and see the actual country. And the question will you be allowed to fly your drone in Cuba?

As you know, if you are a drone pilot, you will take your drone out of the box and try to fly it. But what are the drone laws in Cuba, and will you be allowed to fly them?

According to the government of Cuba, if you are not a Cuban, you cannot fly your drone in the country. As a foreign drone pilot, you cannot fly your drone in Cuba; you must hire a pilot. If you try to bring your drone with you from another country, then your drone will be confiscated.

So in this article, we will learn about the drone laws in Cuba and will know what you can do to fly your drone there.

If it is possible to bring your drone to Cuba, then it will be told in this article. You can also know who controls drone laws in Cuba. Let’s see about it.

Who controls drone laws in Cuba?

Flying a drone in Cuba is not allowed by the authority called the Institute of Civil Aeronautics of Cuba(IACC).

It is the authority that manages all of the aviation-related rules and also includes the drone rules. In Cuba, IACC is the authority that issues drone regulations.

So all of the processes like registering the drone, getting the permits, and asking the helps is done through IACC. If we talk about drone pilots, the authority gives drone laws for commercial and recreational pilots.

If you are a Cuban and want to fly your drone in Cuba, then let me tell you that it is not the only authority permitting you to fly a drone in a specific place. Other authorities like the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior exist.

If you are looking for the IACC, visit their website here and always check the latest drone laws before flying to Cuba.

What is a drone in Cuba?

According to the government of Cuba, a drone is something that is flown without a pilot and is piloted remotely. Most of the time, drones in Cuba are used for sports, but those sports are only for some.

Cuban people fly their drones for recreational purposes for playing games, and they are only allowed when they are members of the Cuban Aviation Club. It is the club that organizes sports for people in Cuba.

The drone pilots in Cuba do much work that the other world does. Still, they are the specific drone pilots, and nobody else can do their tasks like photography, news coverage, inspection, mapping, surveying, and other jobs.

What are the rules for flying a drone in Cuba?

Drone laws are essential for every drone pilot. With drone laws, anything right can happen on a smaller and enormous scale. Accordingly, the Cuban government has also made some drone rules that are very important for you. Below are all of them.

General drone laws in Cuba:

Here are more laws

I know there are so many questions in your head right now, and I want you to do one thing. Below are some contact details.

Ask the help for the IACC because that is the authority responsible for all of the drone laws in Cuba. Here are their contact details: webmaster@iacc.gov.cu / +53 537 834-4949.

What are the drone laws in Cuba for commercial and recreational drone pilots?

All of the drone laws in Cuba for commercial and recreational drone pilots are regulated through the IACC authority. The general drone laws I have explained in Cuba are also essential for commercial and recreational drone pilots.

READ MORE: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DRONE LAWS

So make sure you follow them and the below rules as well. Below are some essential rules for commercial and recreational drone pilots.

Drone laws in Cuba for commercial drone pilots:

Drone operators must obtain a permit from the IACC before conducting commercial drone operations.

Drone laws in Cuba for recreational drone pilots:

So these are the different commercial and recreational drone laws in Cuba; if you want to know more, contact the IACC. And now, let’s learn about the drone laws for foreign drone operators.

What are the drone laws for a foreign drone operator in Cuba?

Unfortunately, a foreign drone operator cannot fly his drone in Cuba. So if you are considering bringing your drone to Cuba, please do not bring your drone here.

If there is so much essential for you that you want to get video footage of Cuba, then you can hire a drone pilot from Cuba.

Stay close to him and tell him how you want the video footage of a specific place in Cuba. I know it’s disappointing, but I am sorry I can do nothing. You can use Instagram or any other social media platform and find a good drone pilot in Cuba.

What will happen if you bring a drone to Cuba?

It is a fascinating question that I have added to this article. So let’s know about it. When you enter the country with a drone, then as the customs officer sees your drone, it will be confiscated. It will be confiscated, and you will be asked so many questions.

They can ask why you brought a drone to Cuba and maybe even more complex questions. So please be patient and polite as much as possible and honestly tell them everything.

If you remain polite and answer the officers’ questions, they will take your drone and let you enter the country without it. It is told by many of drone pilots say that when they leave the country then, the officers will return their drones.

But it is more challenging than it looks because when you leave the country, you must again request and ask the officers to return your drone.

It is also seen that you must request a reshipment of your drone at least 30 days before leaving the country.

Is there any possibility of flying a drone in Cuba as a foreign drone operator?

The good news is, yes, there is a way to fly your drone in Cuba. According to the government of Cuba, there is an authority called the Ministry of the revolutionary armed forces, and you can get permission from a particular group called the Joint National or Regional Center.

But here is the problem: the authority has added a new rule, and only the Cuban Aviation Club drone pilots can ask permission.

So this is where you need to use your sense. It is possible to get consent from the Cuban Aviation Club and become a member.

READ MORE: Drone laws in Denver

But the members of this club can only fly the drones in the expressly granted places, and if you want to fly your drone somewhere else, you will need to ask for permission from IACC.

If you fly your drone in Cuba for commercial use, you will need permission from the GEOCUBA business group.

But to get permission from the GECUBA business group, you will need permission from the Ministry of the Revolutionary armed forces.

If you want temporary approval to fly your drone in Cuba, you must ask permission from the GEOCUBA business group.

So after discussing all of this approval and permission process, you will get the approval to fly your drone in Cuba, but there is no guarantee that all of these authorities will permit you.

Is there only a ban on DJI drones in Cuba?

No, the ban is on all drones, not only a single drone brand. If you bring any device that can fly without or with a pilot is banned in Cuba. You can also not get the DJI mini 2 or any sized drone in Cuba.

According to the authorities, you cannot bring any drone with different models, sizes, shapes, brands, and anything. If you think your drone does not have an installed camera with it and you think it is allowed in Cuba, then you are wrong.

The IACC does not allow any drone that has installed the camera. So be careful that you cannot bring your drone to Cuba as a foreign drone operator.

Can you import a drone to Cuba?

Yes, you can import a drone to Cuba. You have the option to import accessories and components for your drone through the GEOCUBA business group, provided they grant approval for the import.

This authority only allows you to import your drone with the IACC’s permission. You must import or bring your drone to Cuba with an IACC license. So if you want to fly or import your drone, you must contact the IACC.

I have given the contact information up there. Check it out.

If you still need to understand, it is advisable to consult with the relevant Cuban government agencies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment, or a licensed import/export agent to obtain current information on import regulations and requirements.

Also, consider hiring a customs broker to help you navigate the import process and ensure compliance with all necessary regulations.

What will happen if you fly your drone in Cuba illegally?

Now here is the best part of the article. I have told you about flying drones in Cuba and many drone laws. Now let’s talk about violating those drone laws and what bad will happen to you.

First of all, we will know what things you can violate.

The important rules to not violate:

Important FAQs

Final Thoughts

This island country is a beautiful country that you can visit. Now if you are planning to bring your drone to Cuba, then according to the government of Cuba, you are not allowed to fly there.

But there are ways, and you can fly them by following them.

You can ask in the comment box if you have any other queries besides drone laws in Cuba. I also want a favor from you; please let me know in the comments if you know something about drones in Cuba.

So have you ever flown a drone in Cuba in history, or is this your first time?

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