Drone Laws in Nepal

Nepal Drone Regulations

According to Nepal’s national aviation authority, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), flying a drone is legal in Nepal, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

If you’d like to contact the CAAN directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: +977 1 426 2387

Why fly a drone in Nepal? To get aerial shots of beautiful spots like this!

General Rules for Flying a Drone in Nepal

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Nepal.

• For drones weighing more than 2 kilograms (4.5 pounds) that fly 400 feet or more above ground level, prior authorization from the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the CAAN is required before operating a drone in Nepal. The application for authorization can be found here.
• Drones weighing less than 2 kilograms (4.5 pounds) do not require authorization from the CAAN, so long as if they are flown on private property and under 200 feet.
• Do not fly drones in a reckless manner.
• Do not fly drones higher than 120 meters (394 feet).
• Do not fly drones further than 500 meters (1,640 feet).
• Drones may not be used to drop articles or animals.
• Do not fly drones over or within 150 meters (492 feet) of any congested area.
• Do not fly drones over or within 150meters (492 feet) of an organized open-air assembly of more than 1,000 persons.
• Do not fly within 50 meters (164 feet) of any vessel, vehicle, or structure.
• Operators must maintain unaided visual sight with the drones.
• Airports areas must be kept clear of all drone activity.

For more information on Nepal’s drone laws, see this page on the CAAN website.

Local Rules for Flying a Drone in Nepal

These are rules we’ve found that apply to specific sites or areas in Nepal.

National Trust for Nature Conservation//Annapurna Conservation Area

Drones are not allowed in the Annapurna Conservation Area without obtaining valid permission from 1) Ministry of Home Affairs, 2) Department of Tourism, 3) Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, and 4) the Concerned Conservation Area Project. For research and study purposes, permission needs to be obtained from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation along with permission from the previously mentioned authorities.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in Nepal? Send us an email at support@horizonap.com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in Nepal can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Nepal? Here you go: