Drone Laws in Peru

Peru Drone Regulations

According to Peru’s national aviation authority, Peru’s General Directore of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC), flying a drone is legal in Peru, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

Special Travel Considerations

If you’re traveling to Peru and want to bring your drone, the DGAC lists these special considerations for foreigners who want to fly drones:

• If flying commercially, you’ll need to obtain a certificate. That process is outlined in the final section of this page.
• On entering Peru you must declare your UAV(s) on your customs form, and pay a VAT or tax based on the value of your drone (usually about 18%). You will be given a receipt which will allow you to get the VAT refunded upon exiting the country. If you fail to declare your drone at customs, there may be a fine of $250 USD.

If you’d like to contact the DGAC directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: atencionalciudadano@mtc.gob.pe / + 51 1 615 7800

Why fly a drone in Peru? To get great aerial shots like these!

General Rules for Flying a Drone in Peru

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

• Do not let your drone fly beyond your line of sight.
• Do not fly more than 1 continuous hour.
• Do not fly at night or in bad weather conditions without clear visibility.
• Do not fly higher than 500 feet.
• Maintain a distance of at least 30 meters (98 feet) horizontally and 20 meters (65 feet) vertically from any obstacle such as persons, objects, or buildings.
• Do not fly over people or large crowds.
• Do not fly within 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of airports.
• Do not fly within 30 meters (98 feet) of any road infrastructure.
• Do not fly at speeds faster than 160 kph (100 mph).
• The done cannot throw or drop and objects without specific authorization by the DGAC.

*Notes: Drones may not be flown in Machu Picchu or any historical sites unless you secure an additional permit that allows you to fly your drone at a specific historical site.

For more information on Peru’s drone laws, see this page created by the DGAC.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in Peru? 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 Peru can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Registration Requirements for Flying a Drone in Peru

Registration

• Register it. The operator of a drone will request a registration card from the DGAC Certification and Authorization Directorate in which they will record the equipment data. This document is requested in person at the headquarters of the MTC (Jr. Zorritos 1203, Cercado de Lima) or at the Citizen Service Centers that the sector has in the regions. This procedure takes 48 hours.

After submitting the application, if approved you will be granted a registration card that should be kept with you at all times.

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