Plan
Drone rules: Eswatini (Swaziland)
Last checked: October 5, 2026
Permit required
You may only fly here with a permit issued by the authorities in advance.
Every drone operation needs prior ESWACAA approval with consent from the police, army and local authority.
The ESWACAA issues an operating approval that you apply for online; it covers all weight classes from the smallest category (under 1.5 kg) and requires an inspection of the drone. The German registration does not replace it.
Proof of insurance stating the policyholder and sum insured is part of the application.
For tourists
Obtain the ESWACAA approval before your trip; for that you first need written consent from the police, the army and the local authority. Spontaneous flying is not possible in Eswatini.
Further rules
- In Eswatini you need an operating approval from the aviation authority ESWACAA before flying, which you apply for online. The application form covers all weight classes, starting with drones under 1.5 kilograms; there is no exemption for light drones. You first need written consent from the police, army and local authority, and the drone must be available for inspection.
- Proof of liability insurance is an integral part of the application.
- The maximum flight altitude is 120 metres (400 feet), with constant visual contact with the drone.
- No-fly zones apply within 5 kilometres of airports and around royal residences as well as military and government buildings, and you must keep a distance of 50 metres from uninvolved people. Filming or flights in nature conservation areas may require further consent from the competent bodies.
- For projects involving several bodies there is also an omnibus form (including the ICT ministry, revenue authority, police, army and close protection unit); it requires a cooperating organisation which, if private, must have its principal place of business in Eswatini.
- So with enough preparation before your trip, a legal flight in Eswatini is feasible – but nothing happens spontaneously here.
Sources
This overview is not legal advice and not an official statement — laws change, and we cannot guarantee that every entry is fully up to date. Before your flight, please also check the official source or the local civil aviation authority.