Plan

Drone rules: Pakistan

Last checked: October 5, 2026

Permit required

You may only fly here with a permit issued by the authorities in advance.

Pakistan's import policy requires a prior no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence to import camera-capable drones. Registration with the PCAA (decision within up to 60 days) and a remote pilot licence from 250 g are reported under the 2024 drone rules but have not been conclusively confirmed by official sources.

Travel check for PakistanChecklist for your trip: registration, insurance, drone and batteries on the plane.

Maximum altitude

Unknown

Registration

Not clearly documented

Registration with the PCAA under the Civil Unmanned Aircraft Rules 2024, valid for three years according to press reports; not conclusively confirmed by official sources. The German operator ID does not count.

Insurance

Not clearly documented

According to available information drone insurance is mandatory; not conclusively documented officially.

Depending on drone weight

From 250 gFrom 250 g also a Pakistani remote pilot licence and an approved tracking system
From 10 kgFrom 10 kg the import also needs clearance from the Ministry of Defence

For tourists

Allow at least two months for registration and licence; without them you risk confiscation at customs. The German Foreign Office warns against travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the border areas with India and advises against Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Photographing barracks and public facilities can be considered espionage.

Further rules

According to the Civil Unmanned Aircraft Rules 2024 of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) as reported in the press, standard operations are limited to a maximum altitude of 200 feet (around 60 metres), in daylight and within line of sight only; anything beyond that requires special approval from the Director General. Whether this version is in force has not been officially confirmed.
Drones are divided into four classes by take-off weight: up to 250 grams, over 250 grams to 10 kilograms, 10 to 25 kilograms and 25 to 100 kilograms. From 250 grams a PCAA remote pilot licence is required, and importing classes from 10 kilograms also needs clearance from the Ministry of Defence.
Registration in the Pakistani aircraft register is mandatory for residents and foreigners alike; for tourists the process is a considerable practical hurdle, as several sources cite a processing time of up to 60 days and a security check by the Ministry of Interior or Ministry of Defence, which practically rules out simply packing a drone in your holiday luggage.
Under the Import Policy Order 2022, air vehicles with an HD camera and high-speed Wi-Fi transmission may only be imported with a prior no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence. Without it, you risk customs holding the drone.
Insurance is mandatory for drone pilots aged 18 and over.
Restricted zones exist over cities, within 6 to 12 kilometres of aerodromes, over territorial waters, near national borders and around military and security-relevant facilities; violations of the registration requirement can be fined up to 100,000 Pakistani rupees plus 10,000 rupees per day of continued violation.

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.