Plan
Drone rules: Tanzania
Last checked: October 5, 2026
Permit required
You may only fly here with a permit issued by the authorities in advance.
As a visitor you need an import permit from the aviation authority TCAA, registration of drone and pilot, and an operations permit before arrival – all at least three weeks in advance online. Without an import permit the drone is confiscated on arrival.
Every drone must be registered with the TCAA; you also have to register yourself as the pilot.
Third-party liability insurance is required; the TCAA can grant exemptions depending on the class and category of the drone.
For tourists
Flying over national parks such as Serengeti and Ngorongoro is prohibited without permission from the park authority. Spontaneous flying is not possible in Tanzania.
Further rules
- In Tanzania you register both the drone and yourself as pilot with the aviation authority TCAA. Without a TCAA import permit, the drone is confiscated on arrival.
- According to the TCAA, visitors go through four steps at least three weeks before arrival: import permit, drone registration, pilot registration, operations permit. Applications go through the TCAA online portal or to drones@tcaa.go.tz.
- Third-party liability insurance is required. You may fly no higher than 400 feet (about 120 m) above ground and must keep 50 m from other people, vehicles, vessels and structures.
- Without permission from the aerodrome operator, air navigation services and the TCAA, keep 10 km from larger aerodromes (code C to F) and 7 km from smaller ones (code A and B). Flights take place in daylight only; night flights need authorisation. According to non-official sources, national parks also require a permit from the park authority.
- Flying without registration or authorisation risks a fine of at least one million shillings, up to six months in prison, or both. For other violations the drone can be confiscated.
- A legal flight is possible for tourists, but only with plenty of preparation before the trip – flying spontaneously isn't an option in Tanzania.
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.