Plan
Drone rules: Tonga
As of: October 5, 2026
Permit required
You may only fly here with a permit issued by the authorities in advance.
As an incoming pilot you submit the registration form to the Civil Aviation Division; it reviews the form and confirms your operation.
Register every incoming drone with the Civil Aviation Division using its registration form before you fly.
For tourists
Register the drone with the Civil Aviation Division in Nuku'alofa before the first flight, in person or by email; online it can take several working days. A German or EU registration does not apply in Tonga.
Further rules
- According to the Civil Aviation Division, every incoming pilot with a drone must complete and submit a registration form; the authority reviews it and confirms the operation. The rules adopted from New Zealand, Part 101 and Part 102, apply.
- Whether insurance is required is not officially confirmed. Non-official sources give a height limit of 120 metres (400 feet) or the cloud base, if lower; not officially confirmed.
- The available sources contradict each other on the exact weight limit for permit-free operation (15 kilograms in one, 25 kilograms in another) – a definitive figure could not be confirmed.
- According to non-official sources, no-fly zones of 4 kilometres apply around the airports and around the Royal Palace, royal residences and tombs, embassies and military facilities; not officially confirmed. You need the owners' consent to fly over private property.
- A legal flight is possible for tourists, but because registration is required in advance (depending on the source, processing takes from a few days to around two weeks), you should get the process started before your trip.
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.