Drone Laws in Ecuador

Written by Francis Markert | Last update on 8. October 2026 | 13 comments

On this page, you’ll find the current drone laws in Ecuador. A new set of rules has applied since December 2024: If you fly for fun, you don’t need a permit, but you must register any drone weighing 250 grams or more with the civil aviation authority.

In Ecuador, drone operations are governed by RDAC 101 of the civil aviation authority DGAC (Dirección General de Aviación Civil). It has applied since December 11, 2024, and replaced the old Resolution 251/2015. RDAC 101 explicitly applies to foreigners as well. It distinguishes two categories:

• Open category (abierta): recreational flights with drones under 4 kilograms. You need neither a permit nor a drone license.
• Specific category (específica): all commercial flights. These require an operating permit, a pilot authorization from the DGAC and liability insurance.

Overview: Drone rules in Ecuador

Registration: mandatory from 250 grams

You must enter every drone with a take-off mass of 250 grams or more in the DGAC’s online register, even if you only fly for fun. You provide, among other things, your ID number, your address, and the manufacturer, model, take-off mass and serial number of the drone, and upload photos of the drone from above, the front and the side. You must display the registration number you receive legibly on the drone.

Unclear for travelers: According to RDAC 101, foreigners must register as well. The same annex, however, states that only Ecuadorian citizens and foreigners resident in Ecuador aged 18 or over may register. The regulation does not say whether or how tourists can register their drone. We recommend asking the DGAC before your trip. If you have already tried it, please share your experience in the comments.

Rules for recreational flights in Ecuador

• Maximum altitude: 122 meters (400 feet) above ground
• Visual line of sight only (VLOS). If you fly with FPV goggles, you need an observer.
• Minimum age: 14, under adult supervision
• Technology: Your drone must have active remote identification (Remote ID) and a geofencing function.
• Night flights are allowed if your drone has position or anti-collision lights that show its direction of flight.
• No flights over people who are not involved in the operation
• In cities and residential areas: at least 30 meters from uninvolved people and from buildings
• Automated flight modes are only allowed if you can take control at any time, and only up to 1,000 meters from the take-off point.

Before flying in Ecuador, you are also expected to review the introductory drone material on the DGAC website. There is no test.

Airports and no-fly zones

At controlled airports, drones are prohibited in a rectangle extending 600 meters on either side of the runway centerline and three kilometers beyond each runway end, plus a further five kilometers along the approach and departure paths. At uncontrolled airfields, a radius of 1.8 kilometers applies, and at heliports a radius of 0.9 kilometers.

Without permission from the responsible authority, you also may not fly:

• in controlled airspace
• near hospitals, military and police bases and strategic infrastructure
• over concerts, festivals, sporting events and other gatherings
• over nature reserves and areas of indigenous communities

Galápagos: no recreational flights

The protected areas of the Galápagos Islands have their own rules set by the national park authority. Since March 2026, drones there are only permitted for research, rescue operations, environmental monitoring and authorized film and photo productions. Recreational flights are not provided for. Flying without a permit can lead to sanctions, and photos or videos posted on social media can be used as evidence. Since the national park covers almost the entire land area of the islands, it’s best to leave your drone at home for a Galápagos trip.

Commercial flights and insurance

Ecuador does not require drone insurance for recreational flights with drones under 4 kilograms. You are still personally liable for any damage, so insurance is a good idea. For commercial flights with drones over 250 grams, liability insurance is mandatory. The minimum coverage depends on the take-off mass:

• 251 grams to 5 kilograms: 3,000 US dollars
• over 5 to 25 kilograms: 6,000 US dollars
• over 25 to 50 kilograms: 10,000 US dollars
• over 50 kilograms: 15,000 US dollars

Entering Ecuador with a drone: customs

According to Ecuadorian customs, travelers may bring in one drone worth up to 1,000 US dollars duty-free, new or used. Import duties apply to more expensive drones.

A few years ago, the Ecuadorian embassy told us that drones used for professional purposes can be exempt from duties. You have to prove that the equipment is intended for your work, for example with a description of the planned assignments and proof of your profession as a photographer. The drone must leave the country once the work is completed. This information is not recent, so it’s best to check with customs again before your trip.

New aviation law since October 2026

A new aviation law (Ley Orgánica de Aviación Civil) came into force in Ecuador on October 2, 2026. It confirms mandatory registration from 250 grams. According to press reports, drones bought abroad will have to meet technical and administrative requirements before customs releases them, and serious violations can lead to high fines. How this will be applied to travelers in practice is still open. We will update this article as soon as the civil aviation authority publishes more information.

Have you flown a drone in Ecuador? Leave us a comment below and tell us whether you were able to register your drone as a tourist and how entry through customs went. You’ll help everyone planning a trip to Ecuador.

We have researched the listed drone regulations for Ecuador to the best of our knowledge. We cannot guarantee the correctness of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, contact the Ecuadorian civil aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also ask the Ecuadorian embassy in your home country for further information about the regulations. Please leave us a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Ecuador!