Welcome to our beginner’s guide to getting know about Cuba Drone Laws. In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know and stay updated about Cuba’s drone laws. We also will be covering the following information such as where to get the drone permit for this country, as well as the best drones to fly, travel guides, and contact information to the civil aviation authority of the stated country. Without further ado, let’s dive into the details:

Introduction to Cuba Drone Laws

Unfortunately, there are no existing Cuba drone laws about regulations and rules on flying your quadcopters. Import of the drones to Cuba is not allowed. If you do bring your drones with you, they will be confiscated upon entry. However, you can get it back if you pay a hefty price penalty for it. Therefore, it is not worth the risk of bringing the drones with you.

The main reason why Cuba banned importing drones completely is because of the fear that they can be used for spying purposes. But the use of drones is allowed in Cuba. Therefore you should try finding a drone rental store in the country to capture aerial stills and videos. There should be a few companies that offer rental drones.

Despite the import drone ban, there are alternatives ways to capture footage in Cuba: Osmo Action, GoPro HERO Black 7, and VIRB Ultra 30. They all feature an impressive 4K UHD resolution and delivers amazingly high quality that shows the beauty of Cuba’s unique landscape. Should Cuba decide to change its stance on importing drones into the country, we will update this page. As of current, follow the standards as you would do for every other country and use the pilot’s common sense if you go ahead with renting a drone:

• Don’t fly higher than 400 feet above the ground level.
• Fly during daylight hours.
• Fly when the weather visibility is good.
• Maintain up to 5 miles away from airport/heliport/aerodromes.
• Respect the privacy of individuals when flying your drone.
• Maintain a clear visual line of sight on your drone at all the time.
• Never fly overcrowded areas or in prohibited zones.

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Getting Drone Permit for Cuba

As of current, there is no drone permit to fly your drones in Cuba. That’s because of the ban on importing drones into the country. However, you can rent a drone in Cuba as previously mentioned in the introduction section above. We will update this page should Cuba decide to change its stance and develop drone permits for recreational and commercial drone operators.

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Drone Traveling Tips to Cuba

There are several methods to travel to another country with your drone. Read our important traveling tips to get the latest scoop on the best drone traveling practices and become informed. In this section, we will be covering what to do if you are traveling by air or by sea.

Traveling by Air

If you decided to travel by air and would like to bring your drone with you. You need to be aware that the airlines can only reimburse up to $1,000 for loss and damage to your property, including drone and its gear. That’s because of the Montreal Convention which limits how much airlines are allowed to pay you up to a maximum value of $1,000 — no matter how expensive your drone is.

Therefore, we highly encourage bringing your drone and its accessories as carry-on all the times. Furthermore, the drone batteries can’t be in the check luggages. Because they are prone to extreme temperature that poses fire hazards when undergoing temperature change. In rare circumstances, some airlines have strict policy and you will be only given the option to check luggage. To avoid this from happening, we recommend buying these fireproof drone battery bags:

• Colcase Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 198 x 150 x 135mm)
• Apex RC Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 240 x  65 x  180mm)
• Realacc Upgraded Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 220 x 155 x 115mm)

Traveling by Sea

Generally, you are allowed to bring your drone with you. But that depends on the cruise’s policy regarding to use of the drones. The only time you can operate your drone is when you are on land, never while the ship is in process of ferrying to other country. Flying the drones at the ports is also not allowed. Because each cruise companies are unique, we encourage you to check and familiarize with their policy on drones. Reach out to get more information if possible.

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Best Drones for Cuba

These are the best drones for traveling around the world such as Cuba due to their flying specifications and camera capabilities. Be sure to read each drone review guide by visiting each link so that you can decide which quadcopter you want to buy before going on a vacation.

Alternatively, you can visit our shop to see a wide selection of prosumer drones that are currently for sale on the best price deals. We only recommend the best drones for traveling that are portable, compact and equipped with powerful camera capabilities, while striving to provide affordable options for those who are looking to get started.

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Contact Information

If you need additional information about drone regulations and flying in Cuba. Keep it in mind that we try our best to provide the latest information about drone laws. Because the drone laws are not universal, they can wildly vary from a country with lax regulations to another country that has strict regulations. For any drone regulations that you are not sure, feel free to contact the Aviation Safety Inspector directly:

Cuba Civil Aviation Authority Office

E-mail: webmaster@iacc.gov.cu