Welcome to our beginner’s guide to getting know about Mexico Drone Laws. In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know and stay updated about Mexico’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.

Mexico is a wonderful place to visit and has many beautiful landscapes that are perfect for flying a drone. Some popular destinations are the Mayan ruins of Coba with its climbable pyramids, the Pyramid of the Sun located in Teotihuacan and the Marietas Islands, a few miles off the coast of the state of Nayarit.  

While you may be in a hurry to head somewhere exotic to play with your drones, don’t get into too big of a hurry. Every country and city has its own laws and rules governing drone flight. The last thing you want to do is break the law in a foreign country, so it pays to be knowledgeable and prepared. Once you’re aware of all the laws, you’ll be able to enjoy flying your drone in the appropriate place and make wonderful memories without any risk.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the details:

Introduction to Mexico Drone Laws

According to Mexico drone laws, flying the drones are legally allowed only for those remote pilots with a valid proof of Mexican citizenship. This happened because of a result from a foreign tourist who crashed his drone into an airline that led to a legislative change banning foreign drone operators from flying their quadcopters both recreational and commercially.

If you do bring your drone to Mexico without valid proof of purchase, you will be incurred with a 16% tax equal to the value of the drone. So it is best to leave your drone at home unless you are willing to pay the additional cost for bringing the drone into the country which can be quite substantial depending on the type and model of drone that you plan bringing with you.

Below are the Mexico drone laws that all the drone operators are required to follow:

• Drones that weigh more than .55 pounds must be registered with DGCA (visit here) and have the following documents ready:
  • Valid proof of Mexican citizenship ID
• Fly when the weather visibility condition is good.
• Fly during the daylight hours only.
• Keep a clear visual line of sight on your drone at all the time.
• Don’t fly higher than 400 feet above the ground level.
• Don’t fly your drone overcrowded areas, wildlife, or prohibited zones.
• Stay at least 5 miles from airports/heliports/aerodromes.
• Stay at least 30 meters away from people, buildings, and moving vehicles that aren’t included in your flight operations.

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Getting Drone Permit for Mexico

While Mexico has one of the most stringent drone laws when it comes to flying drones for both recreational and commercial purposes. Several publications have stated that the drone operators who want to fly their drones commercially need to obtain a drone permit from DGCA. Although, they haven’t shared any information on how to obtain a drone permit.

We will update this page with relevant information once it becomes available. At the current moment, if you want to operate your drones for commercial purpose, you will need the following information to do so:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be Mexican by birth.
• Provide your military release card.
• Have a high school diploma
• Be in good health.

If you want to avoid getting smashed with a 16% tax on your drone, you will need to bring proof of purchase with you stating that you bought the drone and its accessories. Even though flying the drones is restricted to residents of Mexico, flying the drones are legally allowed. However, fly at your own risk, be sure you are familiar with Mexico drone laws and make the best practices.

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Drone Traveling Tips to Mexico

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 Mexico

These are the best drones for traveling around the world such as Mexico 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 Mexico. 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 Inspector directly:

Mexico Civil Aviation Authority Office

Tel: +52 55 5723 9300
Fax: +52 55 5523 3419
E-mail: buzon_ucg@sct.gob.mx