Drone Laws In Belize City: What You Need To Know

Drones are permitted in Belize, but only for commercial use. The Government of Belize prohibits the temporary importation of drones for recreational or personal usage. However, the government is currently developing requirements and regulations for recreational drone use, which will allow all travellers to operate their devices after meeting the necessary requirements under Belizean law. For now, only commercial drone pilots who have been commissioned for work by a local business or organisation can obtain an Authorisation Letter and Permit from the Department of Civil Aviation.

Drone laws in Belize are constantly changing

Drone operations are generally not permitted within Belize without prior approval from the Belize Department of Civil Aviation (BDCA). This authorization can be obtained by following the steps laid out by the BDCA. Firstly, a letter of request/intent must be submitted to the Director of Civil Aviation, stating the purpose of the works and services being provided by the drone operator(s). This letter must be emailed to the Department of Civil Aviation at the address [email protected] and [email protected]. Additionally, a copy of the drone operator's identification card (a government-issued ID card or passport) and a letter of approval for works by the Belize Film Commission must be provided. A completed Drone Application Form can be obtained by sending a request via email to [email protected].

The Department of Civil Aviation will analyze the request and the operator(s) will then need to visit the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) office on the first floor of Philip Goldson International Airport to pay a $30.00 BZE Currency fee for the permit. The drone operator(s) will need to take this receipt to the Department of Civil Aviation, where they will receive the Authorization Letter and Permit for entrance and operations in Belize. It is important to note that Belize is currently only accepting applications for Drone authorizations from international drone operators who have been commissioned for works/services from an approved local business/organization in Belize.

There are also several important general rules for flying a drone in Belize. These include:

• Do not fly your drone over people or large crowds
• Respect others' privacy when flying your drone
• Do not fly your drone higher than 122 meters (400 ft)
• Always keep direct visual contact with your drone while in operation
• Stay at least 8 km (5 mi) away from an airport and at least 3 km (1.86 mi) away from heliports for safety
• Only fly during daylight hours and in good weather conditions
• Do not fly your drone in sensitive areas, including government or military facilities. The use of drones or camera drones in these areas is prohibited

Drone use is allowed in Belize, but only for commercial operations

Drone use is currently only allowed in Belize for commercial operations. The Government of Belize is still developing requirements and regulations for recreational drone use.

If you are a commercial drone operator and wish to use your drone in Belize, you must obtain an Authorization Letter and a Permit from the Department of Civil Aviation. You will need to be commissioned for work by a local business or organisation in Belize to obtain these.

To obtain an Authorization Letter and a Permit, you must submit a letter of intent to the Director of Civil Aviation, stating the purpose of the work and services being provided. This must be emailed to the Department of Civil Aviation at [email protected] and [email protected]. You must also include the following information:

• Your arrival date in Belize
• The location(s) of drone operations
• Your identification details (a copy of your passport or other government-issued ID)
• A letter of approval for works by the Belize Film Commission
• A completed Drone Application Form

Once you have submitted your letter of request and supporting documents, the Department of Civil Aviation will notify you of approval or denial. If your request is approved, you will need to pay a $30 BZE fee for the permit at the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) office at Philip Goldson International Airport. You can then take this receipt to the Department of Civil Aviation to obtain your Authorization Letter and Permit.

Note that drone authorisations are not issued for areas within 0-3 miles of an aerodrome (airstrips). These areas include Ladyville, Placencia, Caye Caulker, and North of San Pedro.

Even if you obtain a permit, there are several general rules for flying a drone in Belize that you must follow. These include:

• Do not fly within 3 miles of an airstrip or airport
• Do not fly without proper authorisation from the Department of Civil Aviation
• Do not fly in sensitive areas, including military and government facilities
• Only fly in clear weather
• Only fly during daylight hours
• Respect others' privacy
• Do not fly above 122 metres (400 feet)
• Keep direct visual contact with your drone at all times
• Stay at least 8km (5 miles) away from airports and 3km (1.86 miles) away from heliports

The Government of Belize prohibits the temporary importation of drones for recreational/personal usage

The use of drones in Belize is regulated by the Belize Department of Civil Aviation (BDCA). While drones are permitted in Belize, the laws surrounding their usage are not yet fully specified. The BDCA is working on developing a set of requirements and regulations for recreational drone users.

Currently, the Government of Belize prohibits the temporary importation of drones for recreational/personal usage. This means that tourists are not allowed to bring drones into the country for casual use, such as capturing footage of their vacation. Anyone attempting to do so will likely have their drone confiscated at customs. If the drone does make it through customs, operating it within the country will carry the risk of incurring a large fine or having the drone confiscated by local authorities.

There is hope that this situation will change in the future. The BDCA has stated that once the rules have been formalized, travellers may be able to bring and use their drones in Belize.

For now, the only conditions under which a drone can be brought into Belize are as follows: the operator must be a commercially licensed pilot who has been hired by an approved Belize-based business or organisation for a specific drone-related job. In this case, the operator must obtain authorisation from the BDCA by submitting a letter to the Director of Civil Aviation at [email protected] and [email protected]. This letter must include:

• Details and contact information of the business or organisation that has commissioned the operator's services
• The arrival date of the operator
• The location(s) of drone operations

The following documents must also be included with the letter:

• A copy of the operator's identification card (government-issued ID, passport, etc.)
• A letter of approval for works by the Belize Film Commission
• A completed copy of the Drone Application Form

Once the request has been approved, the operator must visit the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) office on the first floor of Philip Goldson International Airport to pay a $30.00 BZE Currency fee for the permit. The operator must then take this receipt to the Department of Civil Aviation to obtain the Authorisation Letter and Permit for entrance and operations in Belize.

It is important to note that drone operators, even those who have obtained the necessary permits and authorisation, must abide by the general rules for flying drones in Belize. These include:

• Do not fly over people or large crowds
• Respect others' privacy
• Do not fly higher than 122 meters (400 ft)
• Maintain direct visual contact with the drone at all times
• Stay at least 8 km (5 mi) away from airports and 3 km (1.86 mi) away from heliports
• Only fly during daylight hours and in good weather conditions
• Do not fly in sensitive areas, including government or military facilities

Drone operators must obtain an Authorization Letter and a Permit from the Department of Civil Aviation

Drone use is allowed in Belize, but only for commercial operations. Drone operators must obtain an Authorization Letter and a Permit from the Department of Civil Aviation.

To obtain these, drone operators must first submit a letter of request/intent to the Director of Civil Aviation, stating the purpose of the works and services being provided by the drone operator(s). This must be emailed to the Department of Civil Aviation at the following addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]. The letter must include the arrival date of the drone operator(s) and the location(s) of drone operations to be conducted in Belize.

In addition to the letter of request/intent, drone operators must also submit the following:

• A copy of the drone operator's identification card (a government-issued ID card, such as a passport)
• A letter of approval for works by the Belize Film Commission
• A completed Drone Application Form

Once the request has been analysed and approved by the Department of Civil Aviation, the operator(s) will then need to visit the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) office on the first floor of Philip Goldson International Airport to pay a $30.00 BZE Currency fee for the permit. The drone operator(s) will need to take this receipt to the Department of Civil Aviation, where they will receive the Authorization Letter and Permit for entrance and operations in Belize.

It is important to note that the Government of Belize currently prohibits the temporary importation of drones for recreational or personal usage. However, they are developing requirements and regulations to allow all travellers to operate their drones for recreational purposes after meeting the necessary requirements under Belizean law.

The Belize Department of Civil Aviation (BDCA) is the leading drone authority in Belize

The Belize Department of Civil Aviation (BDCA) is the regulatory and oversight body for all civil aviation matters in Belize. The department is led by the Director of Civil Aviation, who is responsible for all civil aviation matters in the country. The Director also serves as an advisor to the Minister responsible for civil aviation and plays a role in influencing and implementing policy decisions.

The Belize Department of Civil Aviation was established by the Civil Aviation Act, Chapter 239, Revised Edition 2000 of the Substantive Laws of Belize. The department's principal function is to regulate and administer a safe civil aviation system while ensuring that Belize complies with its obligations under international civil aviation agreements and treaties, including the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

The Belize Department of Civil Aviation is made up of several technical divisions, including Personnel Licensing, Aviation Security and Facilitation, Aircraft Registration, Aircraft Incident and Accident Investigations, Air Traffic Services, and Aeronautical Information Services. These divisions work together to ensure the safety of air navigation and promote the safe, orderly, and economic development of civil aviation in Belize and beyond.

The Belize Department of Civil Aviation is the leading authority on drone use in the country. While drone use is allowed in Belize, specific drone laws and regulations are still being developed. The BDCA provides guidelines and requirements for drone operations, including restrictions on flying over people or large crowds, respecting privacy, and maintaining a maximum altitude of 122 meters (400 feet).

For international travellers to Belize who wish to operate drones, the BDCA has outlined specific requirements and authorizations. Currently, only commercial drone use is permitted for international travellers, and applications for authorization are only accepted from those who have been commissioned by a local Belizean business or organization. The process includes submitting a letter of request to the Director of Civil Aviation, providing identification, and completing the necessary forms and payments.

Frequently asked questions