Yes, you can fly a drone in the Bahamas as a tourist, but you must register it with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Bahamas (CAA-B) before you fly, whatever it weighs. Recreational registration costs $30 with about five business days of processing, and once approved you get a letter of authorization valid from your arrival date to your departure date.
How to register your drone
Apply online through the CAA-B drone registration page. The authority asks for:
- Your name, address, email and phone number
- Drone make, model, weight and serial number
- A color scan of your passport photo page
- Your arrival and departure dates, the island where you plan to fly, and whether the flight is recreational or commercial
- A copy of your home registration if the drone weighs more than 249 g. For a US pilot that's your FAA registration certificate from FAADroneZone.
The CAA-B says to allow at least five business days, not counting weekends. An expedited option costs $50 with about two business days of processing. Apply a month or more before your trip if you can. Commercial flights (paid photo or video work) use a separate application with separate fees.
Customs is a separate agency. The CAA-B notes that Bahamas Customs may have its own requirements when you arrive, so keep your authorization letter and drone receipt with you.
Flying rules in the Bahamas
The CAA-B's published limits are stricter than US rules in a few places. Drones may not fly:
- Higher than 400 ft (122 m) above ground
- More than 500 m (1,640 ft) from the pilot, or beyond unaided visual range
- Within 50 m (165 ft) of any person. During takeoff and landing you can come closer, but never within 30 m (100 ft).
- Over or within 152 m (500 ft) of an organized open-air crowd
- Over private or public property or a dwelling without permission
- Within 5 km (16,500 ft) of an airport or helipad
- At night, in low visibility, or in restricted or prohibited airspace
The 5 km airport rule matters in Nassau, where Lynden Pindling International sits on the west side of New Providence, and near busy resort airstrips on the Out Islands. Hotels and private cays can also ban drones on their property. Ask before you launch.
Which drone to bring
Because every drone needs registration in the Bahamas, a sub-250 g drone doesn't skip the paperwork here. It does skip the step of sending a home registration certificate, and a small drone is easier to keep 50 m from beachgoers and pack in a carry-on.
- DJI Mini 4 Pro: 249 g, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, a safe choice over water and palms.
- DJI Mini 5 Pro: 249 g with a 1-inch sensor for sunset and reef color.
- DJI Neo: 135 g for selfie clips on the beach. Keep the 50 m people buffer in mind before using follow modes.
Spare batteries go in your carry-on. See traveling with a drone for airline battery rules.
Before you fly
- Register with the CAA-B and wait for your authorization email.
- Bring the letter, your passport and your FAA certificate.
- Check the airport distance and get property permission.
- Fly over open water or empty beach, in daylight, below 400 ft.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Not sure which small drone suits an island trip? Read our best drone for travel guide or check rules for other destinations in drone laws by country.
Related guides
- Drone laws in Argentina: flying there as a US tourist
- Drone laws in Aruba: flying there as a US tourist
- Drone laws in Australia: flying there as a US tourist
- Drone laws in Austria: flying there as a US tourist
- Drone laws in Bali (Indonesia): flying there as a US tourist
- Drone laws in Barbados: flying there as a US tourist
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