Yes, you can fly a drone in El Salvador as a tourist, but most camera drones must be registered first. El Salvador's Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) requires every drone of 200 g or more, and the person flying it, to be registered, and foreign registrations are valid for up to six months. A DJI Mini 4 Pro or Mini 5 Pro (249 g) needs registration; the 135 g DJI Neo does not, though it must still follow the basic safety rules.
The regulation
The AAC's drone regulation, RAC-RPAS (December 2023 edition), is posted with its forms on the AAC RPAS page. Recreational flying with a drone of 200 g to 25 kg falls in Category A (open), which needs no operational authorization but does need registration of the drone and the pilot.
Registering as a visitor
Foreign pilots register with the AAC using its forms:
- AAC-ING-000-F1: drone identification. It asks for your passport number, contact details, drone make, model and serial numbers, proof of ownership (a receipt), photos of the drone from several angles, and proof of payment of the registration fee.
- AAC-ING-000-F2: operator (pilot) registration, with a signed declaration that you'll follow the rules.
- A self-declaration stating the purpose and the dates of your flights.
The AAC sets the validity period on the form, up to six months. Flying after it expires is a violation. Liability insurance is not required on the registration form for recreational drones. Contact the AAC before your trip to confirm fees and how to submit.
Category A flight rules
- Stay at or below 120 m (400 ft) above the ground.
- Keep at least 30 m from people who aren't part of your flight.
- Keep the drone in visual line of sight, in daylight only.
- Stay at least 6 km from international airports (measured from the airport perimeter), 2 km from authorized private airstrips and 250 m from heliports.
- Don't fly over military installations, polling centers, prisons, courts, government centers, or power stations and substations.
Respect privacy too. Flying over private property without the owner's permission can lead to complaints and sanctions.
Where visitors fly
The Pacific coast around El Tunco and El Zonte, the Ruta de las Flores and the volcanoes near Santa Ana are popular. Check distances from the international airport, which sits on the coast south of San Salvador, before flying beach towns to its east.
The State Department's El Salvador page covers entry rules and safety conditions.
Which drone to bring
- DJI Neo: 135 g, under the 200 g registration line.
- DJI Mini 4 Pro: 249 g, register before you fly.
- DJI Mini 5 Pro: 249 g, 1-inch sensor for surf and sunsets; register it too.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with El Salvador's AAC.
See traveling with a drone for packing batteries, and drone laws by country for other destinations.
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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