South America
Antigua and Barbuda
Civil Aviation (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) Regulations 2019
Antigua and Barbuda regulates drones through the RPAS Regulations 2019, which distinguish two categories based on flight altitude: Category 1 (up to 100 ft) requires no registration or licence for recreational use, while Category 2 (above 100 ft) requires both registration and an operator certificate.
Not required for Category 1 drones (up to 100 ft/30 m above ground level) used recreationally, under a specific exemption (art. 38). Mandatory for Category 2 (above 100 ft) through the Air Transport Licensing Board: EC$60 for a 1-year registration certificate, or EC$100 for 2 years.
Not required for Category 1 drones used recreationally (art. 40). Category 2 requires an Operator Certificate: EC$120 for 1 year or EC$200 for 2 years.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Flying over private property below 150 ft without the owner's permission is prohibited; over public property, written permission is required. Prohibited over airports, hospitals, military bases/installations, police stations, schools and prisons. The drone must be kept within visual line of sight (VLOS): flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) requires specific authorisation.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
Data verified from the full text of the 'Civil Aviation (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) (RPAS) Regulations 2019' (Statutory Instrument 2019 No. 29, published in Official Gazette Vol. XXXIX No. 35 of 30 May 2019), obtained from the government's official legislation portal (laws.gov.ag). No explicit insurance requirement could be verified in the sections consulted. The regional authority ECCAA, responsible for the Eastern Caribbean, does not yet have its own UAS regulation in force.
Verify officially before flying
Source: Ministry of Public Utilities, Civil Aviation, Transport and Energy — Antigua and Barbuda
Last checked: 2026-09
Go deeper
Why registration exists
Here the threshold usually depends on the drone's weight or whether it has a camera: below a certain weight, often 250 g, many systems don't require registration for recreational use. Check the note above and the official source to see whether your specific drone falls under the requirement. For Antigua and Barbuda, the official reference remains Ministry of Public Utilities, Civil Aviation, Transport and Energy — Antigua and Barbuda. Not required for Category 1 drones (up to 100 ft/30 m above ground level) used recreationally, under a specific exemption (art. 38). Mandatory for Category 2 (above 100 ft) through the Air Transport Licensing Board: EC$60 for a 1-year registration certificate, or EC$100 for 2 years.
How this usually works
Here the requirement depends on factors like the drone's weight, distance from people, or use case (recreational vs. commercial). The note above describes the most common case: if your situation is different, check the official source to see exactly which scenario applies to you before flying. The exam and certificate are handled by Ministry of Public Utilities, Civil Aviation, Transport and Energy — Antigua and Barbuda. Not required for Category 1 drones used recreationally (art. 40). Category 2 requires an Operator Certificate: EC$120 for 1 year or EC$200 for 2 years.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.