South America
Bahamas
CAA-Bahamas — online registration
The Bahamas have a well-documented online registration system through the official Civil Aviation Authority portal. All drone operations require a permit.
400 feet.
Mandatory for drones over 249 g via the online portal; additional qualifications required for commercial use.
Not required for basic recreational use under 249 g; additional qualifications required above that threshold and for commercial use.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Forbidden within 5 km of airports/heliports, at night or in poor visibility; minimum distance 50 m from people (roughly 30-50 m, i.e. 100-165 feet, during takeoff/landing), maximum 500 m from the operator.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
Corrected a unit error: the official source (caabahamas.com) states 100-165 feet during takeoff/landing, not metres as previously reported (~30-50 m).
Verify officially before flying
Source: Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAA-B)
Last checked: 2026-09
Go deeper
Why registration exists
Operator registration exists for accountability: if a drone causes an incident or enters a restricted zone, the authority needs to be able to trace it back to whoever was flying it. You usually get an identification number (operator ID) to physically attach to the drone, valid for every drone the same person owns. The cost is often minimal or free, and it applies to visiting tourists too, not just residents. For Bahamas, the official reference remains Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAA-B). Mandatory for drones over 249 g via the online portal; additional qualifications required for commercial use.
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 Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAA-B). Not required for basic recreational use under 249 g; additional qualifications required above that threshold and for commercial use.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.