South America
Bolivia
DGAC Bolivia — UAS Regulatory Bulletin DGAC-0108/2026
Bolivia regulates drones under a new DGAC regulation (Boletín Reglamentario DGAC-0108/2026) taking effect on 1 September 2026, replacing the 2020 rule. Recreational flying falls under the 'categoría abierta' (up to 35 kg): no pilot certificate is required, but the drone must be registered online with the DGAC, including for foreign visitors.
Limit of 400 feet (122 m AGL). Flight within visual line of sight (VLOS) up to 750 m from the operator; within 30 m of a building the altitude must also stay within 30 m horizontally/vertically, always in VLOS.
Mandatory with the DGAC (online form) for drones ≥200 g; below that threshold no registration is needed. It explicitly applies to both Bolivian nationals and foreigners ('nacional o extranjera'), with no stated exception for short-stay tourists.
For the open category (recreational use) no certificado de idoneidad as a UAS pilot is required; registration and following the regulation are enough.
Not required for recreational flying in the open category; mandatory only for commercial demonstrations.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Minimum distance 30 m from bystanders not involved in the operation. Forbidden within 2 km of wherever the Head of State is located, within 2 km of military/police bases, prisons and critical infrastructure, and within 9 km of airports (between 6 and 9 km possible with DGAC authorization, maximum altitude 200 feet/61 m). Cargo transport, dropping objects, training flights and swarm operations are also forbidden in this category.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
The new regulation (Boletín Reglamentario DGAC-0108/2026, dated 13 August 2026) formally takes effect on 1 September 2026: the data reported here is from the already-published text, verified directly against the official DGAC PDF.
Verify officially before flying
Source: DGAC — Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil de Bolivia (Bolivia's Civil Aviation Authority)
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 Bolivia, the official reference remains DGAC — Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil de Bolivia (Bolivia's Civil Aviation Authority). Mandatory with the DGAC (online form) for drones ≥200 g; below that threshold no registration is needed. It explicitly applies to both Bolivian nationals and foreigners ('nacional o extranjera'), with no stated exception for short-stay tourists.
How this usually works
Even where an exam isn't formally required, most aviation authorities still recommend a basic safety course: rules change often, and flying without the basics is a real risk even without a legal obligation. The exam and certificate are handled by DGAC — Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil de Bolivia (Bolivia's Civil Aviation Authority). For the open category (recreational use) no certificado de idoneidad as a UAS pilot is required; registration and following the regulation are enough.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.