South America
Guatemala
DGAC — regulation being updated (RAC 107 under consultation)
Guatemala is strengthening drone regulation: the DGAC introduced a directive on restricted areas in 2025, while a comprehensive regulation (RAC 107) is still under public consultation. The framework is therefore actively evolving.
Mandatory only for drones ≥250 g; below that threshold recreational use is free. Registration + certificate cost: Q2,105.
A 'Certificado de Piloto de Drone' is coming, not yet fully operational as of early 2026.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Forbidden to fly over government buildings, embassies, military bases, hospitals, prisons, customs, a 6 km zone around airports, gatherings over 100 people. Extra restrictions during Holy Week.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
The public consultation on RAC 107 closed in September 2025, but the regulation still doesn't appear in DGAC's published RAC catalogue (checked September 2026): the framework remains transitional, check the most recent status before flying. The drone-specific official page was also nearly empty in this check.
Verify officially before flying
Source: DGAC — Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics)
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 Guatemala, the official reference remains DGAC — Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics). Mandatory only for drones ≥250 g; below that threshold recreational use is free. Registration + certificate cost: Q2,105.
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 DGAC — Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics). A 'Certificado de Piloto de Drone' is coming, not yet fully operational as of early 2026.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.