Africa
Mauritius
DCA — Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft System) Regulations 2024
Mauritius has applied a dedicated drone regulation since 1 January 2025 (Regulations 2024): every drone with a camera must be registered with the DCA, including for foreign tourists, through a process that takes at least 3 months (including a police clearance).
Limit of 400 feet (about 122 m) for recreational use.
Mandatory with the DCA for every drone with a camera or data-capture device — recreational, commercial, or belonging to foreign tourists. The process takes at least 3 months, including a police clearance. Drones must have Direct Remote Identification (DRI) capability.
No separate certificate beyond registration appears for recreational use; commercial/non-recreational operators instead need a Remote Pilot Competency Certificate from an approved training organization, plus an operations manual and third-party liability insurance.
Not required for recreational use; mandatory for commercial/non-recreational operators.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Recreational use allowed only on private property with the owner's permission, daylight only, below 400 feet; forbidden to fly over public areas, beaches and nature parks. Forbidden in Restricted/Prohibited/Danger zones or the airport's Control Zone (CTR), which extends up to 3,500 feet.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
Data verified against the official DCA FAQ document. Penalties: fine up to 1,000,000 Mauritian rupees and/or up to 12 months imprisonment for violations (Regulation 22).
Verify officially before flying
Source: DCA — Department of Civil Aviation, Mauritius
Last checked: 2026-08
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 Mauritius, the official reference remains DCA — Department of Civil Aviation, Mauritius. Mandatory with the DCA for every drone with a camera or data-capture device — recreational, commercial, or belonging to foreign tourists. The process takes at least 3 months, including a police clearance. Drones must have Direct Remote Identification (DRI) capability.
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 DCA — Department of Civil Aviation, Mauritius. No separate certificate beyond registration appears for recreational use; commercial/non-recreational operators instead need a Remote Pilot Competency Certificate from an approved training organization, plus an operations manual and third-party liability insurance.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.