South America
Dominican Republic
IDAC — RAD-107 / RAD-48 ('Vuela Seguro')
The Dominican Republic has one of the most structured systems in the region, managed by the IDAC through the 'Vuela Seguro' portal. Registration and insurance are mandatory starting from 250 g.
Mandatory for drones ≥250 g through the 'Vuela Seguro' system; drones over 2 kg require an additional IDAC permit.
For commercial/for-profit use, an IDAC commercial pilot licence with training and a medical exam is required.
Mandatory third-party liability insurance for all RPAS ≥0.25 kg.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Special restrictions around the venues of the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo: always check for any temporarily forbidden areas.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
Exact maximum altitude not confirmed by an official source in this research.
Verify officially before flying
Source: IDAC — Instituto Dominicano de Aviación Civil (Dominican Civil Aviation Institute)
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 Dominican Republic, the official reference remains IDAC — Instituto Dominicano de Aviación Civil (Dominican Civil Aviation Institute), also via Vuela Seguro. Mandatory for drones ≥250 g through the 'Vuela Seguro' system; drones over 2 kg require an additional IDAC permit.
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 IDAC — Instituto Dominicano de Aviación Civil (Dominican Civil Aviation Institute), also via Vuela Seguro. For commercial/for-profit use, an IDAC commercial pilot licence with training and a medical exam is required.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.