Drone Law in Nepal 2026 — CAAN Rules and Permits

Drone law Nepal is governed mainly by the Civil Aviation Act 2053, Civil Aviation Regulation 2058 Rule 82 and CAAN’s Unmanned Aircraft System Requirements (UASR), Issue 01 Rev 00, April 2021. The rules cover drone categories, UIN registration, permits, pilot licensing, altitude, airspace and security approvals. For business advice, see our business law practice area.

Key Takeaways

CAAN’s UASR sets Nepal’s main drone operating framework, but the correct route depends on the aircraft’s mass, flight area, altitude, purpose and airspace. A UIN, permit, pilot licence or additional security approval may apply, so you should verify the proposed operation before flying.

• Nepal’s principal framework is the CAAN UASR, Issue 01 Rev 00, April 2021, made under the Civil Aviation Regulation 2058 Rule 82 and the Civil Aviation Act 2053.
• The four drone categories are based on mass: Category A under 250 g, Category B from 250 g to 2 kg, Category C from 2 kg to 25 kg, and Category D over 25 kg.
• The standard operating limit is 100 m, or 328 ft, above ground level. The ordinary horizontal distance limit is 300 m from the pilot.
• Visual line of sight, daytime operation and visual meteorological conditions apply to standard operations. Night flight is not allowed under the stated UASR operating condition.
• A 5 km exclusion applies around an aerodrome movement area. AIP Nepal and NOTAMs also matter for prohibited or restricted areas.
• CAAN registration uses a Unique Identification Number, or UIN. The file may require identity, aircraft, purchase or customs and operational information.
• Operations above 2 kg or above 400 ft AGL may involve CAAN, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

What is drone law in Nepal?

Drone law in Nepal is governed by the CAAN UASR, the Civil Aviation Regulation 2058 and the Civil Aviation Act 2053. The UASR sets categories, operating limits, registration and remote-pilot rules. It replaced the earlier CAAN Directive 07. The framework applies to unmanned aircraft system operations, including recreational, filming and commercial flights.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, or CAAN, is the principal aviation regulator identified in the UASR. The Ministry of Home Affairs, or MoHA, becomes relevant to security clearance and drone working procedures. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, or MoCTCA, may also be part of the approval chain for specified operations.

That does not mean every drone flight follows the same application route. A small camera drone flown below the ordinary altitude limit raises different questions from a heavy UAV, a flight in controlled airspace or a flight near a sensitive location.

What are the drone categories in Nepal?

CAAN’s UASR Section 101.5(b) divides drones into four categories by mass: Category A under 250 g, Category B from 250 g to 2 kg, Category C from 2 kg to 25 kg, and Category D over 25 kg. Category D operations above the open-category limit require specific approval, so mass alone does not authorise flight.

The category should be checked against the aircraft’s actual mass and the proposed operation. A commercial purpose does not automatically change the mass category, but it can create further permission, security or filming issues. If your UAV is modified, imported or operated with special equipment, verify the relevant classification with CAAN.

What operating limits apply to a UAV in Nepal?

CAAN’s UASR sets a standard maximum altitude of 100 m, or 328 ft, above ground level, and a maximum horizontal distance of 300 m from the pilot. Standard operations require visual line of sight, daytime visual meteorological conditions and compliance with the 5 km aerodrome exclusion. Night operation is not allowed under the stated rule.

Visual line of sight, or VLOS, means the pilot must maintain direct visual awareness of the aircraft. The UASR Section 101.27 makes VLOS mandatory. Section 101.29 addresses night operations, while Section 101.7 sets the standard operating conditions.

The UASR also states a 30 m horizontal separation from non-participating persons. This matters for weddings, festivals, film sets, public events, roads and crowded areas. A pilot should not treat a clear camera view as permission to fly close to people.

The 5 km rule concerns an aerodrome movement area. Tribhuvan International Airport, Pokhara International Airport, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj are examples of CAAN aerodromes mentioned in the existing guidance. The rule is not limited to the airport where you plan to land. Verify the relevant aerodrome boundary and current aviation information before flight.

Which places are restricted for drone flights?

Restricted and prohibited locations are determined through current aviation and government information, including AIP Nepal and NOTAMs. The UASR does not provide one permanent list of every sensitive site in its text. Before flying, check the current notice and verify any defence, government, heritage, palace-area or other sensitive-location restriction with the relevant authority.

AIP means Aeronautical Information Publication. NOTAM means a notice to air missions containing current operational information. Both matter because airspace information can change. A location that appears acceptable on a general map may still be affected by a current notice or temporary restriction.

Do not rely only on an online map, a tourist blog or another pilot’s earlier flight. In Kathmandu and other built-up places, a proposed route may involve an aerodrome, a government facility, a heritage area or controlled airspace at the same time. Ask CAAN or the receiving authority to confirm the position before operating.

How do you register a drone with CAAN?

CAAN registration uses a Unique Identification Number, or UIN, for the aircraft. The current guidance identifies citizenship or passport, a drone manual, a serial-number photograph, the purpose of operation and proof of purchase or import clearance among the application materials. The exact filing route and current requirements should be verified with CAAN.

1. Identify the operator and aircraft. Confirm whether the applicant is a Nepali citizen, foreign national, business or other operator and record the aircraft’s serial number.
2. Confirm the category and purpose. Note the aircraft mass and whether the proposed use is personal, filming, tourism, mapping, agriculture, inspection or another activity.
3. Prepare identity and aircraft information. The stated UIN materials include a citizenship certificate for a Nepali applicant or a passport for a foreign applicant, the drone manual and a serial-number photograph.
4. Show purchase or import status. The guidance identifies a VAT bill for a drone purchased in Nepal or a Customs Clearance Certificate for an imported drone.
5. Submit the UIN application to CAAN. CAAN administers the UIN system. The office may require clarification or additional material, so do not assume that a listed document completes the file.
6. Check the flight approval separately. Registration identifies the aircraft. It does not, by itself, answer every question about airspace, altitude, security clearance or filming permission.

For an imported UAV, customs compliance is a separate practical issue from aviation registration. A tourist or foreign operator should not assume that carrying the aircraft into Nepal replaces the customs clearance document identified for imported drones.

When is a Remote Pilot Licence required?

The UASR Section 102.2 requires a Remote Pilot Licence, or RPL, for operations above 100 m AGL or in controlled airspace. The stated eligibility conditions include age 18 or above, Class 12 education, medical fitness and completion of a CAAN-recognised training course. The application and issue process should be confirmed with CAAN.

AGL means above ground level. The 100 m threshold is therefore measured from the ground relevant to the flight, not simply from sea level. A pilot planning a higher operation must assess the RPL rule before flight rather than after reaching the limit.

The existing guidance distinguishes operations below 100 m AGL in uncontrolled airspace from higher or controlled-airspace operations. It states that an RPL is not required for Cat A or Cat B operations in that lower-risk setting, but UIN registration and standard operating conditions still apply.

A Category C commercial operation may require an RPL alongside additional CAAN, MoHA and MoCTCA approvals. “May” matters here: the exact requirement depends on the proposed operation. A business should obtain written confirmation rather than treat a category label as a complete permit.

What approvals are needed for higher-risk or commercial flights?

Operations above 2 kg or above 400 ft AGL may involve approval from CAAN, MoHA and MoCTCA under the UASR and the stated MoHA RPA or Drone Working Procedures. The authority sequence is not identical for every flight. The proposed location, altitude, aircraft category, purpose and security setting can affect the route.

CAAN handles aviation questions such as UIN registration, operating conditions and the aviation permit route. MoHA is relevant to security clearance and the RPA or Drone Working Procedures. MoCTCA may be relevant to tourism, heritage or filming-related permissions.

These approvals should not be confused with company registration, tax registration or a general business licence. A commercial UAV operator may need separate business compliance for its enterprise. Our team can help review the legal documents and authority route through legal document drafting services.

What documents does a drone operator need?

CAAN’s stated UIN materials include an identity document, drone manual, serial-number photograph, purpose of operation and purchase or import evidence. A Nepali applicant may use citizenship documentation; a foreign applicant may use a passport. Additional documents can depend on the aircraft, location, altitude and approval route.

Use this as a preparation list, not a promise that the office will accept no other material:

• Citizenship certificate for a Nepali applicant or passport for a foreign applicant.
• The drone or aircraft manual.
• A photograph showing the drone’s serial number.
• A clear statement of the purpose of operation.
• A VAT bill where the drone was purchased in Nepal.
• A Customs Clearance Certificate where the drone was imported.
• Information needed for any RPL, CAAN permit, MoHA security clearance or MoCTCA route that applies.

Foreign nationals and non-resident Nepalis should plan for extra verification. Their identity document, import status, filming purpose, security position and authority route may differ from a Nepali recreational operator. Our non-residential Nepali services team can help assess the Nepal-side documentation without promising approval.

How long does a drone permit in Nepal take?

No single processing timeline is established in the supplied CAAN material for every UIN, RPL or drone permit application. Timing can depend on the receiving authority, document completeness, aircraft category, proposed airspace, security review and any tourism or filming permission. Confirm the current timeline directly with CAAN or the relevant office.

This is especially important for a film, trekking expedition, tourism project or infrastructure inspection with a fixed schedule. A UIN application, an operating permission and a security clearance are not necessarily the same proceeding. One completed step may not authorise the next activity.

Apply early enough to allow questions and corrections, but do not describe an application as approved until the responsible authority has issued the relevant confirmation. Alpine Law Associates can review the proposed route and correspondence through our contact page.

What does a drone permit cost in Nepal?

Government charges and professional legal fees are separate cost factors, but the supplied material does not establish a current fee schedule for UIN registration, RPL, permits or security approvals. Do not rely on an old online figure. Verify government charges with the receiving office and request a current professional estimate through Alpine’s contact page.

The total outlay can also be affected by the aircraft’s category, import and customs status, the number of authorities involved, the purpose of filming or commercial operation and whether legal document support is needed. Those factors are not a statutory price and can change between matters.

We do not quote a fixed figure in this guide. Our team advises and represents clients; it is not CAAN, MoHA or MoCTCA and cannot promise a permit, registration, decision or processing time.

What are the common drone-law mistakes in Nepal?

The most serious mistakes are flying before checking the 5 km aerodrome rule, treating UIN registration as a flight permit, ignoring AIP or NOTAM information, exceeding 100 m AGL, losing VLOS, flying at night or assuming a foreign visitor follows the same route as a local operator.

• Using an old altitude figure: the stated standard limit is 100 m or 328 ft AGL, not a higher figure copied from another country.
• Ignoring the aircraft’s mass: crossing 2 kg or 25 kg can change the approval questions.
• Skipping customs evidence: imported drones may require the Customs Clearance Certificate identified for UIN materials.
• Flying near people: the stated 30 m separation from non-participating persons still matters during filming.
• Assuming a tourist location is unrestricted: AIP Nepal, NOTAMs and sensitive-site restrictions must be checked.
• Relying on verbal permission: keep the applicable written registration, permit or clearance and verify its scope.

What happens if someone flies a drone without permission?

Unauthorised operation can create aviation, security and enforcement consequences, but the supplied material does not establish one universal penalty for every breach. Nepal’s authorities may respond according to the facts, location, aircraft and applicable instrument. Do not assume that a small drone or short flight removes the legal risk.

The existing guidance refers to enforcement involving seizure by Nepal Police and CAAN action. It also refers to a 2017 Manang matter involving a Chinese tourist and to arrests after a July 2025 drone crash near the Parliament building. These examples show why sensitive locations and current permissions require care; they do not set a universal penalty.

If your aircraft has been seized, or you have received a notice, preserve the registration, correspondence, flight details and purchase or customs documents. Do not make factual admissions without understanding the notice. Our team can help you assess a criminal, civil or administrative response through criminal law support.

What should a realistic Nepal drone scenario look like?

Consider an illustrative Kathmandu-based production planning an aerial sequence with a 1.5 kg camera drone. The operator would still need to classify the aircraft, seek a UIN, check the 100 m limit, maintain VLOS and daytime conditions, respect the 5 km aerodrome rule and check AIP Nepal and NOTAMs.

If the proposed scene is near a sensitive government, heritage or airport area, the operator should not rely on the drone’s Category B classification. The location may create a separate restriction. If the production seeks a higher altitude or controlled airspace, the RPL and additional CAAN route must be assessed.

This example is illustrative only. It does not establish that the flight is permitted, that a particular site is restricted or that any authority will approve the application. The actual answer depends on the planned coordinates, date, altitude, aircraft, purpose and current notices.

What alternatives or edge cases should operators consider?

Operators who cannot satisfy the standard conditions should consider changing the flight plan, altitude, location, aircraft category or production method rather than flying first and seeking approval later. A ground camera, elevated platform or licensed local production arrangement may be practical alternatives, but the legal suitability of each depends on the project.

Foreign nationals, tourists and non-resident Nepalis should address passport identity, customs clearance, security review and filming or tourism permissions before bringing or operating a UAV. Commercial operators should separate aircraft compliance from business, tax and contract work; our company compliance service may be relevant to that separate business question.

For an aircraft over 25 kg, an operation above 400 ft AGL, a controlled-airspace flight, a sensitive site or a flight involving public safety, obtain a route-specific review. CAAN may require additional information, and other authorities may exercise their own discretion.

Not legal advice: this article explains the supplied CAAN framework in general terms. It is not a permit, a registration confirmation or a substitute for checking the current UASR, AIP Nepal, NOTAMs and office requirements.

In short: classify the UAV, obtain the applicable UIN, check the 100 m and 300 m limits, maintain VLOS and daytime conditions, respect the 5 km aerodrome exclusion, check AIP Nepal and NOTAMs, and verify whether RPL, CAAN, MoHA or MoCTCA approval applies before operating.

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If you need to assess a drone registration, permit, security-clearance route or enforcement notice, contact Alpine Law Associates. Our team can review the proposed operation and connect it with appropriate Nepal civil and regulatory legal support, without promising registration, approval or a processing time.