General Rules for Drones in Iran
Before going further into details let's take a quick look at some general rules and regulations for both commercial and recreational drones in Iran.
If you are planning to visit Iran and capture some beautiful sights with your drone then you should read this article first. This article explains everything about the use of drones and their regulations in Iran. So without any further ado, let's get started!
Drones are legal to fly in Iran with strict rules and regulations as Iran is extremely sensitive to equipment that uses satellite-based navigation such as GPS.
Going by the stories I read online, the use of drones in Iran is prohibited. The story of two Australian travel bloggers who were arrested for flying a drone without a permit after which they were condemned to a 10-year prison sentence, should speak volumes. Eventually, they were released after the Iranian government got a prisoner swap exchange. (a claim the Australian government denied).
If you are unconvinced by the introduction, you can reach out to the Iranian body responsible for drones, the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran (CAO.IRI).
Before going further into details let's take a quick look at some general rules and regulations for both commercial and recreational drones in Iran.
Now that we know the general rules, let's take a more in-depth look at what is required for both commercial and recreational drone use in Iran.
Iran is an extremely sensitive country for GPS-enabled devices including both drones and cameras. Whenever you fly to the country and you don't obtain legal permission the Iranian security authorities could confiscate your drone. Not only this but they will also assume that you are a spy and will not let you leave the country until the court gives a ruling.
There are numerous reports about such incidents where people have been detained for days, weeks, and even months. In some cases, the people were released but their drones were not. This is why it is important that you do not fly your drone without a permit in Iran. Even if you are just a tourist and want to take some nice pictures or videos, it is not worth the risk.
If you are a recreational drone pilot and want to fly your drone just for the sake of fun then you don't have to worry about the permit. Just make sure that you've got everything cleared with the law enforcement agencies at the time of your arrival to the country.
It should be kept in mind that there is a difference between permission to fly a drone and a legal permit required to fly commercial drones and UAS that weighs more than 300 grams. If your drone is less than this range then you can fly it directly. However, if it is 300 or more then you will need to obtain a proper permit even if you wish to fly it for recreational activities only.
Commercial drone pilots i.e. people who wish to fly their drones for aerial photography, mapping, surveying, or any other commercial purpose will need to obtain a permit from the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran (CAO.IRI). The application for this permit must be submitted at least 10 days in advance and it is only valid for the specific location and time that it is granted for.
Apart from that, their drone needs to be registered and they have a proper license to fly for the specific application otherwise they will get themselves into serious trouble.
If you go ahead and use your drone anyway, here are some things to think about:
The following areas are off-limits to the use of drones
As you can see these are some of the restricted areas for drone use in Iran. Apart from that, as I mentioned earlier, before you contemplate entering Iran with a drone, seek clarification from their embassy or foreign office.
A very common question that most recreational drone pilots must have on their minds is whether they can fly in parks or not.
The answer to this question is no, as mentioned in the general rules for drones, the Iranian government has banned flying drones over populated areas. So, this means that you can't fly your drone in parks as there will be people around.
This rule is not only for recreational drone pilots but for commercial ones as well. Therefore, I highly recommend avoiding the flight of drones around people, animals, and buildings such as schools, mosques, and hospitals.
My following two recommendations are 2 great compact drones that are quite silent and also small enough to travel with and not stand out as annoying.
4k
31 min
10 km
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DJI has surprised us with this incredible camera drone under 250g, which is legal to fly in most countries without registration.
It comes at a very cheap price for its incredible specs.I have covered it much more in-depth in my article review and even compared it with the Mavic Air 2.
4k 60p
34 min
10 km
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If you want more control over things like shutter speed, iso, and such, the best professional drone that still falls under the 500g category is the DJI Mavic Air.
It's made mostly for people who want to play around with settings and enter into the pro category.
DJI lowered its price since it was first released.
The best way to figure out what areas you can fly in, while you're here is by consulting DJI's official map.
They do a great job mapping the places that one should avoid while flying in every country:
These would be the current updated drone laws for Iran. I suggest checking my full map with all the countries' drone laws to see where it's best to travel.
If you are going to visit Iran, make sure you’ve learned all the dos and don’ts of flying drones in this region. This will help you have a safe journey and enjoy flying your drone without getting yourself into trouble.
Also, keep in mind that, commercial and recreational drones are treated differently in most countries therefore you will need to prepare yourself accordingly. Last but not least, always follow rules and regulations and make sure to respect the laws of every country.
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