Drone Laws in Mexico (updated in 2020)

mexico-drone-laws

Line of sight (1500feet)

wieght limit of 500g for registration

Register over 250g

can't fly in city

No landing in cities

can't fly over crowds of people

Don't fly over people/animals

Mexico Drone Laws in 2020 (Ultimate Guide)

If you want to ensure a safe flight in any country you are, you can never be too safe. Drone laws in Mexico can be quite tricky, especially if you're not a mexican and want to fly a heavier drone. More about these details bellow.
 

Table of Contents

Can I fly my drone in Mexico?

I will cut to the chase. Yes for a Mexican national and No for a foreigner. Legally you must be a Mexican citizen to get a drone license to operate. There are few cases where the rules may be relaxed, for instance in a case where bilateral agreements between the respective agencies are involved.

 

In this article, I share an overview of the most recent drone laws in Mexico. Some new changes were introduced back in November 2019 and kicked in this January. If you traveled to Mexico before 2020, a few rules might have changed.

mexico photo

Who do I contact?

If you have any burning questions on drone use in Mexico, contact the Civil Aviation Federal Agency, AFAC. The new body replaced the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil, DGAC following a decree passed on 16 October 2019 but still shares the same website for now. You can inquire in English or Spanish. To get a quick reply, send your message during office hours. AFAC will remain in charge of drones, drone registrations, drones policymaking, and enforcement. 

 

Here is the contact information:

gobmx@funcionpublica.gob.mx  

Tel +52 5 687 7660

What are the drone laws in Mexico?

The new laws classify drones into 3 categories:

  • Micro  weighing less than 2 Kg
  • small between 2 Kg and 25 Kg
  • large drones weighing over 25 Kg

 

Turns out there is no medium-sized category for now.

Recreational drone use in Mexico

mexico san miguel photo

If you do not have a Mexican ID, you do not qualify. As a Mexican national you only need:

  • Proof of person
  • Attached ownership documents for the drone
  • The Registration RPAS form

If all goes well, the process should be done in 5 days. You can complete the RPAS form here.

What to do if your drone is confiscated

A confiscation definitely sucks, especially when flying in a foreign country. From what I hear, the bureaucratic process in Mexico is quite slow. 
The risk of confiscation is high if you fly close to an aerodrome, restricted area or go against resorts with a no-drone policy. Hotel chains such as Four Points, St Regis, Sheraton, The Luxury Collection, and several others prohibit drones use in or over their property. 
 
If your drone was just confiscated, the process of retrieval is much easier if had taken the following steps:
 
  • Have your drone ID attached to its case.
  • Maintained a record of the drones serial numbers
  • Have a plan B on where you can store your drone in case the hotel denies its entry. Your concierge should know a place.
It’s worth noting that the drone laws tend to vary depending on the unique circumstances in a given municipality. That’s why I advocate for research beforehand. In Mexico, drones are very popular attracting all sorts of users – both good and bad. To shield yourself from trouble, try your best to abide by the rules. 

What drones can I fly without registration in Mexico (under 250g)?

  • no need to pay the tax or wait for registration
  • smaller in size, so you'll draw much less attention to yourself
  • easier to carry around as a traveller
  • will be able to fly in many other countries that also have similar weight limits

1.Dji Mavic Mini - The best international travel drone (under 250g)

 2.7k

30min battery

4km

No follow me

DJI has surprised us with this incredible camera drone under 250g, which is half of the weight required for registering in Romania in the first place.

 

I have covered it much more in depth in my article review and even compared it with the DJI Spark and Mavic Air.

Check Price and reviews

Advantages

  • 30 min battery life
  • under 250g
  • super portable
  • 4km range
  • can edit videos in the app

DISAdvantages

  • no obstacle avoidance
  • no settings for iso and shutter speed