Drone Laws of Nepal

Overview of Drone Laws

As information technology has advanced, more and more people and institutions around the world are using remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs), drones, flying cameras, and other devices for a variety of purposes, such as research, study, information gathering, surveying, mapping, filming, and other audiovisual materials in areas such as agriculture, forestry, geography, art and culture, entertainment, development, disaster management, security, and public welfare.

Updating flight licenses and other regulatory arrangements without compromising the security system is required in Nepal due to the extensive usage of RPA drones for infrastructure development and resource mapping, even at the local level. As a result, the Good Governance (Management and Operation Act, 2064) section 45 has been used to enact the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA/Drone) Flight Procedure, 2075.

Here is the main objective that has been set to make RPA/Drone flights manageable and safe:

• Control drone and RPA operations in compliance with Nepali legislation.
• Making RPA/Drone easier to utilize.

Abbreviations and Full Forms Related to RPA/Drone:

Mandatory Registration for All Portable Equipment

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal requires all aircraft used for any purpose to be registered and to have a Unique Identification Number (UIN). 

The Civil Aviation Authority will assign a Unique Identification Number (UIN) and register any equipment associated with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as drones and flying cameras.

The following paperwork must be sent with an application to the Nepalese Civil Aviation Authority in order to receive a UIN.

• Individuals should provide a copy of their passport or citizenship, and organizations should provide a certificate of registration.
• Purpose of operating flight equipment.
• A copy of the handbook and specifications for the equipment.
• Tax deductions for both domestically and internationally purchased aircraft equipment.
• In the event of customs clearance, a security plate or ID tag referencing the UIN must be positioned following the flight equipment’s registration. It will be necessary to prepare and paste the Sum into the gadget. The RPA/drone import form will follow the guidelines.

RPA/Drone categorization based on Nepal’s civil aviation regulations

RPA/drones are classified based on their Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) and Risk Category.

Categorization of RPA/Drone Operations

According to the Civil Aviation of Nepal, RPA/Drone flights are classified as follows based on the task and purpose:

• Research, Discovery, and study
• Disaster management-related work
• Work connected to development management and service delivery in the fields of literature, art, religion, culture, tourism, and entertainment.
• Work relevant to mass communication.
• Works linked to security and military objectives

Classification of RPA/Drone flight areas based on sensitivity

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has classified RPA/Drone flight areas based on their security sensitivity and airspace restrictions. These categories help ensure public safety, national security, and controlled drone operations across the country.

1. General: Human inhabited areas, outside protected or conservation zones
2. Medium: Colony, Community, Protected or conserved areas
3. Sensitive: Areas where government agencies, diplomatic missions, or establishments are located; hospitals, health centers; areas of religious, cultural, archaeological, and historical importance; air routes and aviation operation zones; areas near airports; and locations where military or security forces are stationed.

Qualification and Training for Drone Pilots

A person flying an RPAT drone must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Reach the age of 18.
• Have fundamental radio frequency knowledge or training.
• Having technical expertise about the flight apparatus
• Control, landing, flight, and basic navigation
• Basic awareness of the field to be addressed (sensitive, socio-strategic, religious, archaeological, etc.)
• Holding complete awareness of regions under control

The application of commercial lifting equipment in the field of wind turbines and taro is being investigated in the first stages by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

RPA/Drone Must Be Operated Under the Following Conditions:

Only in Visual Line of Sight (VLOS):

The Drone must be flown within the operator’s visual range at all times.

During Daylight Hours:

RPA/Drone must be operated only during daylight (sunrise to sunset).

Minimum Ground Visibility and Cloud Ceiling Requirements:

• Ground visibility: At least 5 kilometers
• Cloud ceiling: Not lower than 500 feet above ground level

Maximum Wind Speed Limit:

Drones must not be flown in wind speeds exceeding 10 knots (approximately 18.5 km/h)

Not in the condition of  rainfall, hailstorm, snowfall, or thunder and lightning

Prohibited Controlled Areas For RPA/Drone Flying

Except in certain circumstances, flights will not be allowed in the following locations or zones, in addition to those that the Nepali government has designated as flight-controlled areas:

• A radius of five kilometers around an airport or airway where the aircraft is safe at a secure altitude.
• An area up to five kilometers away from the international border in a horizontal direction.
• Areas with religious and archaeological significance include the Durbar Square region (Bhaktapur, Patan, and Kathmandu), Maitighar Mandala, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, and Budhanilkantha. As decided by the authorized body of the local administration outside the valley, the Singha Durbar area in the Kathmandu Valley includes the residences and offices of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and other high-ranking officials within a 1000-meter aerial radius. These locations are classified as religious, archaeological, historical, or controlled.
• 1000 meters from the location of the training facility, other security units, and the military or security body’s headquarters. Approximately 500 meters is the aerial radius distance.
• Reserves, protected areas, areas of biological, geological, and mineral significance, and areas affected by riots where security operations are in progress.
• Local, provincial, and national governments in Nepal have periodically issued notices designating Lalite Wi areas.

Application for Drone Flight Permit

To obtain flight approval, individuals or organizations that want to operate RPA/drones, flying cameras, and other devices must apply to the appropriate agency using the format provided and include the required documents.

1. A letter of authorization to fly from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and a certificate of equipment registration.
2. The goal of the flight must be evident, as must the start and end dates of the trip, as well as information about the region and locations of the intended flight (such as the flight specifics or a Google/flight location map).
3. For a foreign person or organization, an authorization letter is sent to a local person or agency; for a foreign person or organization, it includes the person flying the RPA’s biodata, passport, or citizenship, and a valid visa. The carrier’s promise to adhere to this requirement.
4. Category A and Category B drones are allowed to fly up to a maximum altitude of 200 feet and can obtain a permit from the Kathmandu District Administration Office. For other categories, drone permits must be obtained by submitting an application to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Note: The validity of the flight permit will be a maximum of 3(three) months from the date of issue of the permit.

Drone Permits in Nepal: Step-by-Step Guide, Costs & Tips

Drone Permit Renewal

If you need to renew the permit, you must provide a valid reason and submit an application. The renewal period will be a maximum of 3 months.

Drones That Don’t Require a Permit

• With prior permission from the relevant educational institution or study center, remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) up to 2 kg in Category “A” and Category “B” are exempt from requiring a flight permit when operating within the boundaries of any university or educational study center up to 200 feet in altitude. The concerned pilot will be solely responsible for the flight’s operation and safety during such a flight. Notifying the closest police or security unit is required before flying in such an area. No flight may be carried out in a way that violates other parts of these guidelines or jeopardizes personal privacy.
• After notifying the local administration and police beforehand, government offices at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of the Government of Nepal are permitted to fly Category “A” and Category “B” RPAs or drones for official reasons up to a maximum of 200 feet above ground level (AGL). (An institution project office that is fully owned or controlled by the federal, provincial, and local governments is referred to as a government office.)
• Individuals organize cultural, religious, or traditional festivals or celebrations for recreational purposes by notifying the local police in the vicinity of their residence of the Category “A” maximum of 50 feet above ground level; no flight authorization is necessary. Other requirements for RPA/drone flights must be adhered to, nevertheless. Furthermore, the security arrangements shouldn’t be affected.

Conditions for Drone License Cancellation

A person or group conducting an RPA flight will have their license revoked by the flight permitting authority if they breach any of the provisions outlined in this procedure. 

Drone Fight Conditions

The following conditions must be followed for RPA/Drone flights

• The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology should grant permission for the frequency of RPA/drone flights, and the Nepalese Civil Aviation Authority should authorize the flight.
• Permission to fly RPA/drone flights must be obtained in accordance with airworthiness, without compromising air routes, religious and cultural heritage, or security-sensitive areas. Flights that violate privacy or disturb peace and security will not be allowed.
• The concerned person or organization must submit the following information in order to obtain a flight authorization for RPA/Drone Flying Camera: the person or organization’s details, the Drone’s details, the objective of the flight, the flight duration, and the Drone’s details.
• It is prohibited for RPA/drone flying cameras to fly within one kilometer of security personnel and other sensitive locations. Even if authorization has been granted for the RPA drone to fly, security agencies must notify the local government of any flight-related issues while the drone is in the air. Audio and video recordings made by the Drone must be supplied upon request from the security agency. 
• Three different approaches are used to control RPA drones. A remote control device controls the first via radio transmission, the second is programmable, and the third is automatic. Automatic RPAs cannot be flown in Nepal since ICAO prohibits them. 
• RPA/drone flights are prohibited without prompt authorization during a disaster because they have the potential to disrupt the information flow during search and relief efforts in disaster areas. 
• RPA/drone flights are not allowed over private property, public spaces, places of religious and cultural value, or significant archaeologically sensitive regions, which have not been declared as Fly Zones. 
• RPA/drone flights should be restricted to 100 meters (altitude), the endurance should be limited to 15 minutes, and the range should be limited to 300 meters (horizontal distance) from the user. Any flight that does not meet these requirements will be subject to action in line with current laws. 
• Within a 5-kilometer horizontal radius of the international boundary, a no-fly zone has been established, and no RPA or drone operations of any type are allowed there. 
• To operate an RPA or Drone for business purposes, a letter of reference from the relevant government must also be filed. 
• The concerned party should arrange for the automatic sharing of data from the RPA/drone with the security agency, and the frequency that is obtained from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology for operating the remote control of the RDA/drone should not interfere with the security agency’s communication system. 
• If necessary, local or foreign professionals may fly RPAs or drones with specially approved capabilities for the designated region and time during unusual conditions brought on by disasters or other crises, with permission from the Nepali government and the Civil Aviation Authority. Only in the presence of a security or liaison officer in the control area may an RPA or Drone be flown with such special approval. 
• Items that present a security risk, such as explosives, biological weapons, animals, and people, cannot be transported by RPAs or drones.
• When using RPAs or drones, security organizations must collaborate with the Civil Aviation Authority and the necessary ministries. 
• The flight permit cannot be transferred to another individual or entity. 
• Flying Category “C” and “D” RPAs or drones requires submitting proof of third-party insurance. 

Provision regarding action to be taken in case of non-compliance with flight conditions

The Electronic Transactions Act of 2063 BS and the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2053 BS both apply if an RPA flight is discovered to be operating contrary to the restrictions outlined in this procedure. The steps listed below must be taken in order to do this: 

• When an RPA or Drone is found to be operating without a license, it will be seized as soon as the information is obtained. The police report and the confiscated drone must be sent to the Civil Aviation Authority. The confiscated drones will be put up for auction by the Civil Aviation Authority in accordance with current laws and regulations. In addition to sending the information to the confiscating agency, the selling procedure must be put into the revenue account. 
• Suppose a person’s privacy rights have been violated or a drone flight has caused personal harm. In that case, action will be taken in accordance with prevailing law after receiving a petition from the victim.

Final Say

We advise you to read up on Nepal’s drone law and abide by the CAAN’s guidelines, which are governed by the government of Nepal, before operating a drone here. Make sure you don’t break any laws when you fly. 

If you have any confusion related to drones, then you may call Namaste Nepal Trekking. We also help you to arrange drone permits, drone pilot training, and drone renting. You can get in touch with us or stop by our Thamel office for further information. Thanks for reading!!!!