Drone filming in Colombia: rules for foreign crews (2026)

Direct answer

Can a foreign film crew fly a drone in Colombia?

Yes, with an authorization. Under RAC 100, the drone regulation of Aerocivil (Colombia’s civil aviation authority), commercial filming needs a registered drone, a pilot with a certificate of competency, a certified operator, third-party liability insurance and a flight authorization. Drones cannot come on commercial flights, so compare an advance import through a customs broker with a local certified operator.

What does Aerocivil require to fly a drone on a commercial shoot?

Aerocivil requires a registered drone, a pilot with a certificate of competency, a certified operator, third-party liability insurance and a flight authorization, and the flight has to stay out of the zones where flying is not allowed. According to Aerocivil, any commercial or professional flight belongs to the specific category of RAC 100, its regulation for unmanned aircraft.

What a commercial drone shot needs in Colombia, as of November 2026
Requirement	What Aerocivil states
Category	Specific category for commercial or professional operations, with aircraft of up to 250 kg. The open category, up to 25 kg, is for recreation, hobby or sport and prohibits flying for profit
Drone	Registered, whatever its weight (in the open category, registration starts at 200 g)
Pilot	A certificate of competency (certificado de idoneidad), with a night-flight endorsement to fly at night
Operator	A certified operator (explotador), who applies for the flight authorization
Insurance	Third-party liability insurance, valid for the dates of the flight
Flight authorization	Requested before the operation; it specifies the approved dates, times, pilots, equipment, areas and altitudes
Near an airport	Prior coordination with the air traffic services unit, and a NOTAM if that coordination requires one
No-fly zones	Checked on Aerocivil’s Visor Geográfico UAS for each location and date
Penalties	From 4 to more than 50 monthly minimum wages (SMLMV), depending on severity, per Aerocivil’s May 2026 campaign

The open category needs no flight authorization, but it does not apply to a shoot: commercial drone filming falls in the specific category. The categories, weights and airport rules come from RAC 100 (Amendment 2, December 2024); the contents of the application and the authorization come from information circular MAUT-5.0-22-012. We last read those two documents on September 27, 2026. Check the regulations in force for the specific date, equipment, operator and place: feasibility is confirmed case by case.

Can a foreign crew bring its own drone pilot to Colombia?

Only if the flight meets the same specific-category requirements as any commercial operation in Colombia. This guide does not cover how a pilot certificate or a drone registration obtained in another country is treated, so confirm that with Aerocivil before you build the shoot around your own pilot.

Three more points shape the decision. The flight authorization is requested by a certified operator and specifies the approved pilots and equipment, so decide early who flies and with which aircraft. The drone itself cannot travel with the crew on a commercial flight; it has to be imported in advance through a customs broker. And a pilot who travels is foreign crew, so they need an immigration status that matches the activity.

According to the Colombia Film Commission, the POA (Permiso para Otras Actividades) covers stays of up to 90 days, can only be requested by a Colombian company and must be filed at least 10 business days before entry; it costs COP 151,884 per person in 2026. When the company sponsoring the project is foreign, the route is the type V courtesy visitor visa. Our guide to filming in Colombia compares both routes. Confirm each person’s case with the competent authority before buying flights.

Can you bring a drone into Colombia on a commercial flight?

No. According to the Colombia Film Commission’s customs page, drones cannot be brought into Colombia on commercial flights: they have to be imported in advance through a customs broker.

That sets the drone apart from the rest of the kit. Professional equipment can enter temporarily without duties, recorded against the traveler’s passport; the drone needs its own import, through a broker and on its own timeline. Once it is in the country, a commercial shoot still needs everything listed above: registration, a certified pilot and operator, insurance and a flight authorization.

Compare the cost and lead time of that import with renting an equivalent drone locally. A fixer may advise; a production services company can coordinate with a customs broker or source equivalent equipment in Colombia. What enters the country is decided by the customs authorities.

When should you hire a local certified drone operator in Colombia?

Consider it whenever your drone would have to be imported in advance, or your pilot and operator do not yet meet the specific-category requirements. Compare both routes on cost and lead time before you lock dates.

Your own drone team or a certified operator in Colombia, as of November 2026
Step	Your own pilot and drone	Certified pilot and operator in Colombia
The aircraft	Imported in advance through a customs broker; it cannot come on a commercial flight	An equivalent drone sourced in Colombia
Pilot	A certificate of competency; confirm with Aerocivil how one obtained abroad is treated	A pilot with a certificate of competency
Flight authorization	Requested by a certified operator through Plataforma UAS Colombia	Filed by the local certified operator through Plataforma UAS Colombia
Registration and insurance	Drone registered whatever its weight; third-party liability insurance valid for the flight dates	The same requirements
Immigration	POA permit or type V visa for the traveling pilot	Applies only to crew who travel to Colombia
Lead time	The longest, because the drone has to be imported in advance	The flight authorization and the location permits

It does not have to be all or nothing. Your director or director of photography can define the aerial shots while a certified pilot and operator in Colombia request the authorization and fly them. A fixer does not cover drone shots; a production services company coordinates the shot with a certified pilot and operator, who request the authorization, and Aerocivil decides.

We plan aerial shots as part of the production: before confirming one, we assess the location and the requirements that apply and list the permits and lead times in the quote. Sequoia Studio can run the complete local execution or a defined part of it, and our written estimates state roles, production days, currency, taxes, payment milestones and exclusions.

How do you get a drone flight authorization in Colombia?

The certified operator applies for it through the Plataforma UAS Colombia online system, before the operation. According to information circular MAUT-5.0-22-012, the application includes the operating area as a KML file, a risk assessment and the insurance policy, valid for the dates of the flight.

The authorization specifies the approved dates, times, pilots, equipment, areas and altitudes, so settle the shot list, locations and dates before the request goes in. During the operation, the pilot must carry:

The drone’s registration.
The insurance policy.
The pilot’s certificate of competency.
The operator’s certificate.
The flight authorization.
The flight and maintenance logbook.

Near an airport, a commercial operation is not ruled out, but it takes more steps. In addition to the flight authorization, RAC 100 requires prior coordination with the relevant air traffic services unit. According to the circular, if that coordination calls for a NOTAM, the flight cannot take place before the NOTAM is published, nor before five business days from the coordination. We last read RAC 100 and the circular on September 27, 2026; Aerocivil’s unmanned aviation page lists its regulations, circulars and forms.

How far ahead should you request drone authorization in Colombia?

Request it before the operation, once the locations, dates and insurance are settled. Aerocivil’s circular sets one fixed minimum: near an airport, when the air traffic coordination calls for a NOTAM, the flight cannot happen before the NOTAM is published or before five business days from the coordination.

Lead times for a drone shoot in Colombia, as of November 2026
Step	Official lead time	Stated by
A drone that would travel with the crew	In advance, through a customs broker; it cannot come on a commercial flight	Colombia Film Commission
POA permit for a traveling pilot	At least 10 business days before entry	Colombia Film Commission
Aerocivil flight authorization	Per request, before the operation; the application includes insurance valid for the flight dates	Aerocivil circular
Flight near an aerodrome that needs a NOTAM	Not before the NOTAM is published, nor before 5 business days from the coordination (read September 27, 2026)	Aerocivil circular
PUFA ordinary permit, Bogotá public space	5 working days	Bogotá Film Commission
PUFA urgent permit, Bogotá public space	3 working days, with 25% added to the fee	Bogotá Film Commission
Public-space permit, Medellín	At least 7 calendar days	Colombia Film Commission
Public space in other municipalities	Set by each municipality; confirm before scheduling	Each mayor’s office

These are official lead times, not a schedule. Insurance, location agreements and the risk assessment come before any filing, and a drone that would travel with the crew needs the most lead time, because it cannot come on a commercial flight.

Where can’t you fly a drone in Colombia?

Open-category flights are not allowed within set distances of aerodromes, heliports, military or police bases, prisons, critical infrastructure and the President of the Republic, and in urban areas a drone must stay at least 30 meters from buildings and from people not involved in the operation. Near an airport, a commercial operation is not ruled out, but it takes more steps. Check Aerocivil’s Visor Geográfico UAS, its online map of drone zones, for each location and date.

Restricted areas and urban limits for drones, as of November 2026
Area or condition	Rule
Aerodromes	No open-category flights within 9 km of the aerodrome reference point, except between 6 and 9 km out, below 61 m above the lowest runway threshold. A commercial operation nearby is not ruled out, but needs a flight authorization, prior coordination with the air traffic services unit and, if required, a NOTAM
Heliports	No open-category flights within 3 km
Military or police bases, prisons and critical infrastructure	No open-category flights within 2 km
The President of the Republic	No open-category flights within a 2 km radius
Restricted, danger, prohibited or military operations airspace	Requests go to the Colombian Aerospace Force (Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana)
People not involved in the operation, in urban areas	No closer than 30 m horizontally
Buildings, in urban areas	No closer than 30 m
Height, in urban areas	No higher than 400 ft (122 m) above ground level
Line of sight	The flight stays within visual line of sight
Night	Visible lights and an observer; in the specific category, a night-flight endorsement on the pilot’s certificate

In Bogotá, El Dorado airport sits inside the city, so the areas near it fall within that 9 km radius. Drone manufacturers also build GEO zones into their software; according to Aerocivil, unlocking one of those zones requires a flight authorization, which open-category pilots cannot apply for. The distances and urban limits come from RAC 100, last read on September 27, 2026.

Before confirming an aerial shot, we check the Visor Geográfico UAS, the distance to airports, heliports and restricted facilities, the type of space, the time of day and the presence of people. When an area does not allow flying, we propose an alternative.

Does a drone shoot also need a filming permit?

Yes. Aerocivil’s authorization covers the flight, and it is not the only one. According to the Colombia Film Commission, filming in public space is authorized by each city or municipality; in Bogotá, that is the PUFA. Private properties, façades and monuments need their own permission.

Filming in a place and flying over it are related decisions, but not the same one. An owner’s authorization does not replace the conditions that apply to the flight, and a flight that is possible does not, by itself, give the right to occupy, control or publish a location. Production should identify each authorization and who is responsible for it.

In Bogotá’s public space, the shoot needs the PUFA (Permiso Unificado para Filmaciones Audiovisuales), managed by the Bogotá Film Commission, a program of Idartes, and filed only through the SUMA+ platform. According to the commission’s PUFA page, the ordinary permit takes 5 working days; the urgent one takes 3, allows up to 90 people and no road closures, and adds 25% to the fee. Both require a compliance policy and a third-party civil liability policy. In Medellín, the request goes through the mayor’s Ventanilla Única para Eventos at least 7 calendar days ahead, according to the Colombia Film Commission; in other municipalities, each mayor’s office issues its own permit.

The PUFA does not cover the image of building façades or monuments: that permission comes from the private property managers or, for district monuments, from the Instituto Distrital de Patrimonio Cultural (IDPC). At a country estate, a hotel or a private residential complex, whoever manages the property also has to approve the shoot.

How do you plan an aerial shot before you promise it?

Define what the shot must reveal, then check the location, safety, flight conditions and authorizations before promising it. Feasibility is confirmed case by case.

An aerial shot can place a territory, show scale, follow an action or reveal a spatial relationship that cannot be understood from the ground. Write that function down before discussing height, speed or route. If the shot only repeats a ground shot from higher up, it adds cost and complexity without adding information. A useful brief says what the audience should discover and at what point in the piece: for a property, its connection with roads and landscape; for a company, the size of an operation; for a campaign, a person or vehicle moving through a place. That answer sets the lens, the path, the time of day and the length of the flight.

Then test the reference against the site: coordinates, obstacles, foot traffic, power lines, trees, takeoff surfaces, interference and local restrictions. A satellite image helps prepare the visit but does not replace a recent check: cities change, vegetation grows and a clear area can have unexpected activity. The takeoff point and the route matter too, because the team has to keep operational control and protect the people nearby. If the path would cross a road, approach a crowd or lose safe conditions, change the shot, the time or the location before the idea becomes a promise.

Following vehicles, talent or processes takes rehearsal. The route must be known, start and end points must be unambiguous, and one person must be able to stop the action. Communication between pilot, observer, director and production keeps each department from reading the movement differently. Shoot a controlled version first, then variations: very long runs are hard to repeat, produce long files and leave fewer editing options. Splitting the action into shots with a clear function protects battery, continuity and safety.

What happens if you can’t fly on the shoot day?

The shoot moves to the alternative agreed in advance. Safety, weather or authorizations can stop a flight even when the production is ready, so plan a decision window and a ground option before the shoot.

Wind, rain, fog, visibility and changing light affect both safety and continuity. A general forecast for Bogotá is not enough: a mountain, an open corridor or a built-up area can behave differently. The plan should set that window and say what happens if conditions do not allow flying.

A creative contingency keeps the day from depending on a single tool. A shot from a high, safe position, camera movement on the ground, context photography or aerial footage on another date can keep part of the intent. When an area does not allow flying, or the paperwork cannot be completed in time for the date, we propose another spot where flying is allowed, another location with a similar feel, or ground coverage that meets the same storytelling need. Agree on the alternative in advance so the crew does not improvise under pressure.

What should you agree on for aerial footage?

Agree on how the aerial shots fit the final piece: whether they go into a master or arrive as an organized selection, which resolution and frame rate are required, how color is handled and whether vertical versions are needed.

A frame composed for 16:9 can lose its subject and direction when it is cropped to 9:16, so say early if the campaign needs vertical versions. A drone does not usually replace a ground camera either: it adds scale, geography and movement from another point of view, and the sequence usually needs ground shots, details and sound as well.

We treat the drone as one more camera in the production. The proposal connects the aerial shot with the script, the ground shoot, sound, editing and final use, so the flight serves a story instead of becoming a showy extra the edit cannot place. If your director of photography travels and the drone team is local, agree on resolution, frame rate, color profile and data workflow before the shoot. The day ends when the media is copied, verified and backed up according to the plan, not when the drone lands.

From guide to production

Planning aerial shots in Colombia? Start with the location.

Send the location, tentative dates, what the aerial shot should show and how the footage will be used. We reply in English from Bogotá. Before confirming a shot, we assess the location and the requirements that apply, list the permits and lead times in the quote and propose an alternative if the area does not allow flying.

Drone filming in Colombia

Before you lock dates: a drone checklist

What the aerial shot must show, in writing
Exact location, coordinates and access confirmed
Visor Geográfico UAS checked for each location and date
Distance to airports, heliports and restricted sites
Obstacles and people near the flight path
Certified pilot, certified operator, registered drone
Third-party liability insurance for the flight dates
Flight authorization, plus air traffic coordination near airports
PUFA or municipal permit and property approvals
Drone plan: local operator or advance import
Weather window and a ground alternative
Resolution, frame rate, color and vertical versions agreed

Drone filming in Colombia: frequently asked questions

Can a foreign drone pilot fly in Colombia?

Only within the rules for commercial operations: a pilot with a certificate of competency, a certified operator, a registered drone, third-party liability insurance and a flight authorization from Aerocivil. This guide does not cover how a certificate obtained abroad is treated, so confirm that with Aerocivil. A traveling pilot also needs an immigration status that matches the activity.

Can I bring my own drone to Colombia?

Not on a commercial flight. According to the Colombia Film Commission, drones have to be imported in advance through a customs broker, while other professional equipment can enter temporarily without duties, recorded against the traveler’s passport. Compare the cost and lead time of the import with renting an equivalent drone locally.

Do I need a permit to fly a drone for a commercial shoot in Colombia?

Yes. Commercial drone filming falls in the specific category of RAC 100 and needs a flight authorization from Aerocivil, requested by a certified operator through the Plataforma UAS Colombia online system. The open category, which needs no flight authorization, is limited to recreation, hobby or sport and prohibits flying for profit. Filming in public space also needs the city’s permit, such as the PUFA in Bogotá.

How far ahead should I request drone authorization in Colombia?

Before the operation, with the insurance valid for the flight dates. Near an airport, if the air traffic coordination calls for a NOTAM, the flight cannot happen before the NOTAM is published or before five business days from the coordination, according to Aerocivil’s circular MAUT-5.0-22-012, last read on September 27, 2026. A drone that has to be imported needs the most lead time.

Can you fly a drone near El Dorado airport in Bogotá?

In the open category you cannot fly within 9 km of an aerodrome reference point, except between 6 and 9 km out, below 61 meters above the lowest runway threshold. A commercial operation in that area needs a flight authorization and prior coordination with the air traffic services unit, and may require a NOTAM to be published.

How do I know if a location is a no-fly zone?

Aerocivil publishes the Visor Geográfico UAS, an online map of drone no-fly zones and other restricted areas; check it for each location and date. Manufacturers also build GEO zones into their drone software. According to Aerocivil, unlocking one of those zones requires a flight authorization, which open-category pilots cannot apply for.

What are the penalties for breaking drone rules in Colombia?

Aerocivil warns that operating in restricted zones or breaking the rules can lead to penalties of 4 to more than 50 monthly minimum wages (SMLMV), depending on severity. In 2026 the SMLMV is COP 1,750,905, set provisionally by Decree 0159 of 2026 while the Council of State rules.

What if the location does not allow flying?

We do not promise the shot. We assess the location and the applicable requirements before confirming it. If the area does not allow flying, or the paperwork cannot be completed in time for the date, we propose an alternative: another spot where flying is allowed, another location with a similar feel, or ground coverage that meets the same storytelling need.

Sources

Checked on 9 November 2026 (Aerocivil’s RAC 100 and circular MAUT-5.0-22-012 were last read on 27 September 2026). Rules, fees and amounts change: confirm the current version with the official body before budgeting. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Keep planning

Our English pages for international teams, and related Spanish guides.

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