Before a drone goes into your travel bag, check more than its battery charge. Bringing equipment into Madagascar, registering it and flying at a particular location are separate questions. Start with Aviation Civile de Madagascar, known as ACM, and explain what you hope to film. A little preparation can help you decide whether to bring the drone or leave room for another camera lens.
What the registration notice covers
ACM published a drone registration notice in June 2025. It introduced a provisional process while a dedicated registration site was being prepared. This article began as a guide to that notice, but travellers should confirm the current process rather than assume it remains unchanged.
Do not treat a small drone, a camera free drone or an overseas registration as automatic permission to fly. Ask ACM which registration and operating conditions apply to your equipment and intended use.
Prepare the information ACM asks for
The registration form published on ACM’s website asks for the owner’s details, the aircraft model and technical specifications, serial numbers, onboard equipment and planned activities.
Its supporting document list includes:
- A copy of the owner’s identity card or passport.
- A certificate of residence for the owner.
- Proof of ownership, such as an invoice.
- The instruction manual or a link to it.
- Photographs of the drone and controller showing their serial numbers.
If you are visiting Madagascar rather than living here, ask ACM how the residence document requirement applies to you. Use the form and document list that the authority confirms are current.
Contact ACM before sending your file
The published form lists drone@acm.mg and acm@acm.mg as submission contacts. Check the current channel before sending identity documents, and ask what response or confirmation you should receive. An email sent is not, by itself, proof that registration or a proposed flight has been approved.
Before you plan a flight
Describe the locations, purpose and proposed timing of your flights to ACM. Registration is not blanket permission to fly wherever you choose. Ask about any authorization, notification or other conditions relevant to the operation.
Check with the people managing each site before planning aerial photography. A park visit or hotel booking does not establish filming permission. Respect people’s privacy and avoid disturbing wildlife. Confirm equipment entry requirements separately, and check your airline’s equipment and battery rules before packing.
Tell us about your filming plans
We are a local tour operator in Madagascar. If you hope to bring a drone on a WAU journey, tell us about your plans before travelling so we can discuss how they fit the itinerary. Approval comes from the relevant authorities, not from a tour booking. You can also browse our travel information as you prepare.
A practical checklist
Confirm the requirements before departure. Keep copies of the documents and any permissions you receive. Leave the drone packed until the conditions for that location and operation are clear, and have a plan for enjoying the visit without flying.
Drone questions before your trip
Does registration let me fly anywhere?
No. Registration should not be treated as blanket permission. Ask ACM about the proposed flight and check the conditions at the place you want to film.
Is a small holiday drone automatically exempt?
Do not assume so. Ask ACM to confirm the rules for your exact model, its sensors and your intended use before relying on an exemption.
Can WAU guarantee a drone permit?
No. We can discuss your itinerary with you, but we do not promise approval from ACM or any other authority.
