The rules around flying and importing drones in Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are nuanced, and not always clear. And what about the punishment if you do something deemed illegal?
We discuss what we know below. Updates are welcome in the rules for drones forum thread.
Azerbaijan
2020 report: “They specifically asked if we had a drone. After answering positively, it was no problem but we were not allowed to use it. We got an official paper and the box with the drone was sealed so that we could not open it.
But leaving the country to Georgia at Lagodekhi, we offered the paper but the custom officials did not even look at it.”
Iran
It’s definitely not risk-free. A French tourist received an 8-year prison sentence in 2022 after flying a drone near the border with Turkmenistan 2 years before.
Others have gotten away with flying their drones, or packing their drones away in the depths of their luggage.
According to some, only a small drone is permitted (less then 250 grams) and you need to register it if you want to use it legal – although we don’t know how that should be done.
Questions and reports in the Iran drone forum thread.
Kazakhstan
Last we read, UAVs with a maximum take-off weight of less than 1.5 kg are not subject to registration. Above that weight, you need to register your drone.
Having said that, no problems have been reported with flying or importing drones in Kazakhstan by tourists, except for the clueless idiot who flew his drone over the president – and even he got off with one night in jail.
Kyrgyzstan
No problems have been reported with flying or importing drones in Kyrgyzstan by tourists.
Tajikistan
Quoting Christian77: “Drones are 100% illegal in Tajikistan, unless registered with the government (for wedding, commercial or promotional videos produced by local companies). But 100% you can find many drone videos by tourists (local and foreign). Tajikistan has many laws that law enforcement officers are unaware of. This is one of them.
What this means is that they are not actively checking for drones in baggage. But, in classic Tajikistan style, they leave you in the position where they can confiscate your drone and fine you if they want. Fine amount is negotiable, and the pain of your drone being confiscated depends on how expensive it is.
Law enforcement in Tajikistan is unpredictable, arbitrary, capricious, clueless, absent, over bearing, etc… You will get no exact answers.”
Questions and reports in the Tajikistan drone forum thread.
Turkmenistan
Questions and reports in the Turkmenistan drone forum thread.
Uzbekistan
It is illegal to import a drone into Uzbekistan, unless you have a permit. According to the civil aviation agency of Uzbekistan, there should be a simplified procedure for tourists for issuing drone permits for Uzbekistan, but that is all we know so far.
Reports
Over the years, several people have reported not being checked thoroughly for drones and having a lovely care-free time. If you have read this website for a bit, you will already have guessed that there have also been reports to the contrary.