How to Register a Drone in Pakistan
Every drone in Pakistan must be registered with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), and new buyers must apply within 15 days of purchase under the Civil Unmanned Aircraft Rules 2024. This applies to small 249 g drones too. Below we explain who must register, what you should prepare, how renewal works, and which details (such as the online portal and fees) we could not confirm. Last checked: October 2026.
Updated 8 November 2026
Who must register
Everyone who owns a drone. Geo News (16 June 2024) reported that under the Civil Unmanned Aircraft Rules 2024 all drones must be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority, and Dawn (24 June 2024) wrote that "all UAVs" must be registered with the federal government, even toy-type aircraft.
There is no weight exemption for registration. A DJI Neo (DJI Neo) at 135 g or a DJI Mini 3 (DJI Mini 3) at 249 g must be registered just like a DJI Air 3 (DJI Air 3) or a Matrice. The weight only decides whether you also need a pilot licence.
Last checked: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
The deadlines
- New buyers: apply within 15 days of buying the drone (Geo News, 16 June 2024).
- Owners who already had drones when the rules started: Geo News reported four months; Unmanned Airspace reported 180 days. That window has passed, so existing owners who have not applied should contact the PCAA now.
- Renewal: every three years (Dawn, 24 June 2024).
- Decision: Dawn reported that the PCAA Director General decides within 60 days.
Do not fly before your registration is approved, and check the current flying bans as well.
What you should prepare
The rules, as reported, say the application must state the drone's intended use (Geo News). The exact form and document list are not published in the sources we found, so the list below is a sensible preparation list, not an official one:
- your CNIC (or passport for foreigners)
- proof of purchase (invoice or receipt with the date)
- the drone's make, model and serial number (on the drone body or in the DJI Fly / Autel Sky app)
- take-off weight and category (Category I for 250 g or less)
- the intended use: hobby, photography, commercial, inspection
- your contact details and address
Keep your invoice safe. The 15-day deadline is counted from the purchase date.
How to apply: what is known
Step 1: Check the PCAA website (pcaa.gov.pk) for the latest unmanned aircraft section, forms and notices.
Step 2: Fill in the registration application with the details above and submit it in the way the PCAA specifies.
Step 3: Keep the acknowledgement. Once approved, you receive a unique registration mark of letters and numbers (Geo News, 16 June 2024). Show it on the drone as instructed.
Unverified: we found no public online drone registration portal in October 2026. One search snippet mentioned "Civil Unmanned Aircraft Rules 2025" on the PCAA portals page, but we could not open or confirm it. Fees are also not published in the sources we found. Contact the PCAA directly for the current process and fee.
Limits on how many drones you can register
One person may not register more than three drones of the same category in one calendar year (Geo News, 16 June 2024). Businesses with bigger fleets, such as survey or inspection companies using the Matrice 350 RTK (DJI Matrice 350 RTK), should speak to the PCAA about fleet registration before buying.
Second-hand drones and drones bought abroad
If you buy a used drone, ask the seller whether it was registered and how ownership can be moved to you. The sources we found do not explain a transfer process, so this is unverified; ask the PCAA how to handle it. Keep a written sale receipt with the date, serial number and both parties' CNIC details.
If you bring a drone from abroad, the import rules apply first, and then registration. Read our drone import rules guide (Drone Import Rules in Pakistan) for the legal process. Do not assume a drone bought in Dubai or elsewhere is exempt from Pakistani registration.
Registration vs licence vs permission
These are three different things:
- Registration: for the drone. Required for every drone.
- Remote Pilot Licence: for the person flying a drone over 250 g (Category II and above). See the Remote Pilot Licence guide (Remote Pilot Licence (Drone Licence) in Pakistan).
- Flight permission: for flights outside the standard conditions (beyond 200 ft, at night, out of sight, in restricted areas) and, in 2026, written permission from district Safe Drone Usage Committees in Punjab during Section 144 bans (The Nation, 29 September 2026).
A registered drone can still be grounded by a ban. Check the drone ban status page (Drone Ban Status in Pakistan: Federal and Provincial Tracker) before flying.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking small drones are exempt. They are not; only the licence rule changes at 250 g.
- Waiting until the first flight. The 15-day clock starts on the purchase date.
- Losing the invoice. You may need it to prove the purchase date and serial number.
- Using a Plus battery without noticing the weight change. A 249 g Mini with a Plus battery is Category II and needs a licence.
- Forgetting renewal. Registration lasts three years.
What happens if you do not register
The rules allow a fine of up to Rs 100,000 and up to Rs 10,000 per day while the violation continues (Geo News; Dawn, June 2024). An unregistered drone is also more likely to be seized during police checks, especially while outdoor bans are in force.
There is no legal way to skip registration, and no shop can do it on your behalf without your details. Registration is the owner's responsibility.
How we help buyers
When you buy from Syed Non Custom Drones, ask for a written invoice or receipt and keep it safe; the PCAA application needs the purchase date, model and serial details. If you need a copy later, ask us through the contact page (Contact Us). Each product page also shows the drone's weight category, so you know whether a pilot licence is needed. For the full picture of the rules, read our drone laws guide (Drone Laws in Pakistan (2026 Guide)).
