Apply In Person:

1. All Drone Operators in Botswana are required to register their Drones with Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) for a Drone Flying Permit (operations certificate) and obtain a clearance certificate.
2. Non-citizens or non-residents who wish to bring their drones into Botswana of the purpose of flying them within the country should apply to CAAB Offices in writing giving 7 days’ notice.
3. The request letter should be addressed to the Directorate of Flight Safety and should clearly outline the following;
   • The drone’s certificate of registration number
   • Date and time of proposed flight
   • Reason for the proposed flight
4. The request letter should be accompanied by all the relevant supporting documentation as listed under the “Required Documents” section of this page and proof of payment of the registration fee for (Private-P250; Commercial-P500).
5. Upon receipt of the application file the CAAB officer will then verify, if all the necessary information and documentation have been provided and that the applications comply with the selection criteria, if everything is in the order the application is registered for processing which is usually within a week.
6. It should be noted that applicants will be required to travel to Gaborone or possibly Maun for a security interview with their Department of Intelligence Service (DIS), during which they will request that you bring your drone for inspection and to complete the application process.
7. Where the CAAB office is certified that all the conditions as set for the application are meet, the drone flying permit shall be drawn and made available for the applicant to collect or sent to the applicant via mail.

• copy of a Valid identification document (passport for foreigners or Omang for citizens/ driver’s license )
• Fingerprints with Botswana Police Services clearance stamp
• Payment proof (Private-P250; Commercial-P500) is required for each application
• The completed vetting form (DIS Form) (To be completed at CAAB)
• A copy of the RPA user manual is available at the CAAB offices.
• Authorization letter from the property owner (For commercial operation).
• Any other supporting documentation as may be requested by the Authority.

Directorate of Flight Safety
Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB)
Plot 61920, Letsema Office Park
Fairgrounds, Gaborone
Tel: +267 3688200
Fax: +267 3105440

Applicant should meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply

• Citizens or non-citizens.
• Drone pilots must be at least 18 years old.

The following fees are applicable;

• Private-BWP250
• Commercial-BWP500.

• The validity of the permit shall be mentioned on the document and shall remain valid for that stipulated time frame unless suspended, cancelled or evoked by the Authority responsible.

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• The time frame for processing the application is usually within 7 days

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is dkisplayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Botswana’s Restricted Areas of Operation. According to the CAAB’s Bye-Law 07 of 2016, the following areas are prohibited from drone operations:

• Within controlled airspace, unless granted express permission by the appropriate ATC authority, only if two-way communication with that authority is possible.
• Within a three-kilometer radius of an unmanned airfield, unless the operator can monitor the unmanned airfield’s 125.5 MHz frequency.
• Over a hundred national game parks and wildlife refuges
• Regardless of the tourism facility
• Over any wildlife in such a way that the drone may cause disturbance to the wildlife
• Within a 200-meter lateral distance of any power line
• If the drone is registered in Botswana, it may be flown across an international border.
• Over any airspace specified in an AIP as prohibited or restricted
• Over major public thoroughfares
• Over vehicular traffic in motion
• Adjacent to or above a prison, police station, crime scene, or court of law, as well as government facilities such as military and security installations
• Unless the owner expressly permits it, over any private property
• Overdeveloped areas
• Throughout public gatherings

• full names of the applicant
• identification document details
• Nationality
• Type of permit required (private or commercial)
• The drone’s certificate of registration number
• Date and time of proposed flight
• Reason for the proposed flight
• Location/area you wish to fly over
• Declaration by the applicant

• All Drone Operators in Botswana are required to register their Drones with Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) for an operations certificate and obtain a clearance certificate.
• The penalty for using a Drone without an Operators Certificate in P5000 and/or confiscation.

The following are the most critical rules to follow when flying a drone in Botswana.

• The CAAB requires that all drones be registered.
• While flying, drone pilots must maintain a direct visual line of sight with their drones.
• Drones are permitted to fly up to 400 feet above ground level and a maximum distance of 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the drone pilot.
• Drone pilots are not permitted to fly more than one drone at a time.
• Drone pilots must be at least 18 years old.
• Do not fly drones within a radius of three kilometers (two miles) of any airport or airfield.
• Drones must relinquish this right to crewed aircraft.
• Do not fly Drones at night.

Please explain what are other uses for obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Place some external links which might help.

More information which might help people.