Welcome to our beginner’s guide to getting know about Portugal Drone Laws. In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know and stay updated about Portugal’s drone laws. We also will be covering the following information such as where to get the drone permit for this country, as well as the best drones to fly, travel guides, and contact information to the civil aviation authority of the stated country. Without further ado, let’s dive into the details:

Introduction to Portugal Drone Laws

Flying your drone in Portugal is legal, but you need to familiarize yourself with the applicable drone rules in the respective country. Even though as exciting as it is to capture stills and videos from an aerial perspective, Portugal is very strict about permission to capture footage. If you want to be able to use footage, you will need to request permission from the ANAC. Aside from that, see the following drone regulations and rules in Portugal:

• Liability insurance is highly recommended, however, it is not required.
• Keep a clear visual line of sight on your drone at all the time.
• Fly during daylight hours.
• Fly with good weather visibility conditions.
• Don’t fly higher than 400 feet above ground level.
• Don’t fly overcrowded areas or prohibited zones.
• Maintain at least 5 miles away from any aerodromes.
• Respect the privacy of individuals when recording footage.
• Special permissions to fly during night and drones weigh more than 55 pounds, contact ANAC.

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Getting Drone Permit for Portugal

You will need to request a drone permit from ANAC before every flight sessions you plan to launch. To request a drone permit, contact ANAC via its official government website. If you are a commercial drone operator, it will be ideal to have valid proof of insurance that covers both recreational and commercial flight operations. In addition to that, a valid proof of your remote pilot license.

If you plan to fly your drone during night time and beyond visual line of sight, you will need to get approval from ANAC before your flight plan. The time it takes for them to process typically takes a few working days, so be sure to give plenty of time in advance of submitting your flight plan. If you get approval from ANAC, you will obtain a drone permit that will allow you to operate your quadcopter as stated respectively of the drone regulations and rules in Portugal.

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Drone Traveling Tips to Portugal

There are several methods to travel to another country with your drone. Read our important traveling tips to get the latest scoop on the best drone traveling practices and become informed. In this section, we will be covering what to do if you are traveling by air or by sea.

Traveling by Air

If you decided to travel by air and would like to bring your drone with you. You need to be aware that the airlines can only reimburse up to $1,000 for loss and damage to your property, including drone and its gear. That’s because of the Montreal Convention which limits how much airlines are allowed to pay you up to a maximum value of $1,000 — no matter how expensive your drone is.

Therefore, we highly encourage bringing your drone and its accessories as carry-on all the times. Furthermore, the drone batteries can’t be in the check luggages. Because they are prone to extreme temperature that poses fire hazards when undergoing temperature change. In rare circumstances, some airlines have strict policy and you will be only given the option to check luggage. To avoid this from happening, we recommend buying these fireproof drone battery bags:

• Colcase Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 198 x 150 x 135mm)
• Apex RC Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 240 x  65 x  180mm)
• Realacc Upgraded Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 220 x 155 x 115mm)

Traveling by Sea

Generally, you are allowed to bring your drone with you. But that depends on the cruise’s policy regarding to use of the drones. The only time you can operate your drone is when you are on land, never while the ship is in process of ferrying to other country. Flying the drones at the ports is also not allowed. Because each cruise companies are unique, we encourage you to check and familiarize with their policy on drones. Reach out to get more information if possible.

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Best Drones for Portugal

These are the best drones for traveling around the world such as Portugal due to their flying specifications and camera capabilities. Be sure to read each drone review guide by visiting each link so that you can decide which quadcopter you want to buy before going on a vacation.

Alternatively, you can visit our shop to see a wide selection of prosumer drones that are currently for sale on the best price deals. We only recommend the best drones for traveling that are portable, compact and equipped with powerful camera capabilities, while striving to provide affordable options for those who are looking to get started.

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Contact Information

If you need additional information about drone regulations and flying in Portugal. Keep it in mind that we try our best to provide the latest information about drone laws. Because the drone laws are not universal, they can wildly vary from a country with lax regulations to another country that has strict regulations. For any drone regulations that you are not sure, feel free to contact the Aviation Inspector directly:

Portugal Civil Aviation Authority Office

Tel: +351 21 284 22 26
Fax: +351 21 847 35 85
Email: geral@anac.pt