Traveling to China with your drone

How to legally register and use your drone in China?

Drones must be registered with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), here is their website available in English: http://www.caac.gov.cn/en/SY/

Any drone weighing 250 grams or more must be registered with the CAAC.
The license is required for commercial operations and for any drone weighing 7 to 116 kilograms.
Any drone weighing more than 116 kilograms requires a pilot license and UAV certification for operation.
The drone must be visible to the naked eye and remain within the pilot’s field of vision.
Do not fly above 120 meters.
Do not fly in densely populated areas.
Do not fly over airports, military installations, or other sensitive areas such as checkpoints or police substations.
All drones are subject to China’s “No-Fly-Zones” or NFZs. Beijing is an NFZ. See DJI’s NFZ map DJI.
Do not fly in controlled areas unless you have prior approval from the CAAC.

Drone registration requires the individual’s personal information as well as details about the drone and its use.

*NB: The registration process may require Chinese language understanding and a Chinese mobile phone number.

You must provide:

– Owner’s name
– Valid personal identification number (such as passport number)
– Mobile phone and email address
– Product model number
– Serial number
– Purpose of use
Once your drone is registered, you must print your registration sticker with the QR code and attach it to your drone in a clearly visible manner.

Here is a link to the CAAC portal to register your drone (it’s in Chinese), and here is an English language site that provides useful information to guide you through the registration process.