Trade & mobilityAviationNigeria
Register a drone / obtain an RPAS permit (NCAA)
Register a drone (≥250 g) and, for commercial use, obtain an RPAS operating permit from the NCAA via the RPAS portal.
- Procedure
- 3steps
- Coordination
- 1agency
- Category
- Trade & mobilityAviation
Task links
Go to the exact next page
Application, requirements, forms, fees, and tracking are labelled separately.
Routing map
Who you will deal with
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
Procedure
The steps, in order
Each route below is scoped to the step it can actually complete.
01 Register the drone (RPA/UAV)
- Agency
- Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
- What is required
- All drones weighing 250 g or more must be registered on the NCAA RPAS Portal (recreational, commercial, institutional or foreign-owned).
- Documents
- Drone specifications; owner details; proof of ownership
- Typical timeline
- Via RPAS portal
02 Apply for the commercial RPAS operating permit
- Agency
- Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
- What is required
- Commercial operations (photography, mapping, event coverage, monitoring, etc.) need an RPAS Operator Certificate. Submit an Operations Manual (SOPs, safety, emergency, maintenance) and a third-party liability Insurance Certificate.
- Documents
- Operations Manual; insurance certificate; registration
- Typical timeline
- Per Nig. CARs Part 21
03 Pay fees and obtain the permit
- Agency
- Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
- What is required
- Pay the applicable fee (approximately ₦10,000-₦50,000 depending on classification and use) per the NCAA Schedule of Fees; the permit is issued on approval.
- Documents
- Fee payment
- Typical timeline
- On approval