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| Unmanned aerial vehicles, including flycams, must be registered with competent authorities__Photo: Ta Chuyen/VNA |
This Q&A explains whether foreign nationals residing in Vietnam may use flycams, which are treated as unmanned aerial vehicles, for personal purposes, what conditions they must meet, and how they can register their devices under Government Decree 288/2025/ND-CP and Ministry of Public Security Circular 78/2026/TT-BCA.
I am a foreign national permanently residing in Vietnam. May I use a flycam for personal purposes?
Yes. As per Article 19.6 of Government Decree 288/2025/ND-CP, which generally takes effect on November 5, 2025, a foreigner permanently residing in Vietnam may directly operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), including a flycam, provided that the operation is guaranteed by a Vietnamese agency, organisation or individual.
However, the following conditions must be met:
(i) The UAV must have a valid registration certificate or temporary registration certificate;
(ii) The operator must be at least 18 years old, unless the UAV has a maximum take-off weight of less than 0.25kg, and must have no alcohol, drugs, sedatives or other prohibited substances in his blood or breath;
(iii) If the UAV has a maximum take-off weight of 0.25kg or more, the operator must hold a visual pilot licence. If the UAV has a maximum take-off weight of 2kg or more, is flown beyond visual range, or is operated under a pre-programmed flight plan through a central control unit, the operator must hold a valid instrument-rating licence issued by a competent agency or an international certificate recognised by the Ministry of National Defence.
It should be noted that the conditions listed in Items (i) and (iii) will take effect on July 1, 2026, later than the other provisions of Decree 288.
Those who operate two or more UAVs at the same time must also prove that the relevant technology meets flight safety requirements, as shown in the technical specifications of the operating system.
Formation flying and aerial artistic light shows must be approved or permitted by a competent state agency.
For UAVs used in sports activities, in addition to the conditions in items (i) and (ii), relevant requirements under the law on physical training and sports must also be met.
What are the procedures for registering my flycam?
Under Article 8.2.c of Circular 78/2026/TT-BCA, from July 20, 2026, provincial-level Departments of Public Security will be responsible for registering UAVs owned by foreigners residing in their localities.
It is worth noting that this provision does not apply to UAVs owned by foreign diplomatic missions or representative organisations headquartered in Vietnam, or to those owned by foreign individuals working for such missions or organisations.
Before registering your flycam, you must make sure that:
(i) You have a document proving lawful ownership of the device. This may be:
• An import licence and a customs declaration form, in case your flycam is an imported device, or,
• An invoice issued by an entity licensed to trade in UAVs, a decision of a competent agency, a transfer document, or another financial document prescribed by law.
(ii) The flycam meets the standards and technical regulations issued or recognised by the Ministry of National Defence.
If this type of flycam is being registered in Vietnam for the first time, you must also provide a letter of certification from either the customs office that approved its import or the manufacturer or assembler of this type of flycam that is a legal entity recognised in Vietnam.
Procedures for registration
Step 1: Submit the registration dossier
You must submit one registration dossier directly to the provincial-level Department of Public Security of the locality where you reside, which will act as the registration agency. Alternatively, you may use your electronic identification account to submit the dossier through the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal and obtain a dossier code for processing the registration.
The dossier must comprise:
• A declaration for registration of the flycam, made according to Form 01 issued together with Circular 78;
• Your identification document, or the identification document of the person authorised to register the flycam, if any. This may be a passport, permanent residence card, temporary residence card, or another document of equivalent validity;
• A document proving your lawful ownership of the flycam;
• A document proving that the flycam satisfies the required standards and technical regulations; and,
• Proof of payment of the registration fee, if any.
If you submit the dossier in paper form, you must present the originals together with copies of the dossier components for collation.
If you submit the dossier through the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal, you must provide electronic documents created or digitised from paper documents. These electronic documents must accurately and fully reflect the content and format of the original paper documents. You may either sign the electronic documents directly with your digital signature, or sign the paper documents and then scan them in colour.
The registration agency will receive, examine and process the dossier within three working days.
If the dossier is complete and valid, the agency will notify you to pay the relevant fee and issue an appointment notice for processing the dossier.
If the dossier is incomplete or invalid, the agency will directly guide you, or send you a written notice, to supplement and complete the dossier in accordance with law.
Step 2: Bring the flycam to the registration agency for inspection
You must bring the flycam to the registration agency according to the appointment notice for inspection.
If the information in the dossier matches the inspection results and the flycam satisfies the registration conditions, the registration agency will issue an appointment notice for receipt of the registration result within three working days.
If there is a discrepancy between the dossier information and the actual flycam, the registration agency will directly guide you, or send you a written notice, to supplement and complete the dossier in accordance with law.
If the flycam is not eligible for registration, the registration agency will issue a notice rejecting registration and clearly state the reason.
Step 3: Have the flight operation management device attached to the flycam
You must bring the flycam to the registration agency to receive the registration certificate and have a flight operation management device attached to the device.
Under the law, each UAV must be issued a separate registration number, which serves as an identification code for its owner, and must be fitted with an electronic tag or device containing the registration number and other relevant information used to identify, monitor and manage its operation.- (VLLF)
