DJI Mavic, Air and Mini Drones
Friendly, Helpful & Knowledgeable Community
Join Us Now

Taking my Mavic to Iran

Status
Not open for further replies.

maartendev

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Messages
10
Reactions
13
Age
37
Hi guys,

I recently bought a Mavic and my first trip is in about a week to Iran. I would love to hear some advice on the following topics:

1. I'm not sure if it is allowed to bring my drone to Iran. I can't find any experiences with that, does someone has experiences with bringing a drone to Iran. Or does someone know how to find out?

2. Are there specific rules how to transport my drone by plane? I thought I needed to make sure batteries are not charged and not connected to the drone and in my hand lugage. Is this correct?

3. Any cool tips where to drone in Iran or specific settings? Would love to hear that!

Thanks anyway for thinking along!

Maarten
 
Thanks CCDD, is that based on experiences or assumptions? I read about bad experiences with flying in Tehran, but have no clue how it will be outside Tehran.
 
Why push your luck with a repressive regime! Nothing to gain...plenty to lose! Leave it at home or better yet dont go!
 
  • Like
Reactions: ZUCSTA
"...better yet dont go!" Is that based on a negative travel experience in Iran, or based on the image you have of Iran? Would love to hear experiences from people that have actually been there, or have information about flying a drone in Iran.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thwyllo
Agree with Roc - don't give them a reason to detain you !!
 
  • Like
Reactions: ZUCSTA
Hi guys,

I recently bought a Mavic and my first trip is in about a week to Iran. I would love to hear some advice on the following topics:

1. I'm not sure if it is allowed to bring my drone to Iran. I can't find any experiences with that, does someone has experiences with bringing a drone to Iran. Or does someone know how to find out?

2. Are there specific rules how to transport my drone by plane? I thought I needed to make sure batteries are not charged and not connected to the drone and in my hand lugage. Is this correct?

3. Any cool tips where to drone in Iran or specific settings? Would love to hear that!

Thanks anyway for thinking along!

Maarten

Traveling to Iran.
Your Mavic should be the least of your concerns.
 
It may be my stupidity
.
But what Part Of
"taking My mavic to Iran"
sounds like a good thing
where's the Upside.?
I'm not see any of it
basicly the Mavic pro is a Flying camera that takes Video's and can Fly 10KPH @ 500ft range of 5 miles

NOPE...... wish you Luck with that
 
  • Like
Reactions: ZUCSTA
The US Military recently banned the use of all DJI products because they send information back to China. My concern would be with this information being intercepted by Iranian authorities and you being labeled as a Chinese spy. If you insist on bringing it I would suggest not connecting to any devices capable of internet connection without first enabling Airplane mode, and don't share any pictures or video online until you get back. Good luck, and please let us know how it goes!

-Joe
 
Hi guys,
I recently bought a Mavic and my first trip is in about a week to Iran. I would love to hear some advice on the following topics:
1. I'm not sure if it is allowed to bring my drone to Iran. I can't find any experiences with that, does someone has experiences with bringing a drone to Iran. Or does someone know how to find out?
Maarten

Here it says they established a NFZ over the capital, so be careful while in Teheran if you don't want the anti-aircraft artillery firing at your Mavic (yes they really used AAA this year)

Iran bans drones above Tehran over security fears
 
  • Like
Reactions: timesnaps
The US Military recently banned the use of all DJI products because they send information back to China. My concern would be with this information being intercepted by Iranian authorities and you being labeled as a Chinese spy. If you insist on bringing it I would suggest not connecting to any devices capable of internet connection without first enabling Airplane mode, and don't share any pictures or video online until you get back. Good luck, and please let us know how it goes!
-Joe

And maybe also delete the copies of the clips and pictures stored in your smartphone, put an almost empty SD card in the Mavic and keep the real one (the full one) hidden somewhere
 
  • Like
Reactions: timesnaps
Keep it discreet! No reason to flash a blingy camera case or tough box. Pack it between some clothes in your carry on and act like its a simple camera. I don't miss the middle east.
 
Iran is a beautiful country with lovely people. I havent been but I know people who have visited and flown drones without problems.

There are a couple of gotchas...
1. Visa requirements for US citizens are very strict and can take up to 3 months to process. In addition you are likely to have to be escorted at all times by a local (who may not want you flying a drone)
2. The same applies to UK passport holders based on the BTSFP principle (bomb the same ******* places)

As a Brit I looked into it in some depth and decided it was more hassle than it was probably worth. Passport holders from less aggressive countries have no problems.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
That is correct on the escort part, not only that but the escort will need to have a sense of where it's ok to fly "Think green zone". There are several Mpro vid's on youtube from Iran like the one below. I would reach out and find out first hand how best to go about it. As much as I understand your urge to take the Mavic .... heck I pulled the trigger on my MPro here in China I'm not sure it would be worth the hassle/trouble. Lets say it does not get taken away... there are all sorts of issues that could come up .... you have a fly away, disconnect etc... Keep it home, Keep it safe or go BIG and be OK if you Mpro does not make it back to where you call home. If you do go with Mpro ... update this thread with some footage!


 
DO NOT TAKE YOUR DRONE, HELICAM, OR ANY OTHER FLYING DEVICES TO IRAN, THEY ARE BAN!!!!

Do not take your Drone, Helicam or any other flying devices to Iran, they are Ban!!! unless you have a permit before entering the country, it will be taken away if found in your luggage on arrival, and if you're lucky for them to miss it on arrival, they will take it away on departure going through security, trust me it's not worth the hassle after being through this for 5 days.

So I brought my mavic pro into Iran on Aug 20, 2017 thinking it would be a great place to take picures because of the beautiful scenery there. The big mistake (rokie mistake) I made was to not do my research before hand on bringing drone into country otherwise I would have seen where it would have be an issue, despite all my research when I was there, there is nothing saying it is ban from the country, but that's what some police said and that's what airport security are told, but some say you have to have a permit to fly it in the country, to save you the headache just leave it a home, because they will think you're a spy which is going to be a big mess explaining yourself, or you unknowingly fly near or over sensitive area for which they claim I did, and for which I didn't know because I was flying at a tourist attraction site. Even locals cannot take drone into the country they said.

So after 5 days of waiting, explaining why I was flying where I was flying and other questions, 3 different police stations, had my drone, Nikon 750 camera, memory cards, day bag searched, passport hold for 2 days because it was their weekend, I finally got everything back except for the memory card that was in the drone. So anyone else thinking of bringing thier Drone to Iran you might not be so lucky as I was, so I am very thankful I didn't end up in jail or didn't get back my drone. As one cheif said he would have given me 6 months in jail then immidate deportation, but he didn't. The country is very sensitive to spy, journalists, reporters, soldiers, etc so be very careful if you are in any of these professions .

Beside all that, I must say the Iranian police was VERY nice to me and treat me with the utmost respect, despite my situation and what could have happened to me, one even apologize to me for the trouble I have being through.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jefff and ZUCSTA
What in the world would compel a person from a foreign country to go to Iran and attempt to take drone footage... I'm not going to call you any names but really... are you from Iran. Do you have an immigration standing of any kind in Iran?

Ok - ask yourself this question.

Do you think it would go without challenge if someone from IRAN. Travelled to the US with a drone. Took footage, dunno.... anywhere ... then left the country with a bunch of cameras, SD cards and a drone.

Think about that for a second and what the result would be if one of the 3 letter agencies found out about such flights..... and that's in the US. Where we don't stone people to death.

Seems pretty ill-advised. Put me squarely in the camp of don't take a spy-drone to Iran.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ZUCSTA
Hi @maartendev and @mmedia,

Did any of you guys already go to Iran and brought your Mavic? I want to go next april and would be really sad if I had to leave my Mavic at home.

Greetings,

Friso
 
They don’t let any Rc in the country has to be attached with a wire no wireless

And if you manage to get it inside and get caught. It’s gona be jail for sure it’s a different world out there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vilco
Status
Not open for further replies.
Lycus Tech Mavic Air 3 Case

DJI Drone Deals

New Threads

Forum statistics

Threads
130,585
Messages
1,554,097
Members
159,586
Latest member
DoubleBarS