Guide
Drone controllers, video links and many drone modules contain radios. In India, wireless equipment usually needs approval from the telecom authorities before it can be imported and sold. This guide explains what to check before you order.
Last reviewed: November 2026 by Shankar Jha, Customs and EXIM consultant.
Sources: Saral Sanchar portal of the Department of Telecommunications, the de-licensed band notifications of the Ministry of Communications, and DGFT Notification 54/2015-20.
The short answer
- Radio transmitters, receivers, video links and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth modules usually need Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing of the Department of Telecommunications.
- "De-licensed" bands do not need an operating licence, but the device model still needs approval.
- This is separate from the DGFT drone import policy and from the rules for flying a drone.
Three separate checks for a drone import
| Question | Where the answer sits |
|---|---|
| May this drone, or these parts, be imported? | DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 |
| Does the radio equipment have wireless approval? | Department of Telecommunications (this guide) |
| May the drone be flown, and what registration applies? | Drone Rules, 2021 as amended, on the Ministry of Civil Aviation page |
Which drone items contain radios
- Remote controllers and transmitters, and their receivers
- Video transmitters and FPV goggles or monitors
- Telemetry radios
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular modules built into a drone, camera or controller
- Complete drones, which carry their own radios
Receive-only items, such as a simple GPS receiver, are a different matter. We confirm item by item.
What "de-licensed band" means
Some frequency bands are open for low-power use without a user licence, subject to conditions on power and use. Bands commonly used by drone controllers and video links, such as the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, are among those the Government has de-licensed for low-power equipment, as reported in the notifications on those bands. De-licensing removes the need for the user to hold a licence. It does not remove the need for the device model to be approved.
Not every drone radio uses a de-licensed band. Some long-range control and telemetry radios use other frequencies. Check the band on the supplier's specification before you order.
How the approval works
- Identify every radio in the product and its frequency band, power and type.
- Check the band against the Indian frequency rules to see whether it is de-licensed and under what conditions.
- Obtain the approval. ETA is applied for on the Department of Telecommunications Saral Sanchar portal. Foreign manufacturers normally apply through an authorised Indian representative or an Indian importer, with test reports from a recognised laboratory. The route depends on whether the device qualifies for self-declaration.
- Keep the certificate with your import papers and show it to Customs when asked.
This is the general process as commonly described. Details, fees and forms change, so we confirm the current route for your device before you start.
What can go wrong at Customs
Wireless goods without the required approval can be held at Customs, and demurrage and detention charges can then add up while the matter is resolved. If Customs has raised a query on wireless equipment, send it to us. We draft the reply. See Customs query reply.
Documents we usually ask for
- Technical specification of each radio item: frequency band, power, modulation
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Existing approval or test reports, if the supplier holds them
- Make and model numbers
- IEC and GST details of the importer
- Customs query or notice, if one has been issued
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a device needs no approval because it works in a de-licensed band
- Ordering radios in a band that is not open for use in India
- Relying on a foreign approval mark, such as CE or FCC, as if it were an Indian approval
- Treating the DGFT "Free" policy for components as covering wireless approval
Check your own case
Use the drone import check, and read the companion guide on parts, kits and batteries.
Led by Shankar Jha, Customs and EXIM consultant with 27+ years of experience. About us
Questions
Does a drone remote controller need approval to be imported?
Controllers contain radios, so wireless approval usually applies. We check the band and the route for your model.
Is a foreign CE or FCC mark enough?
No. Those are foreign approvals. India has its own approval for wireless equipment.
Is the approval needed for personal use?
Tell us the quantity and use. We confirm the position for your case before you order.
Does this approval let me fly the drone?
No. Flying is governed by the Drone Rules, 2021 as amended.
Multimodal Logistic Systems Pvt. Ltd., Pune, India. Reviewed November 2026. Rules and notifications change; we check those in force on the date of your matter.