Can you fly your drone in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, the credential to know about is SUA Pilot Rating. Whether you need it depends on your drone's weight and how you fly — Civil Aviation Department (CAD) runs the scheme, and the official sources below spell out exactly when it applies.

Yes — visitors can fly. Drones over 250 g need aircraft and pilot registration on the eSUA portal (a passport is accepted, non-resident registration lasts about six months; the label must be collected in Hong Kong or mailed to a local address such as your hotel). Under 250 g nothing is required within Category A1 limits: about 30 m altitude, 20 km/h, and 10 m from people, outside restricted zones. Rules for foreign pilots can change, so always double-check with Civil Aviation Department (CAD) before you travel, and see the official sources below.

The short version: Max 91 m (300 ft) above ground level — lower than most countries. On top of that: Registration required for all drones over 250 g via eSUA portal. Also: Restrictions near airports in Hong Kong are defined as gazetted Restricted Flying Zones (RFZ) around HKIA and other aerodromes/heliports, shown on the CAD Drone Map — there is no single flat distance. Flying inside an RFZ requires CAD permission, and some areas (e.g. Victoria Harbour) are restricted regardless of distance from any airport. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Hong Kong, so always check the official sources.

What you need to avoid are the restricted zones — typically around airports, prisons, military areas and protected nature. You'll find the official map for Hong Kong under Sources below, and the DroneKoll app keeps the country's rules, weather and checklists in one place before you fly.

Drone flying in Hong Kong is regulated by Civil Aviation Department (CAD), which handles both the rules and the airspace. Their official pages are linked under Sources below — that is where changes appear first.