Can you fly your drone in Singapore?

KEY RULES

1. 01Max 200 ft (60 m AMSL) standard — 400 ft (122 m) for licensed commercial operators in designated zones more than 6 km from an airport. Verify current zone maps and conditions before relying on the higher limit.
2. 02You must register your unmanned aircraft with CAAS if it weighs more than 250 g. Registration costs SGD 25 and does not expire — you only need to update or cancel it if the drone is lost, damaged, sold, or its ID label becomes unreadable. You must be at least 16 to register; for younger pilots, a parent or guardian must register the drone.
3. 03Recreational flying outdoors with a drone over 1.5 kg up to 7 kg requires a UA Basic Training Certificate (one-time ~2-hour course with a CAAS-approved organisation) or a UAPL, and the pilot must be at least 16.
4. 04A UA Pilot Licence (UAPL) is required for any commercial/professional use regardless of weight, and for any drone heavier than 7 kg regardless of purpose. A Class A UAPL covers drones up to 25 kg; a Class B UAPL is for specific models over 25 kg. Foreign drone licences cannot be converted to a UAPL.
5. 05Stay at least 5 km from airports and military airbases unless you hold a CAAS Activity Permit for it — verify the exact current distance before flying near any airbase.
6. 06Flying a drone into or out of Singapore (e.g. across the Johor Strait) is illegal without a CAAS cross-border permit, whatever the drone's weight.
7. 07Broadcast Remote ID (B-RID) has been mandatory since 1 December 2025 for UA above 250 g, except for UA operated indoors/enclosed, or where the operator holds an Operator Permit and uses the FlyItSafe app.
8. 08Night flying is only permitted with the required lighting active and VLOS maintained at all times; flying beyond visual line of sight requires an Operator Permit and Class 1 Activity Permit.
9. 09Always maintain visual line of sight (VLOS)
10. 10For recreational flights (drone up to 25 kg), a CAAS Class 2 Activity Permit is needed to fly higher than 200 ft above mean sea level, within 5 km of any airport or military airbase, or in any restricted or danger area. Protected areas also need a permit from the Singapore Police Force. Flying in prohibited areas is never allowed.
11. 11Penalties are tiered: up to SGD 50,000 or 2 years' imprisonment on first conviction for serious violations (e.g. flying in a prohibited/protected area, or operating while impaired) — doubling to SGD 100,000 or 5 years for repeat offences. Lesser offences (e.g. flying an unregistered drone, or a B-RID violation) carry lower penalties of up to SGD 10,000 and up to 6 months' imprisonment.
12. 12Do not fly over people, buildings, or restricted installations.

Frequently asked questions