Singapore drone rules: the 250g line and the permit triggers
Verify before you fly
Rules verified: 2026-10-29 — regulations change; ALWAYS confirm with the national aviation authority before you fly. Official source: CAAS — Unmanned Aircraft. This page is educational information, not legal advice.
Singapore's rules are compact but strictly enforced in a small airspace. The starting line: any unmanned aircraft whose total weight exceeds 250g must be registered with CAAS before flying — indoors and outdoors, for recreation, education or business. Drones above 250g flying outdoors must also carry Broadcast Remote Identification. The requirements apply to anyone flying in Singapore — citizens, residents and visitors alike.
Pilot credentials
- Recreational or educational flying with a drone over 1.5kg up to 7kg in a publicly accessible place (or at an event with more than 50 attendees) requires a UA Basic Training Certificate or a UA Pilot Licence.
- Above 7kg in those settings, a UA Pilot Licence is required.
- Any business flight outdoors requires a UA Pilot Licence regardless of the drone's weight, location or height.
The permit triggers
Two permit types catch uninformed flyers. A Class 2 Activity Permit (recreational, drones up to 25kg) is required if any of these is true:
- Flying above 200 feet above mean sea level;
- Flying in a restricted or danger area;
- Flying within 5km of any airport or military airbase.
A Class 1 Activity Permit together with an Operator Permit is required for events with more than 50 attendees, for drones exceeding 25kg (recreational), for any beyond-visual-line-of-sight flying regardless of weight, and for business flights outdoors.
No-fly zones
Unmanned aircraft are barred from prohibited areas at all times, and flying in protected areas additionally requires a permit from the Singapore Police Force. In a city-state this small, checking the CAAS no-fly map before every flight is not optional courtesy — it is the difference between a legal flight and an enforcement case.
Key takeaways
- Over 250g: register first — even for indoor flights; add Broadcast Remote ID for outdoors.
- Class 2 permit triggers: above 200ft, restricted areas, within 5km of airports.
- Class 1 + Operator Permit: 50+ person events, over 25kg, BVLOS, outdoor business.
- Prohibited areas are absolute; protected areas need police permits.
- The same rules bind visitors.
City-proof drone cases
Singapore's flying areas are parks and open spaces reached on foot or by MTR — a compact case protects the aircraft between them. Compare slim hard cases for folding drones.
Compare cases →