Visitor Guide: Flying Your Drone in Singapore (2026 Edition)
Visiting Singapore with a drone? Singapore is a fantastic place to capture city skylines, waterfronts, and green spaces, but it is also a dense and busy airspace.
Singapore’s drone rules may feel intimidating at first. But once you plan ahead and follow the requirements, flying in Singapore can be smooth, stress-free, and worth it.
That is why Heron created this visitor guide. It simplifies the rules into practical steps, so you know what applies to you and what to prepare before you fly!
Step 1: Get to know the requirements
Before you start planning locations or filming shots, it helps to understand one key thing: Singapore’s drone requirements can differ based on your drone’s weight, your flight purpose, and where you fly.
Tip: It’s safe to take this step about 4 weeks before your trip, so you have buffer time in case registration, licensing, or permit applications are needed.
Overall, requirements typically fall into four areas:
- UA registration
- B-RID (Broadcast Remote Identification)
- License
- Permits
Related Article: B-RID in Singapore: Full Guide to the New Drone Regulations
To quickly identify which of these applies to you, answer these three questions:
Q1: What is the total weight of your drone (including payload)?
Weight matters because it affects whether you need registration, whether training or licensing may apply, and whether B-RID is required outdoors.
Make sure you use your total take-off weight, including any payload attached to the drone when flying. Here are the practical weight categories:
- Under 250g (e.g., DJI Mini series)
- Above 250g to 1.5kg (e.g., DJI Air / Avata / many Mavic models)
- Above 1.5kg to 7kg (e.g., DJI Inspire series)
- Over 7kg (e.g., DJI Matrice series)
Q2: What is the purpose of your flight?
Purpose is one of the biggest deciding factors. In Singapore, CAAS classifies UA operations into three categories:
- Recreational
Flying for personal enjoyment, such as holiday footage for personal use, practice flights, or hobby flying. - Educational
Flying as part of learning or training (for example, a school project or a structured course). - Commercial
Any flight tied to work deliverables or commercial outcomes, such as paid shoots, client projects, company marketing content, inspections, surveys, or enterprise trials.
Q3: Are you flying outdoors or indoors?
Where you fly, it changes your obligations. Most requirements are triggered by outdoor operations because they interact with public airspace and safety constraints.
- Outdoors
This is where most regulatory requirements come into play, including airspace restrictions, permit triggers, and if your UA is above 250g, you’ll need B-RID. - Indoors / enclosed environment
Generally lower risk, and CAAS notes certain requirements (like B-RID) do not apply indoors or in enclosed environments. Other exemptions can depend on whether the place is publicly accessible.
Once you have answered these three questions, you can confidently identify what you need to prepare for next.
Use the guide below to find your category, then save the set of requirements that apply to you, so you have a clear checklist as your trip gets closer!
Step 2: UA Registration
If your drone’s total weight is above 250g, you must register it before operating in Singapore. CAAS states that operating an unregistered UA above 250g is an offence and may result in a fine of up to S$10,000, or up to 6 months’ imprisonment, or both.
Quick note: Registration is only needed if you intend to fly your drone in Singapore. If you are bringing a drone into Singapore but not operating it at all, registration and other “before you fly” requirements generally do not apply.
What you need to do:
- Apply for a UAPass account on the online UA Portal.
CAAS states UAPass processing takes about 5 working days, so visitors are recommended to apply before arriving in Singapore. - Purchase a registration label.
You can buy it over the counter at designated SingPost outlets, or online.
Quick note: If purchasing online, delivery is only within Singapore, so you will need a local address. CAAS also notes online label delivery can take up to 5 working days. - Affix the label to your drone, then complete registration in the UA Portal using your UAPass.
Visitor tip: If your drone is >250g, do your UAPass first. It is the most likely step to slow you down if you leave it too late.
Step 3: B-RID (Broadcast Remote Identification)
Once your registration is done, the next common blocker for visitors is B-RID. From 1 Dec 2025, any drone above 250g that is flown outdoors must be equipped with B-RID.
There are two ways to comply:
- Use a drone model with built-in B-RID, or
- Attach a B-RID module that meets Singapore’s technical standards and requirements.
What visitors should do:
- Check CAAS’s verified list of UA models and B-RID modules that meet the B-RID requirements in Singapore.
- If your drone is on the list, you’re covered for the “equipped” requirement (subject to functionality).
- If your drone is not on the list, you’ll likely need a compliant B-RID module—use the same CAAS list to choose an option that’s verified.
If you need a locally available option, you can also view our CAAS-verified AirBeep-B RID module here. We can deliver it to your accommodation in Singapore so you can get set up before you fly.
Step 4: Training & Licensing (UABT and UAPL)
Training and licensing can be the part that takes the most planning, especially for visitors. There are two requirements you might need depending on your purpose and UA weight: UABT and UAPL.
Check this early so you have enough time to book training or plan the licensing pathway.
UA Basic Training (UABT)
UABT is a short, theory-based requirement for certain recreational/educational categories. CAAS notes UABT takes about 2 hours, and successful participants receive a certificate.
The course itself is short, but visitors should plan ahead to secure a slot with CAAS-approved UABT organisations.
UA Pilot Licence (UAPL)
For commercial flying, licensing expectations are higher. Unlike UABT, which is a short theory session, UAPL can take weeks to months because you need to pass both a theory test and a practical assessment.
After you submit your application, CAAS states that complete applications are typically processed within 10 working days.
Step 5: Permits
Even if your drone is registered and B-RID-ready, your flight plan may still require permits. In Singapore, CAAS has two permits you may need to check: an Operator Permit and an Activity Permit.
Which one applies depends on your purpose of flight, where you fly, and what you are trying to do.
Operator Permit
An Operator Permit shows that the operator has the systems, procedures, and safety controls to operate unmanned aircraft safely. This is usually relevant for organisations running planned operations, especially for non-recreational use.
Processing time (as per CAAS): average 10 working days.
Activity Permit
An Activity Permit is approval for a specific flight activity. It typically covers details like location, date and time, altitude, and operating areas.
CAAS also categorises Activity Permits into different activity types (for example, the type of activity and the operating conditions), so what you need to submit can vary based on your flight plan.
Processing time (as per CAAS): average 5 working days.
Visitor tip: If your category includes permits, do not leave this to the last minute. Permits are the most sensitive to missing documents and location constraints.
Step 7: Safety rules visitors commonly miss
Once the admin steps are done, the easiest way to stay out of trouble is to follow a few essential operational safety rules. To avoid common mistakes, keep these key points in mind:
- Before every flight, check OneMap for restricted areas, no-fly zones, and any temporary restricted areas. Do this even if you have flown in the same spot before, because restrictions can change.
- Do not fly within 5km of any airport or military airbase.
- Do not fly over crowds or public events.
- Keep your UA within line of sight.
- Do not fly higher than 200 feet above mean sea level unless you have the relevant approvals.
- Avoid flying near roads, during emergency response, or in poor conditions.
That’s it! Singapore’s drone rules can feel like a lot at first, but you only need to get a few things right: confirm your category, prepare what your checklist shows, and double-check your location on OneMap.
Do that, and you’ll be set for a smooth flight day!
Heron AirBridge requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate.
References
All online sources accessed January 22, 2026.
- Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. “UA Regulatory Requirements.” https://www.caas.gov.sg/public-passengers/unmanned-aircraft/ua-regulatory-requirements.
- Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. “UA Regulatory Requirements: Unmanned Aircraft Basic Training.” https://www.caas.gov.sg/public-passengers/unmanned-aircraft/ua-regulatory-requirements/ua-basic-training.
- Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. “UA Regulatory Requirements: Unmanned Aircraft Pilot Licence.” https://www.caas.gov.sg/public-passengers/unmanned-aircraft/ua-regulatory-requirements/ua-pilot-licence.
- Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. “Advisory Circular AC 101-5-1(2): Registration of Unmanned Aircraft (14 February 2025).” PDF. https://www.caas.gov.sg/docs/default-source/docs---srg/ac-101-5-1(2)-registration-of-ua-14feb25.pdf.
- Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. “Approved Advisory Circular AC 101-2A-2(1): Broadcast Remote Identification (9 June).” PDF. https://www.caas.gov.sg/docs/default-source/docs---srg/approved-ac-101-2a-2(1)-broadcast-remote-identification_9jun.pdf.
- Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. “Advisory Circular AC ANR101-2-1(8): Permits for Unmanned Aircraft (3 July 2025).” PDF. https://www.caas.gov.sg/docs/default-source/docs---srg/ac-anr101-2-1(8)-permits-for-unmanned-aircraft-3-jul-2025-(clean).pdf.
- Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. “UA Safety Guidelines.” PDF. https://www.caas.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ua-safety-guidelines.pdf.
Heron AirBridge is a Singaporean aviation technology company building the digital infrastructure for safe, scalable drone operations. Offering a suite of integrated solutions, including Network and Broadcast Remote ID, a comprehensive Fleet and Flight Management System, Unmanned Traffic Management System, and Remote ID Ground Sensors.
Heron aims to connect drones, data, and regulatory oversight—enabling seamless workflows and trusted, compliant operations for enterprises and authorities. Learn more at heron-airbridge.com.
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