Malaysia MY
Since a rule change in February 2025, tourists need a CAAM Authorisation to Fly (ATF) for essentially every drone flight in Malaysia, including sub-250 g models — there is no weight-based exemption for visitors. The ATF application (submitted to CAAM, with the drone's radio equipment needing to already carry MCMC/SIRIM type-approval) takes about 14 working days and costs roughly RM 250 for drones under 20 kg, so a tourist can realistically fly, but only with advance planning; turning up and flying casually is not compliant.
Your plan
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1 thing to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Malaysia
This is a per-flight/per-trip Authorisation to Fly (ATF) rather than a permanent vehicle registration. Under an older, still-cited framework, hobbyist drones under 20 kg were described as not needing separate 'registration', but the February 2025 ATF rule now requires this authorisation regardless of weight for tourists. Apply by email at least 14 working days ahead; the process is manual, not instant. Fee: 250 MYR (Standard Authorisation to Fly (ATF) fee for drones up to 20 kg; drones over 20 kg are reported at around RM 1,000.). Allow about 14 days before your trip.
Open official page - Bringing your drone in
No drone-specific duty-free personal allowance was confirmed. A personal drone can generally be carried into Malaysia as luggage, but its radio equipment should already hold MCMC/SIRIM type-approval (most mainstream consumer models such as common DJI drones already do), and you should still expect to need a CAAM ATF before flying it. Malaysia requires SIRIM Type Approval plus MCMC approval for radio-emitting equipment, covering the frequency bands drones commonly use (433-435 MHz, 2400-2500 MHz, 5725-5875 MHz). Most well-known consumer drone models are already approved for the Malaysian market, but bringing an unusual or non-mainstream model could raise import/use issues. Batteries: Standard international air-travel lithium-battery rules are expected to apply (carry-on only); no Malaysia-specific exception was found.
- Before each flight
As of 16 February 2025, an Authorisation to Fly (ATF) is required for effectively every drone flight in Malaysia — recreational, tourist and training — including drones under 250 g · Submit the ATF application to CAAM (drone.atf@caam.gov.my) at least 14 working days before your planned flight; applications are handled manually, not via instant online approval · Maximum altitude 120 m (400 ft) above ground level
Flying
- As of 16 February 2025, an Authorisation to Fly (ATF) is required for effectively every drone flight in Malaysia — recreational, tourist and training — including drones under 250 g
- Submit the ATF application to CAAM (drone.atf@caam.gov.my) at least 14 working days before your planned flight; applications are handled manually, not via instant online approval
- Maximum altitude 120 m (400 ft) above ground level
- Stay in Class G airspace and at least 9.26 km (5 nautical miles) from any aerodrome/airport unless the Director-General grants specific authorisation for closer operation
- Avoid flying near security-sensitive sites such as Istana Negara (National Palace), KLCC, Putrajaya government precincts and Parliament
- Carry your passport, drone registration/approval papers and a copy of your ATF approval while flying, since spot checks occur
- Flying in Sabah or Sarawak requires additional permits from local state authorities on top of the federal CAAM ATF, since these states control some of their own approvals
- Unauthorised flying carries serious penalties: individuals risk fines up to RM 50,000 and prison terms exceeding 3 years; companies risk fines up to RM 100,000
Commercial use: Commercial operators need an Aerial Work Certificate from CAAM (around RM 800 for a new application, RM 500 for annual renewal) in addition to the ATF for each operation; JUPEM approval (around RM 50) is separately required for mapping/surveying work.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (all drones) This is a per-flight/per-trip Authorisation to Fly (ATF) rather than a permanent vehicle registration. Under an older, still-cited framework, hobbyist drones under 20 kg were described as not needing separate 'registration', but the February 2025 ATF rule now requires this authorisation regardless of weight for tourists. Apply by email at least 14 working days ahead; the process is manual, not instant. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | No No hobbyist pilot test; Aerial Work Certificate for commercial. Hobbyist/tourist pilots do not need a formal licence or knowledge test, but must still hold a valid ATF for each flight. Commercial operators need CAAM's Aerial Work Certificate. |
| Remote ID | No No electronic Remote ID broadcast requirement was found for tourist/hobbyist drones; compliance is instead enforced through the ATF paperwork and physical spot checks. |
| Insurance | No Not legally required for hobbyist or commercial operation, though recommended. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Foreign visitors must apply for the CAAM Authorisation to Fly like anyone else; apply at least 14 working days before your trip since the process is manual (by email) rather than instant. An approval reference tied to MCMC's radio-equipment rules may be requested to confirm the drone model is compliant, especially for less common models. If travelling to Sabah or Sarawak, budget extra time for the additional state-level permits required there on top of the federal ATF. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| All drones (post-Feb 2025 rule), including sub-250 g | any weight | CAAM Authorisation to Fly (ATF) required for every flight; no weight-based exemption for tourists. |
| Small UAS | ≤ 20 kg | Standard ATF fee (~RM 250); no separate CAAM aircraft registration needed under the older framework, though the ATF itself is mandatory. |
| UAS over 20 kg | > 20 kg | Higher ATF fee (~RM 1,000); realistically applies to commercial/professional equipment, not typical tourist drones. |
Import & export
- No drone-specific duty-free personal allowance was confirmed. A personal drone can generally be carried into Malaysia as luggage, but its radio equipment should already hold MCMC/SIRIM type-approval (most mainstream consumer models such as common DJI drones already do), and you should still expect to need a CAAM ATF before flying it.
- Malaysia requires SIRIM Type Approval plus MCMC approval for radio-emitting equipment, covering the frequency bands drones commonly use (433-435 MHz, 2400-2500 MHz, 5725-5875 MHz). Most well-known consumer drone models are already approved for the Malaysian market, but bringing an unusual or non-mainstream model could raise import/use issues.
- Batteries: Standard international air-travel lithium-battery rules are expected to apply (carry-on only); no Malaysia-specific exception was found.
- The bigger practical hurdle for tourists is the CAAM Authorisation to Fly, not customs clearance of the physical drone itself.
- No official drone-specific customs duty or VAT rate was confirmed for a single personal-use drone.
- Sabah and Sarawak have their own additional permit requirements on top of federal CAAM/MCMC rules, reflecting Malaysia's semi-autonomous East Malaysian states.
Export
- No drone-specific export control information was found; general Malaysian customs rules would apply when taking a drone back out of the country.
Costs
| Operator registration | 250 MYR (≈ €50) · Standard Authorisation to Fly (ATF) fee for drones up to 20 kg; drones over 20 kg are reported at around RM 1,000. Validity: The ATF is reported valid for up to 3 months per approval, not a one-time or indefinite registration — expect to reapply for a longer stay or a later trip. |
|---|---|
| No hobbyist pilot test; Aerial Work Certificate for commercial | Not needed |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in Malaysia as a tourist Visitors
- Apply for a CAAM Authorisation to Fly (ATF) early
Email drone.atf@caam.gov.my at least 14 working days before your trip; the standard fee is about RM 250 for drones up to 20 kg, valid up to 3 months. Open
- Confirm your drone model is MCMC/SIRIM compliant
Most well-known consumer drones (e.g. common DJI models) already carry Malaysian radio type-approval; check if you're using an unusual model.
- Plan your flight within the rules
Stay under 120 m, at least 9.26 km from airports, in Class G airspace, and away from sensitive sites like Istana Negara, KLCC, Putrajaya and Parliament.
- Carry your paperwork
Bring your passport and a copy of your CAAM ATF approval whenever you fly, since spot checks occur and penalties for flying without authorisation are severe (up to RM 50,000 and 3+ years imprisonment).
- Check state-specific rules for Sabah/Sarawak
These states require additional local permits beyond the federal CAAM ATF if you plan to fly there.
Sources
- Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) — official site · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- drone-laws.com — Malaysia Drone Laws 2026 · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- UAVwiki — Malaysia Drone Laws 2026 Complete Guide for Tourists · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−15
- Night flight unknown−3
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Long lead time (14 days)−8
- Import permit−40
- Duty + VAT ≈ 15 %−9
- Radio / type certification−12
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works