Singapore SG
Singapore is straightforward but paperwork-heavy for tourists: any drone over 250 g must be registered online with CAAS (about S$25, valid 2 years, one registration label per foreign visitor) and, since 1 December 2025, must broadcast Remote ID (B-RID). Drones between 1.5 kg and 7 kg flown in public places additionally need a UA Basic Training Certificate, and flying above 60 m, within 5 km of an airport/military base, or in a restricted area needs a CAAS Activity Permit on top of that. A tourist with a small registered, B-RID-equipped drone who stays under the weight/altitude thresholds and away from the many no-fly zones (including Marina Bay, Sentosa and NParks land) can realistically fly; going beyond that requires real lead time.
Your plan
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You're good to go, just follow the local rules
- No registration needed
A 249 g drone with camera doesn't need to be registered in Singapore.
- Bringing your drone in
Tourists can bring a personal consumer drone into Singapore; no drone-specific import ban was found. Standard GST (9%) applies to goods above the personal traveller allowance, same as other electronics, but this was not confirmed as drone-specific. Batteries: Standard international air-travel lithium-battery rules apply (carry-on only); no Singapore-specific exception was found.
- Before each flight
Any unmanned aircraft (including payload and battery) over 250 g total weight must be registered with CAAS via the UA Portal before flying; drones at or under 250 g need no registration or permit for basic recreational use · Since 1 December 2025, any UA over 250 g flown outdoors must broadcast Remote ID (B-RID) via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, transmitting position, serial number and operator location — effectively a digital licence plate · Foreign visitors (non-residents) may register only 1 drone, versus up to 5 for citizens/permanent residents
Flying
- Any unmanned aircraft (including payload and battery) over 250 g total weight must be registered with CAAS via the UA Portal before flying; drones at or under 250 g need no registration or permit for basic recreational use
- Since 1 December 2025, any UA over 250 g flown outdoors must broadcast Remote ID (B-RID) via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, transmitting position, serial number and operator location — effectively a digital licence plate
- Foreign visitors (non-residents) may register only 1 drone, versus up to 5 for citizens/permanent residents
- A UA Basic Training Certificate (or UA Pilot Licence) is required for recreational/educational drones over 1.5 kg and up to 7 kg when flown in publicly accessible places or at events with 50+ attendees; the online course takes about 2 hours
- A Class 2 Activity Permit is needed for recreational flights above 60 m (200 ft), within 5 km of an airport (e.g. Changi, Seletar) or military base, or in restricted/danger areas, even for drones under 25 kg
- A Class 1 Activity Permit (paired with an Operator Permit) is needed for events with 50+ attendees, sporting activities, or any business/commercial operation
- Many iconic tourist areas are designated no-fly zones, including Marina Bay, Sentosa, and national parks managed by NParks — check the CAAS no-fly zone map before any flight
- Operating an unregistered drone over 250 g is an offence carrying fines up to S$10,000, up to 6 months' imprisonment, or both for a first offence
Commercial use: Any business/commercial operation needs both an Operator Permit (S$700 for the first aircraft type plus a S$200 CFMS subscription, 10 working days to process, valid 1 year) and a Class 1 Activity Permit (S$120 per activity), plus a UA Pilot Licence regardless of weight or location; Operator Permit holders must subscribe to the Centralised Flight Management System (CFMS) and fit a UA tracker.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (from 250 g) Register online via the CAAS UA Portal for any drone over 250 g. Foreigners/non-residents are limited to 1 registration label, versus up to 5 for citizens/permanent residents. As of 1 December 2025, registered drones flown outdoors must also broadcast Remote ID (B-RID). |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Sometimes (online, from 1.5 kg) UA Basic Training Certificate (UABTC). Required for recreational/educational drones over 1.5 kg and up to 7 kg when flown in publicly accessible places or at events with 50+ attendees; the online module runs through CAAS-approved training providers and takes about 2 hours. Many small consumer drones (e.g. sub-1.5 kg models) do not trigger this requirement even though they still need registration if over 250 g. Business operation instead requires a full UA Pilot Licence regardless of weight. |
| Remote ID | Yes (from 250 g) Since 1 December 2025, any UA over 250 g flown outdoors (recreational, educational or business) must broadcast Remote ID (B-RID) via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, transmitting position, serial number and operator location. Business operators may instead use the CFMS 'FlyItSafe' app if granted a waiver from B-RID. |
| Insurance | Unknown No insurance requirement was found on the official CAAS pages retrieved for recreational flying; not confirmed either way for commercial Operator Permit holders. |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Foreign visitors (non-residents) can register a drone but are limited to 1 registration label, versus up to 5 for citizens/permanent residents. CAAS rules explicitly apply equally to 'Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and non-residents' — there is no separate lighter-touch visitor track. Permit and registration applications go through the eSOMS platform, which is described as using SingPass/CorpPass login; whether a short-term tourist without a Singapore digital identity can access this smoothly was not confirmed — budget extra time or contact CAAS ahead of travel to clarify the login route. Class 2 Activity Permits are reported to take about 5 working days to process; Operator Permits (for any commercial work) take about 10 working days. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| At or under 250 g | ≤ 250 g | No registration, permit or Remote ID needed for basic recreational use; general flight rules (VLOS, no-fly zones) still apply. |
| Over 250 g, up to 1.5 kg | 250 g – 1.5 kg | CAAS registration (S$25, 2-year validity) and outdoor Remote ID (B-RID) required; no Basic Training Certificate needed at this weight. |
| 1.5 kg – 7 kg | 1.5 kg – 7 kg | Registration and B-RID required; additionally needs a UA Basic Training Certificate if flown in public places or at events with 50+ people. |
| Up to 25 kg (recreational ceiling) | 7 kg – 25 kg | Registration, B-RID, and typically a Class 2 Activity Permit if flying above 60 m, near airports/military bases, or in restricted areas. |
| Over 25 kg or any business use | > 25 kg, or commercial | Requires an Operator Permit, a UA Pilot Licence, and a Class 1 Activity Permit; CFMS subscription and UA tracker mandatory. |
Import & export
- Tourists can bring a personal consumer drone into Singapore; no drone-specific import ban was found. Standard GST (9%) applies to goods above the personal traveller allowance, same as other electronics, but this was not confirmed as drone-specific.
- No separate telecom/radio type-approval requirement distinct from the CAAS registration and B-RID rules was confirmed for importing a personal drone.
- Batteries: Standard international air-travel lithium-battery rules apply (carry-on only); no Singapore-specific exception was found.
- Register the drone (if over 250 g) and be ready to demonstrate B-RID compliance before flying, even though the drone itself typically clears customs without special formalities.
- No official drone-specific customs duty or VAT rate was confirmed beyond standard GST treatment of imported electronics.
Export
- No drone-specific export control information was found; general Singapore customs rules would apply when taking a drone back out of the country.
Costs
| Operator registration | 25 SGD (≈ €17) · Per-aircraft registration fee via the CAAS UA Portal. Validity: 2 years, then renewal is required. |
|---|---|
| UA Basic Training Certificate (UABTC) | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + 9 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying a drone in Singapore as a tourist Visitors
- Register your drone if it's over 250 g
Use the CAAS UA Portal; the fee is about S$25 and registration is valid for 2 years. As a non-resident you get 1 registration label. Open
- Make sure Remote ID (B-RID) is active
Since 1 December 2025, any drone over 250 g must broadcast Remote ID when flown outdoors.
- Complete Basic Training if your drone is 1.5-7 kg
Take the roughly 2-hour online UA Basic Training course if you'll fly in public places or at events with 50+ people. Open
- Get an Activity Permit if you need to fly higher or closer to restricted areas
A Class 2 Activity Permit (about S$110, 5 working days) is needed above 60 m, within 5 km of an airport/military base, or in restricted zones. Open
- Check the no-fly zone map before every flight
Marina Bay, Sentosa and NParks land are among the areas where recreational drone flying is banned outright.
Sources
- CAAS — Requirements for Flying Unmanned Aircraft · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- CAAS — Operator and Activity Permits · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- SingaporeLegalAdvice.com — Drone Laws in Singapore (Registration, Permits, No-Fly Zones) · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−10
- Pilot test (online)−5
- Remote ID−8
- Mandatory insurance−2
- Night flight unknown−3
- Low ceiling (60 m)−5
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Duty + VAT ≈ 14 %−8
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works