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Drone Laws in Indonesia

Summary of Drone Laws in Indonesia

Hobbyist Drone Laws For Residents of Indonesia

Drone Operations in Indonesia are currently regulated.


  • Hobbyist drone flights are allowed in Indonesia
  • Hobbyist Indonesia drone pilot license is not required
  • Hobbyist Drone registration is not required in Indonesia for hobbyists
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Indonesia for hobbyists
  • Drone Insurance is not required but recommended for hobbyists’ drone operations in Indonesia

Read below for more details on Hobbyist Drone Laws in Indonesia and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Commercial Drone Laws For Residents of Indonesia

Drone Operations in Indonesia are currently regulated.


  • Commercial drone flights are allowed in Indonesia
  • Commercial Indonesia drone pilot license is not required
  • Commercial Drone registration/authorization is required in Indonesia for commercial drone operators
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Indonesia for Commercial Drone Operators
  • Drone Insurance is required for commercial drone operations in Indonesia

Read below for more details on Commercial Drone Laws in Indonesia and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Drone Laws For Visitors To Indonesia

Drone Operations in Indonesia are currently regulated.


  • Foreign visitor drone flights are allowed in Indonesia
  • Foreign visitor drone pilot license is not required
  • Drone registration is not required in Indonesia for visitors/tourists
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Indonesia for tourists
  • Drone Insurance is not required but recommended for tourist drone operations in Indonesia

Read below for more details on Drone Laws in Indonesia for Visitors (Tourists) and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Drone Laws For Government Drone Operators in Indonesia

Drone Operations in Indonesia are currently regulated.


  • Government drone flights are allowed in Indonesia
  • Government drone pilot license is required
  • Drone registration is required in Indonesia for Government operations
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Indonesia for Government operations
  • Drone Insurance is not required for Government drone operations in Indonesia

Read below for more details on Drone Laws in Indonesia for Government Drone Operations and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Republic of Indonesia

Drone regulator in Indonesia: Ministry of Transportation Republic of Indonesia and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

Regulator Drone Site: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)


UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Indonesia

The Indonesian agency responsible for drone safety, DGCA, has provided many internet-accessible details on flying for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details go to the link above.

Are drones allowed in Indonesia?

According to DGCA, drone use is allowed in Indonesia, subject to strict DGCA regulations. Read on for more details.

Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Indonesia:

  • Indonesia has a maximum flying altitude of 150 meters (= 500 feet). If you wish to fly higher, you must obtain permission 14 working days before the scheduled flight. 
  • Drone flights must be conducted within the pilot’s direct line of sight. Maximum horizontal distance and FPV: Drone flights must be undertaken in the pilot’s direct line of sight. 
  • There is no requirement to purchase aviation liability insurance for your drone now. 
  • Drones must have a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of no more than 7 kilograms. 
  • Flights are permitted only in uncontrolled airspace. In addition, runways at airports must be at least 15 kilometers away from drone operations. 
  • Other safe distances include avoiding crowds and staying away from densely populated areas. The distance between the ground and the clouds must be at least 150 meters (vertical) or 600 meters (horizontal) (horizontal). 
  • Drones with cameras must maintain a minimum distance of 500 meters from prohibited or restricted areas. 
  • Drones are permitted to operate in Indonesia only when the sun is visible. The law prohibits flights at night and in inclement weather. Minimum visibility of 4.8 kilometers is required. 
  • You should be aware that if your drone is equipped with a camera, it may approach the land border up to a maximum distance of 500 meters. In addition, drones may not be operated from a moving vehicle except for vessels (boats, ships). 

Prohibited Areas

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, certain areas are entirely off-limits to drone flights (dubbed “Forbidden Areas”), including but not limited to: 

  • Areas where flight activities are entirely prohibited (referred to as “Prohibited Areas”) 
  • Areas that are entirely designated for government aviation but may occasionally be opened to civil aviation. 
  • Fifteen kilometers from any aircraft runway and flights greater than 150 meters altitude. 
  • Airspace that is controlled and where air traffic control, flight information, and alert services are provided. 
  • If your drone is equipped with a camera, you must maintain an additional 500 m safety distance from prohibited flight areas.

Penalties

It will depend on the nature and severity of your infraction. The judges will also consider whether you committed the violation intentionally and/or for commercial gain. Failure to comply with local regulations may result in a fine of up to IDR 5,000,000 and up to three years in prison.

Note for Foreign Operators

There are no apparent restrictions on bringing drones into Indonesia (Bali) if the import is deemed legitimate (generally one drone per person).


Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Indonesia

In Indonesia, there is no requirement to register or obtain a permit for recreational drone use. 

However, if you are flying your drone recreationally, you must fly: 

  • At a maximum altitude of 150 meters above the ground. 
  • Away from moving vehicles, people, and large crowds. 
  • A drone that is less than 2 kilograms in weight. 
  • You must be at least 18 years old to participate. 
  • Do not fly from a moving vehicle from a fixed point. 
  • Maintain minimum flight visibility of 4.8 kilometers (15 kilometers) and 15 kilometers away from airports (any airport, seaplane base, or area where aircraft or helicopters take off and land) and yield to all other aircraft types. 
  • Only during the day (no tolerance for night flights) and always within your sight. 
  • Keep a safe distance from clouds (150 m below & 600 m distance). 
  • At any given time, there is only one drone. 
  • Slower than 161 kilometers per hour and not under the influence of any drug or alcohol. 
  • If you wish to fly outside the limitations of Indonesian regulations (e.g., BVLOS), you must obtain permission from the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). It takes about two weeks to get, but remember that these are typically granted only for government purposes. 

Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Indonesia

You must follow all the steps and code of conduct of recreational drone use practices. 

In addition, for any flight with a commercial purpose, you will systematically need the following: 

  • an authorization from the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) 
  • an insurance policy that covers your commercial activities

Useful published information on flying drones in Indonesia

Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in The Republic of Indonesia…


Authoritative Sources of Information on Indonesia Drone Laws

We will attempt to keep an updated list of online authoritative links to regulators and other official websites here:



NOTE: This page is about the Regulation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), Small UAS, Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and drone are interchangeable terms unless specified. Model Aircraft, toy, remote-controlled, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.


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Traveling with a Drone?

Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.



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16 responses to “Drone Laws in Indonesia”

  1. PL Kee

    May I know do I need a permit to fly drone Malcic Mini 2 (249g) at Labuan Bajo and Padar Island,Komodo?

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Please contact the regulator. Link above

  2. Dussauge

    Bonjour,est ce que toutes ces règles concernant l utilisation de drone à but récréatif sont toujours à jour pour Bali ?Car j ai lu que depuis mai 2023 il fallait un permis à demander aux autorités indonésiennes?Mercibd avance pour votre réponse

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      We have not seen any official requirement for permits in Bali from the regulator. Please share any official sources.

  3. BobbySimp

    Could anyone link me resources for commercial drones in Indonesia? In dire need of help

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      You should contact the regulator directly as commercial rules change frequently and can be specific tot he type of commercial operation.

      1. C

        Hello, where can i find contact for the regulator?

        1. Merlin at Drone Laws

          A link to the regulator website is near the top of the page. You should be able to find contact information there

  4. George

    Drone use requires a permit in Komodo National Park and a some nearby islands close to Labuan Bajo. Refer to tour guides if unsure

    1. Rob

      And you need to apply to the national park 3 days prior (in-person) to visit and pay approx $70 U.S. equivalent so you’ll need to be on ground a few days before trip to islands. I just left there but my trip was the day after landing so unable to get it done. Some tours will help arrange it if you give them advance notice.

  5. Rubén

    Where can I see which are the restricted flight areas. Thank you

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Please check with the regulator. There may also be apps which show restricted flight areas in Indonesia

  6. Lens of Kryv

    Max. Alt is 120m in uncontrolled airspace

    1. Aries Martono

      Thank you for this publication of you. I, as an observer and owner of the web on aviation safety in Indonesia, pleased with this informative publication. I have linked your publication on my safety web, thank you

    2. Aries Martono

      This is my second email to you. After seeing your website I sent my first email to you, that your publication became a link on my website, but after seeing that there was appear an advertising element, I canceled it, sorry about that, because my web motto about safety is we do always do not for profit. Thank you for your understanding.

      1. Merlin at Drone Laws

        Aries, we are run by volunteers and providing the information here as a free service. We serve ads on this site to help offset the costs of the website.

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16 thoughts on “Drone Laws in Indonesia”

  1. Bonjour,est ce que toutes ces règles concernant l utilisation de drone à but récréatif sont toujours à jour pour Bali ?Car j ai lu que depuis mai 2023 il fallait un permis à demander aux autorités indonésiennes?Mercibd avance pour votre réponse

    Reply
    • And you need to apply to the national park 3 days prior (in-person) to visit and pay approx $70 U.S. equivalent so you’ll need to be on ground a few days before trip to islands. I just left there but my trip was the day after landing so unable to get it done. Some tours will help arrange it if you give them advance notice.

      Reply
    • Please check with the regulator. There may also be apps which show restricted flight areas in Indonesia

      Reply
    • Thank you for this publication of you. I, as an observer and owner of the web on aviation safety in Indonesia, pleased with this informative publication. I have linked your publication on my safety web, thank you

      Reply
    • This is my second email to you. After seeing your website I sent my first email to you, that your publication became a link on my website, but after seeing that there was appear an advertising element, I canceled it, sorry about that, because my web motto about safety is we do always do not for profit. Thank you for your understanding.

      Reply
      • Aries, we are run by volunteers and providing the information here as a free service. We serve ads on this site to help offset the costs of the website.

        Reply

Leave a Comment