Drone regulations in Indonesia

Flying drones in Indonesia

In this article, we present the legal situation for using drones in Indonesia.

In Indonesia, you are allowed to fly your drone. However, there have been some changes in recent years, which is why even drones under 7 kg used for recreational purposes are now subject to registration and labeling requirements.

In 2022, the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation introduced the online portal SIDOPI-GO as a system for registering drones and pilots, as well as for operational permits, and SIPUDI for issuing registration certificates online.

Overview: Drone rules in Indonesia

Recreational use of drones allowed? Yes, after registration or approval
Commercial use of drones permitted? Yes, after registration or approval
Maximum Altitude:120 Meter (393,7 Fuß) in uncontrolled airspace.
Is drone insurance mandatory? Yes, for private and commercial drone flights. Learn more about drone insurance here.
Does the drone need a badge?Yes.
Drone labels can be ordered here
Is a registration necessary? Yes.
Keep distance to airports
Respect the privacy of other people
Resources:SidopiGO
Drone photo of the active volcano Bromo in Indonesia
Flying our drone over the active volcano Bromo on Java

Additional rules for drone flights in the Indonesian island paradise

Drone flights in Indonesia may only be conducted within the direct line of sight of the pilot. Drones must not weigh more than 7 kilograms, and the maximum flight altitude is 120 meters. If you want to fly higher, you must apply for the appropriate permission at least 14 working days before the flight date.

To our knowledge, there is currently no obligation to take out drone liability insurance. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend it!

Safety distances and no-fly zones for drone flights in Indonesia

Flights are only permitted in uncontrolled airspace. A distance of 15 kilometers must be maintained from airport runways. If an airport’s control zone extends beyond a 15-kilometer radius, drones must not be flown within that area either.

You should also avoid flying over crowds of people and stay away from built-up areas. The distance to clouds must be at least 150 meters (vertical) and 600 meters (horizontal).

Drones with cameras must maintain a distance of 500 meters from no-fly zones or areas with flight restrictions. Note that national parks, temple complexes, and tourist attractions may have their own bans, fees, or permit requirements.

In Indonesia, drones may generally only be operated from sunrise to sunset. You will need a special permit for night flights. Visibility must be at least 4.8 kilometers.

Please note that your drone may only approach the national border up to a maximum of 500 meters if it is equipped with a camera. It is prohibited to control drones from a moving vehicle, although watercraft (boats, ships) are exempt from this rule.

Regulations for commercial pilots

For commercial or otherwise permit-requiring operations, registration, certification, and/or operational permits are required. The official online portal SidopiGO is available for this purpose.

When registering permit-required operations, you must provide proof of insurance. 

However, remote pilot certification can only be applied for by Indonesian citizens aged 17 and over with English language skills. Certification-required operations for tourists are therefore almost impossible. 

Penalties in Indonesia

If you do not comply with the regulations, you may face up to three years in prison and a fine of more than 66,000 euros.

The drone regulations for Indonesia listed here have been researched to the best of our knowledge. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, contact the Indonesian aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also contact the Indonesian embassy in your home country for further information on the regulations. Please leave us a comment if you learn of any updates and/or have personal experience flying your drone in Indonesia!

Foto von Francis Markert
Über den Autor

Since January 2015, we travel around the world. In our backpack we carry a camera drone which we use to capture the best places from a bird’s perspective. First we travelled with a DJI Phantom 2. But now we use several drones like the DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ or the DJI Mini 3 Pro. On our blog we share the best tips for you about travelling with a drone. If you have questions about this article or new information, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment!

Diskussionen zum Thema

  • Revanth Divakar | 26.10.2017

    I would like to get information on how to rent drones in Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. I am looking for a Phantom 3 or 4?
    It would be great if you could help me out on this!

  • Omri | 17.05.2018

    Hey Francis, cool article. We also wrote one recently that sums up Indonesian laws for flying a drone as well as airline regulations and best practices for flying WITH a drone = bringing a drone in Indonesia on a plane.
    Hope it’ll help other drone enthusiasts out there 🙂
    https://www.baliprod.com/guide-flying-drone-bali-indonesia

  • Marco Fandel | 06.09.2018

    Hi,
    You write: “your drone may approach the land border to a maximum of 500 meters if it is equipped with a camera”
    Does that mean that the beach may not be filmed, or rather real borders like with Malaysia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea?
    Thanks

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