Drone regulations in the Maldives
Last update on 22.05.2025 | 19 Kommentare
In this article, we explain the current rules for the use of drones in the Maldives.
Recently, the procedure for registering drones and drone flights in the Maldives has been simplified.
Both are now done via the oneGov platform portal.
Overview: Drone rules in Maldives
Drone labels can be ordered here
You must obtain the first permit from the property owner, for example the hotel or the local island administration. If you want to operate your drone in a resort, coordinate with the resort management to ensure that there are no risks for seaplanes.
As a private individual, tourist, company or government agency, you can register your drone via the oneGov platform. To do this, you must register with eFaas. Once you have created an account, it will be verified and activated. To speed up the activation process, you can also send an email to [email protected] requesting fast processing. Attach a photo of your passport and a photo of your face and passport.
Once your account has been activated, you can log in and start registering your drone.
You will need the following documents to register:
- Technical data of the drone as PDF
- A map of the flight area where you want to fly the drone as JPG or PNG
- Additional evidence for commercial purposes, if required
- If the application is made on behalf of a government agency: A letter from the government agency granting permission to submit the application
After successful submission of all data, you will receive a notification by e-mail. You can check the status of your application at any time under “my applications”. As soon as the application is approved, the status changes to “approved”. At the same time, you will receive the approval by e-mail. If the status of your application is changed to “canceled”, you will also receive a notification with the relevant information by email.
According to the website, properly completed applications are processed within 3 working days. However, we have received several reports from readers that processing took significantly longer, in some cases up to a month. To be on the safe side here, it is best to submit your application several weeks in advance.
Once you have received permission to operate your drone, you will need a flight permit from the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA). In the form, you must provide detailed information about the intended drone flights. You can find the MCAA form here and you can fill it out and send it to [email protected].
If you are making videos or photos commercially, you must also apply to the National Center for the Arts with a form sent by email to [email protected]. You can read the general conditions in this document.
We know from many other drone users that they were able to fly in the Maldives without the permits without any problems. Make sure to respect the privacy of other people. It is best to ask the staff and people in the vicinity whether they agree to a short flight before each take-off.
Further regulations for drone pilots in the Maldives
Drone flights are permitted in the republic in the Indian Ocean up to a flight altitude of 120 meters. In urban areas, drones are allowed to fly within a radius of 50 meters and over water areas within a radius of 150 meters.
No photography or video recording is allowed in any areas designated as security zones by the Maldivian National Defense Force (MNDF).
We have researched the listed drone regulations for the Maldives to the best of our knowledge. We can not guarantee the correctness of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, please contact the competent aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also ask the embassy in your country for further information about the regulations. Please leave us a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your copter in the Maldive Islands!
Drone use is allowed in Maldives, but there are several drone laws that need to be followed when flying in the country. Operators must ensure that they follow the following laws when flying in Maldives,
Do not fly your drone over people or crowds of people
Respect other peoples privacy when flying your drone
Do not fly your drone near military installations, power plants, or any other area that could cause concern among local authorities
Do not fly your drone near airports or in areas were aircraft are operating
You must fly during daylight hours and only fly in good weather conditions
Keep in mind that virtually every hotel in the Maldives is in fact an island, and most of them have sea-plane ports. This may be a restricting factor to drones.
The drone regulations are under the process of formulating.
But at the moment, these are the procedures to follow:
Step 1: Approval from the resort/hotel management, depending on the location
Step 2: Permit from the Ministry of Defense and National Security of the Maldives (Link: http://www.defence.gov.mv/file.php?fileId=148)
Step 3: Permit from the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority, (Note: You would require a copy of the Defense Permit for this application) Link: http://caa.gov.mv/beta003/downloads/caa_ad_05_application_for_permit_to_operate_model_aircrafts_lates_unmanned_balloons_parasails_gyrogliders/
Tip 1: Due to the multiple floating platforms and simultaneous seaplane operations, the request for Drone operations must be submitted atleast 3-4 weeks ahead.
Tip 2: Fill all the required sections of the form, including specific times and dates of operation (this is essential to issue NOTAMs to pilots and ATC, if the drone activities are held within a vicinity of a domestic/international Airport or a Seaplane platform
Hi Mariyam,
Thanks for this insights! I have updated the post.
Thanks for all this information.
I sent a request for a permit with the template you mentionned to Defence Minister, will see the, hope it will be positive, i will keep you informed.
I got the approval from the resort which is a goof 1st step….
It s ok I received the permit for the drone valid for one week as requested. Less than 10 days to get it approved.
Need now to request to civil Maldives aviation the agreement for flying.
I sent the permit request form with drone specification and the forecasted flying map done through Google earth.
Congratulations! 🙂
Pierre ..how did you get on with all the permissions
Hi guy !
I put here below the way to get it, i’m sorry it is in french as I posted it detailed on a french web site… I think with google you can translate easily. Tell me in case of problem 😉
J’ai la chance de revenir d’un sejour aux Maldives ou j’avais décidé d’emmener mon drone. La réglementation est en train de changer la bas et desireux de respecter la réglementation locale, j’avais pris soin de faire le nécessaire pour opérer dans les régles et je vous donne donc toutes les informations si vous avez l’occasion de passer quelques jours au soleil Wink .
Contrairement à ce qui est mentionné sur la toile, il y a des règles aux Maldives et désormais, il est nécessaire d’obtenir un permis de vol de la part du ministere de la defense, puis avec ce permis de vol faire ensuite une demande de vol auprès de l’aviation civile
Il faut procéder dans l’ordre
1- Demande du permis
https://my-road.de/downloads/Malediven_DRONE PERMIT FORM-MNDF.pdf puis envoyer le doc complété à l’adresse suivante : [email protected]
2 – Permis obtenu demander l’accord de vol auprés de la DGAC locale
https://my-road.de/downloads/Malediven_DRONE PERMIT FORM-MCAA.pdf puis envoyer avec le permis validé à l’adresse suivante : [email protected]
Le délai pour l’obtention du permis à été de 10 jours et pour l’aviation civile …. de 3 heures après envoi du formulaire, j’avais néanmoins relativement bien préparer mon dossier en ajoutant (voir PJ) un plan de vol ainsi que la fiche technique du drone (Mavic Pro) et bien le formulaire documenté. Pour ceux qui sont interressés les documents et lien sont en PJ.
Je n’ai fait qu’un seul permis pour une semaine (Pas un par vol) en précisant “Daylight” dans les heures de vol
A noter que la 1ere démarche à effectuer est de demander au Resort si les drones sont autorisés … En effet 95% les interdisent pour éviter les nuisances pour les clients et le respect de la vie privée (et oui aux Maldives 3/4 des salles de bain sont en extérieures, pas besoin de faire un dessin Wink )
Si vous souhaitez plus d’info n’hésitez pas.
PS #1: Batterie et drone en cabine et pour ceux qui prendrait la compagnie locale (hydravion ou vol domestique, les batteries sont également autorisées) dans un sac à Lipo individuel (3 batteries pour ma part)
PS #2: Contrairement aux apparences il y a beaucoup de trafic aérien à basse altitude la bas à cause des hydravions, il est donc vivement recommandé de se renseigner des horaires de ceux qui arrivent sur le resort pour éviter de voler à ce moment là ….
Permis du ministere et complement envoyé lors de la demande dans les liens ci dessous :
Flight map –> https://drive.google.com/…/1bK7IlWFPo7GyX3SyyOX…/view…
Drone Permit Maldives https://drive.google.com/…/1mh6NNR3L32WpOQqq7zV…/view…
4
Thanks for the explanation. Could you upload the Google Drive links again? It can not be accessed. Thank you.
Does anyone have experience with obtaining a general film permit from The National Centre for the Arts in conjunction with the above permits? Or have details of a local fixer who could help us procure these over the next few weeks?
Took my mavic Air to kuredu resort in Jan 2019.
Hotel requires you to sign a waiver at reception.
You are not allowed to fly over the island, only over the reefs and lagoon.
I took some fantastic footage from above the sand bank showing the whole island from 120m high
Hi! Do you ask the permission from the Ministry of Defense and the Maldives Civil aviation? Or just from the Hotel?
Thanks
This is only required for commercial use not for recreational use.
In case of recreational filming all you need is approval from the resort.
Pierre, can you please share with us your flight plan and also advice please from where to get the data sheet for the drone.
Thank you.
Approval only required for commercial flights. For recreational flights only approval from owner/resort is required.
http://caa.gov.mv/beta003/operations/aerodromes/drones/
@Florian are you sure about that? the link you provided is not valid anymore
Hi, can anyone suggest how to create the flight chart when we do not even know where exactly will we be flying the drone at our resort island. The chart is required for the permission.
Hi, I was wondering if you need to have all the permits before you enter the Maldives with your drone? I am applying a bit later than I should (I arrive 17 Oct.), but I am staying for one month. I have the DJI Mini 2 and only plan on flying at sandbars or beaches.