Flying a drone in the Maldives: rules and permits

The Maldives is about 99% sea, and much of its air traffic flies low. The CAA says seaplanes serve more than 90 floating platforms across the atolls, and they fly by sight under visual flight rules rather than on fixed corridors. That makes it hard to draw simple “safe” zones for hobby drones, so the CAA reviews every drone operation case by case.

Security is the other reason. In June 2016 the Ministry of Defence announced that drones may not be flown without permission over Malé, near international and regional airports, or near several defence and security sites. In 2022 a drone filmed close to a seaplane in flight, and the government responded by tightening the rules further.

The short version: the sky over a local island is not empty, even when it looks it.

The CAA’s own guidance page, “Flying Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Drones) in the Maldives”, sets out three steps. As of October 2026 this is still the official route.

1. Ministry of Defence (MNDF) permit

• Apply online through the government’s oneGov portal, using the “Permit to Operate Drones” service run by the Ministry of Defence. You need a oneGov account to sign in; if you cannot register as a visitor, ask your guesthouse, resort or a local agent to help you apply.
• The Ministry’s guidance says applications must arrive at least three official working days before the flight. Weekends and public holidays do not count, and late applications are rejected.
• Include a map of the area with the exact coordinates of where you plan to fly.
• The MNDF can halt any drone flight at any time if it judges it necessary.
• Security zones designated by the MNDF must be left out of any photography or filming.

Three working days is the minimum, not a promise. Apply as early as you can, ideally before you travel. See our Maldives festivals and public holidays guide to avoid losing days to holidays.

2. Civil Aviation Authority permit

Once you have the defence permit, apply to the CAA on its form CAA/AD/05, “Application for permit to operate model aircrafts, kites, unmanned balloons, parasails and gyrogliders” (revision 4). You send it by email with a copy of your Ministry of Defence permit attached. The form asks for:

• your name, passport number, nationality and contact details
• the coordinates of the take-off area, the height you will fly and the radius of the area
• start and end dates and times, plus a map of the flight path
• the purpose of the flight
• your drone’s make, model, size, weight and serial number

The CAA asks operators to stay below 400 feet (about 120 metres). The notes on the form add that flights over land should be in open space, clear of surrounding structures, and outside the no-fly zone of any aerodrome.

3. Everyone else who has a say

The CAA is clear that the operator, meaning you, must get any other approvals needed. It names:

• resorts, which are private islands with their own rules
• island and city councils, for flights over or around inhabited islands
• the National Centre for the Arts, which the CAA lists for filming approvals
• Maldives Airports Company Limited, the state-owned airport operator, near airports

Your permits set the actual limits, so read them closely. Official documents do not all agree:

The older defence form is far stricter than the CAA ceiling. Treat whatever is written on your own permit as the rule, and if it is unclear, ask before you fly.

No-fly areas to know about

• Malé and the airport. Since 2016, flying without permission has been banned across Malé, apart from one designated area (reported as Rasfannu beach). Drones are also banned near Velana International Airport and the regional airports without permission.
• Defence and security sites. The 2016 notice also listed areas such as Maafilaafushi, Maduvvaree in Vaavu Atoll, the security forces’ areas at Kadhdhoo (Laamu) and Gan (Addu), and Girifushi in Kaafu Atoll.
• Seaplane routes and lagoons. These are not fixed, which is exactly why the CAA reviews each flight. If you hear or see a seaplane, land.

The CAA publishes aeronautical information through the Maldives air navigation service (AIP, supplements and NOTAMs). Ask the CAA whether a temporary notice affects your area.

We could not find an official Maldives Customs rule that deals specifically with drones. Travel sites say drones may be questioned or held at the airport if you arrive without approval. Our advice:

• Have your permits, or at least your applications, printed or saved on your phone when you land.
• Declare the drone if you are unsure. Use the red channel if you think it might need checking.
• Keep spare batteries in your hand luggage, as your airline requires.

Read our guide to arriving at Velana International Airport for how customs and arrivals work, and the visa and entry requirements guide for the IMUGA traveller declaration.

Local islands are home to real communities, not film sets. The Maldives has no drone-specific privacy law that we could confirm, but the norms on the ground are strong and worth respecting:

• Ask the island council. It speaks for the community and can tell you about local concerns. On Dhiffushi, the island council is the first contact for any filming on the island.
• Ask people before filming them. Many Maldivians, women especially, may not want to be filmed. Never fly over private homes or yards.
• Keep away from mosques, schools and the health centre. Never fly during prayers or near funerals.
• Mind the dress code. Footage of bikini beaches can end up showing local people who never agreed to it. See our what to wear guide and local island etiquette.
• Fly quietly and briefly. Early morning is calm and beautiful, and fewer people are around.

On Dhiffushi, the easternmost inhabited island, the east beach at sunrise is the shot everyone wants. Get your permits and council approval first, then go early.

Sandbanks and lagoons look like perfect launch spots, but the same permits apply, and they sit on boat and seaplane routes. Your permit covers the coordinates you applied for, not the whole boat trip. Our sandbanks and picnic islands guide covers how to get there and behave once you arrive.

The Maldives protects many species, including turtles, rays, whale sharks and dolphins. We found no official rule on drone distances from wildlife, so follow good practice:

• Don’t hover low over turtles, dolphins, mantas or whale sharks, and never chase them.
• Keep away from roosting and nesting seabirds, which may treat a drone as a predator.
• Never launch from or land on coral.

Our responsible travel guide and sea turtles guide explain why it matters.

• Apply on oneGov for the Ministry of Defence permit, early.
• Send CAA form CAA/AD/05 with the defence permit attached.
• Get approval from the island council or resort.
• Carry your permits through arrivals.
• Fly below your permitted height, in open space, away from people, and land for any aircraft.

For the rest of your trip planning, start with our Maldives travel guide.