Plan
Drone rules: Maldives
Last checked: October 5, 2026
Permit required
You may only fly here with a permit issued by the authorities in advance.
Every drone flight needs a permit from the civil aviation authority CAA, which reviews each case individually; depending on the area, clearance from the defence force (MNDF) and the consent of the resort, island or city council are also needed.
No register with a weight threshold, but a permit per flight, regardless of weight.
A requirement is not documented in available sources.
For tourists
The permit can take several weeks, and some resorts ban drones entirely – best ask the resort before booking.
Further rules
- The Maldives have no conventional registration system with a weight threshold – instead, every single drone flight requires its own multi-stage approval, regardless of the drone’s weight.
- The official procedure has three steps: depending on the area, you first need clearance from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF); then you apply to the civil aviation authority CAA, enclosing any MNDF permit; finally you obtain the consent of the resort, island or city council yourself. The CAA does not specify further when MNDF clearance is needed in your case – if in doubt, ask the CAA.
- You fly below 400 feet (around 122 metres) above ground. No insurance requirement is documented in the available sources.
- Especially important for resort holidaymakers: the rules also differ from island to island. Some resorts ban drones entirely, others allow them with conditions such as fixed time slots or a minimum distance from the water villas – it is worth asking the resort directly before you book.
- According to available (unofficial) reports, importing the drone itself is not a problem; only operating it without approval is affected.
- Overall, the official route involves several stages and is assessed case by case; according to travellers’ reports, the entire approval process can take several weeks. For trips booked at short notice, this is hardly realistic – if you want to use your drone in the Maldives, you should contact the CAA, the MNDF and the resort well before your trip.
Sources
This overview is not legal advice and not an official statement — laws change, and we cannot guarantee that every entry is fully up to date. Before your flight, please also check the official source or the local civil aviation authority.