In this guide · 7 sections
Short answer
To fly a drone outdoors for business in Singapore you need a CAAS Operator Permit (S$700 for the first UA type, valid one year), a Class 1 Activity Permit for each job (from S$120) and a UA Pilot Licence, plus registration and a CFMS tracker for drones over 250g. Only advertise what your permits cover.
What CAAS requires for business drone flights
CAAS's page on requirements for flying unmanned aircraft has separate tables for recreational, educational and business use. Business means any non-recreational, non-educational purpose: paid photography, videography, surveying, inspections or marketing footage for your own company. For business flights, as of October 2026:
| Requirement | Flying outdoors | Flying indoors |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Register the drone if it weighs more than 250g | Register if more than 250g |
| Pilot | UA Pilot Licence, regardless of weight, location or height | UA Pilot Licence if the place is publicly accessible, for organised sports, or events with more than 50 people |
| Permits | Operator Permit and Class 1 Activity Permit, regardless of weight, location or height | Operator Permit and Class 1 Activity Permit for organised sports or events with more than 50 people |
| Tracking | Operator Permit holders must use CFMS and attach a UA tracker (drones over 250g) | Not stated |
CAAS adds that flying within protected areas needs a separate permit from the Singapore Police Force, and that UA activities are not allowed in prohibited areas at all. Remote Identification applies to business drones over 250g only if you have a waiver from using the CFMS FlyItSafe app.
Operator Permit and Activity Permit: fees and timing
CAAS's Operator and activity permits page, last updated 9 May 2026, lists the fees and average processing times:
- Operator Permit, first UA typeValid up to one year; plus S$200 CFMS subscriptionS$700
- Operator Permit, each further UA typeS$500
- Operator Permit renewalPlus S$200 CFMS subscriptionS$300
- Class 1 Activity Permit, per activity or blockSame location, operation and UA typeS$120
- Class 1 Activity Permit, repeat with new dates onlyS$45
- CFMS UA trackerSubject to prevailing GSTS$265
- FlyItSafe mobile appFree
First-year set-up for one drone typeS$1,165 + S$120 per job
S$700 + S$200 + S$265 for the operator side. Light show permits cost more (S$500 per activity). Pilot licence and training costs are separate.
CAAS gives average processing times of 10 working days for an Operator Permit, 5 working days for an Activity Permit and 7 working days for a CFMS tracker including collection, depending on complexity and complete documents. Applications go through the Enterprise Safety Oversight Management System (eSOMS) using Singpass or Corppass.
What you can claim on your website and quotes
Drone businesses compete on trust, and CAAS publishes a list of UA Operator Permit holders, so customers and competitors can check your claims. Keep marketing in line with what you actually hold:
Safe to say
- "CAAS Operator Permit holder" once granted, with the name it is issued under
- "Flights by CAAS-licensed UA pilots" if every pilot holds a UA Pilot Licence
- "We apply for the Activity Permit for your job" with the typical lead time
- Your drone types and what each is used for
Avoid
- "Fully licensed" or "CAAS approved" before the Operator Permit is granted
- "Fly anywhere in Singapore": prohibited areas are off-limits and protected areas need SPF permits
- "Same-day drone shoots" when permits need days to process
- Using portfolio footage shot without the permits it needed
Put a short "Permits and safety" section on your services page explaining the lead time. It filters out last-minute requests you cannot legally accept and shows customers why your quote includes permit time.
A booking form that collects what the permit needs
CAAS says an Activity Permit takes into account location, type of operation, schedule, operating altitude and risk mitigation measures. Collect those details on your enquiry form so you can quote and apply without a long back-and-forth:
Enquiry form fields
Keep the form short on the first screen (site, date, job type, contact) and ask the rest in a second step, or people abandon it. Our guide on website costs in Singapore explains what a site with a multi-step form typically costs.
PDPA when your footage shows people
Aerial footage often captures residents, workers or event guests. Where a person can be identified, the image is personal data under the PDPA. PDPC's Advisory Guidelines on the PDPA for Selected Topics include a chapter on photography and video recordings. Practical steps for a drone business:
Agree who handles notices
For events, ask the organiser to tell attendees about aerial filming in invitations and on signs at the venue.
Limit what you keep
Delete unused clips with identifiable people after delivery, and say how long you keep raw footage in your terms.
Get consent for portfolio use
Before showing identifiable people on your website or social media, get consent or blur faces and car plates.
Secure client deliveries
Use password-protected galleries or expiring links, not public folders.
Copyright is the other half: our photographer website guide explains who owns commissioned photos and video under the Copyright Act 2021. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Do it yourself or get help?
The CAAS permits and pilot licence are your responsibility as the operator, and only CAAS can grant them. Where outside help is useful is the website: a clear services page, accurate permit wording, a booking form that collects the permit details, and a secure way to deliver footage.
IT Sorted is a Singapore-based team of developers with over 10 years of experience. Our Business Website (S$1,490) includes up to 6 pages, a mobile-first design based on your brand, a contact form and WhatsApp button, Google Business Profile link and map, on-page SEO, and the ability to edit text and images yourself. We build the site; you stay responsible for the permit claims it makes, which is why the wording above matters.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. CAAS requires a UA Pilot Licence for business flights outdoors regardless of the drone's weight, location or height. The business also needs a CAAS Operator Permit and a Class 1 Activity Permit for each activity, and drones over 250g must be registered and fitted with a CFMS tracker.
CAAS lists S$700 for the first UA type, S$500 for each additional type and S$300 for renewal, each with an additional S$200 for the CFMS subscription, as of October 2026. The permit is valid for up to one year. Class 1 Activity Permits cost S$120 per activity, or S$45 for a repeat with new dates.
CAAS gives an average processing time of 5 working days for an Activity Permit and 10 working days for an Operator Permit, subject to the complexity of the operation and complete documents. Build this lead time into your bookings and quotes rather than promising same-day shoots.
No. CAAS's business requirements say an Operator Permit and Class 1 Activity Permit are needed for outdoor business flights regardless of the weight of the drone, and the pilot needs a UA Pilot Licence regardless of weight. Registration and the CFMS tracker apply above 250g.
If people can be identified, the footage is personal data under the PDPA, so you generally need consent or another lawful basis before using it in your portfolio. PDPC's Advisory Guidelines on Selected Topics cover photography and video. Blurring faces is a practical alternative when consent is not possible.