Yes, tourists can fly a drone in Indonesia, but not freely. Drone flights are governed by the Ministry of Transportation's regulation PM 37 of 2020 and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation: you must stay below roughly 150 metres, keep out of airport safety zones such as the area around Bali's Ngurah Rai, avoid temples, ceremonies and government sites, and get separate permission in national parks like Komodo and Bromo.
This guide is practical orientation, not legal advice. Indonesian drone rules have been updated several times, and local authorities, park offices and temple committees can set their own conditions on top of the national ones.
Who makes the rules
Unmanned aircraft in Indonesian airspace are regulated by the Ministry of Transportation (Kementerian Perhubungan, often shortened to Kemenhub) through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The main current regulation is PM 37 of 2020 on the operation of unmanned aircraft in airspace served by Indonesia, which replaced earlier rules from 2015 and 2016. Other bodies add their own layers: airport authorities for their zones, the military and police for security sites, national park offices for protected areas, and village and temple communities for sacred grounds.
The core rules at a glance
| Rule | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Altitude limit | Stay below about 150 m above ground level |
| Visual line of sight | Keep the drone where you can see it with your own eyes |
| Airport zones (KKOP) | No flying in airport operational safety areas without permission |
| Restricted sites | No flying over government, military and other protected installations |
| People and crowds | Do not fly over crowds, ceremonies or people who have not agreed |
| Registration | Drones may need to be registered with the DGCA, depending on type and use |
| Commercial use | Paid work needs additional operator approvals |
| National parks | Separate permit from the park office, often with a fee |
Airports and the KKOP zones
KKOP stands for Kawasan Keselamatan Operasi Penerbangan, the aviation operational safety area around each airport. In Bali that means the zone around I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in the south, which sits right between some of the most visited areas: Kuta, Jimbaran, Sanur and the road to Nusa Dua. Flying inside this area without clearance is not allowed, and the approach paths extend well beyond the runway.
Most drone apps show airport geofences, but they are not a complete legal map of Indonesian restrictions. Treat a missing warning in the app as "unknown", not as "allowed".
Temples, ceremonies and villages
This is where tourists get into the most trouble, and not with the aviation authority. Balinese temples are active places of worship. Flying over a temple, a cremation, a procession or any ceremony is considered disrespectful at best, and temple or village officials can and do ask pilots to land. Some temples post explicit no-drone signs.
- Ask permission from the temple staff or village representatives before flying anywhere near a temple.
- Never fly over a ceremony, even from a distance that feels safe.
- On Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, the whole island shuts down, including the airport. No flying of any kind.
National parks: Komodo, Bromo and others
National parks are managed by their own offices, and they treat drones separately from the general entry ticket.
- Komodo National Park (reached from Labuan Bajo): drone use requires a permit from the park authority, and conditions apply to where and when you fly.
- Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java: drone flights require a separate permit and fee, and there may be limits around the crater and at sunrise viewpoints.
- Mount Rinjani on Lombok and other protected areas follow similar logic.
Permit fees, processing times and rules change, so check with the park office or a local operator before your trip. Drone permits for national parks are not included in our prices unless stated. If you are planning aerial footage there, the Labuan Bajo drone video and Mount Bromo page show what we typically arrange.
Bringing a drone into Indonesia
- Batteries travel in cabin baggage, not checked luggage, under standard airline rules for lithium batteries. Larger batteries may need airline approval.
- Customs: personal items brought in for your own use are generally allowed, but high-value goods above the duty-free allowance can be charged duty, and officers may ask about expensive equipment.
- Declaration: if in doubt, declare. Keep receipts and be ready to show the drone is for personal use.
Wind, salt and the coast
Legal is not the same as sensible. Bali's south coast and the cliffs of Nusa Penida are some of the most tempting places to fly, and some of the hardest. Sea wind along the cliffs can be much stronger at altitude than it feels on the ground, and a small drone fighting a headwind drains its battery quickly. Plan your flight so the return leg is with the wind, keep a generous battery reserve and never launch from an edge where you cannot follow the drone if it drifts.
Salt air and sand are hard on motors and gimbals, so wipe the drone down after coastal flights. In the wet season, afternoon storms build quickly; morning flights are both calmer and more likely to be dry.
Personal versus commercial flying
Flying a small drone for your own holiday memories is treated very differently from flying for money. If you are a content creator filming for a brand, a property owner filming a villa, or a photographer shooting for a client, you are in commercial territory, and Indonesian rules expect certified operators and approvals. Foreign nationals working commercially can face additional requirements, including security clearance.
The practical answer: hire a licensed operator
For most visitors, the simplest legal route is to let someone local handle it. A licensed operator knows which zones need clearance, has the paperwork, flies with spare batteries and backups, and knows how to talk to a temple committee or park ranger. You get the footage without risking a confiscated drone or an awkward conversation on your holiday.
| Option | Duration | You get | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drone photoshoot | 30 min | 15+ aerial photos | From $240 |
| Drone video | 30 min | 60–90 s aerial edit plus raw clips | From $320 |
| Drone add-on to any shoot | Part of your session | Aerial frames added to your gallery | $150 |
Popular places for aerial work include the cliffs of Nusa Penida, the rice terraces around Ubud and the islands around Labuan Bajo. Where a location needs a special permit, we tell you in advance what it involves and what it costs.
A quick checklist before you fly
- Check that you are outside any airport zone.
- Check the local rules and whether a permit is needed for that place.
- Stay low, under the altitude limit, and in visual line of sight.
- Do not fly over people, ceremonies, temples or restricted sites.
- Ask locals or staff if you are unsure, and land if asked.
- Do not fly on Nyepi.
Before you book
Frequently asked questions
Can I fly my own drone in Bali as a tourist?
For personal use, generally yes, if you follow the national rules: stay low, in line of sight, outside the Ngurah Rai airport zone and away from temples, ceremonies and crowds. Check current requirements before you travel, as rules are updated.
Do I need a permit to fly a drone in Komodo or at Bromo?
Yes, national parks treat drones separately from the entry ticket and usually require a permit from the park office, often with a fee. Requirements change, so confirm with the park or a local operator.
Are drone permits included in your drone shoot price?
National park drone permits are not included unless stated. We tell you in advance if a location needs one and what it costs.
Can I fly a drone on Nyepi?
No. On Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, the island shuts down completely, including the airport, and no flying is allowed.
