Flying a Drone in Taiwan

Drones in Taiwan are regulated by the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA). What you need depends on the drone's maximum take-off weight and who owns it.

What you need

Drones owned by a company, school or government agency must be registered and flown by a professional license holder, whatever the weight.

Sources: Regulations of Drone, Article 6 (opens in a new tab) and Article 19 (opens in a new tab).

Visiting with a drone of 250 g or more

Registering a drone in Taiwan requires a Taiwanese ID card or an overseas Taiwanese resident document, so visitors cannot register the usual way. Instead, Article 38 (opens in a new tab) lets foreign nationals who hold drone registration, an inspection certificate and a remote pilot license issued by their own government apply to the CAA for recognition. You need:

• the application form (Attachment 16 of the regulations)
• a copy of your passport
• your foreign registration, inspection certificate and remote pilot license, with a Chinese translation if they are not in English

Recognition is valid for up to six months. Apply in the Foreigner Area of the CAA drone portal (opens in a new tab).

Many countries issue no registration or license for recreational drones. The regulations do not say what visitors in that situation should do, so ask the CAA before you travel.

Drones under 250 g need no registration or license; the flight rules below still apply.

Living in Taiwan: getting a license

Foreign nationals permitted to stay or reside in Taiwan for six months or more can take the CAA tests and hold a Taiwanese license; residents of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau need permission to stay for one year or more (Article 38 (opens in a new tab)). Applicants must be 18 or older. The general license needs a written test only; the professional license adds a medical exam and a practical test (Article 20 (opens in a new tab)).

The CAA publishes its question bank in Chinese. This site's practice tests are in Chinese too.

Flight rules

• Stay at or below 400 ft (about 120 m) above the ground or sea.
• Fly only between sunrise and sunset.
• Keep the drone within your own sight. Glasses are fine; binoculars and FPV goggles are not.
• Do not fly over crowds, assemblies or parades.
• Do not drop or spray anything, and do not carry dangerous goods.
• Fly one drone at a time, and never from a moving vehicle, boat or aircraft.
• Keep at least 30 m from roads, railways, MRT lines, buildings and other obstacles.

Most violations are fined NT$30,000 to 150,000. Flying above 400 ft or into restricted airspace is fined NT$300,000 to 1,500,000, and the drone can be confiscated.

Sources: Civil Aviation Act, Article 99-14 (opens in a new tab); Regulations of Drone, Article 28 (opens in a new tab).

Where you cannot fly

Check the CAA airspace map (opens in a new tab) before every flight. Red areas are closed to drones; yellow areas have conditions such as height limits; grey areas are national parks and commercial ports, which need permission from their own authorities. The map covers airports, hospital helipads, restricted areas, and zones that cities and counties add around power substations, military bases and prisons. Temporary zones are added for events such as fireworks.

Near military ports and air bases, photography is restricted under the Vital Area Regulations (opens in a new tab). Violations are a criminal offence, and these zones are not on the CAA map.

Contact the CAA

• Phone (registration): +886 2 2349 6141, weekdays 9:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00 Taiwan time
• Email: [email protected]