​​​​How to Register Your Drone in Brunei Darussalam for 

Personal or Commercial Use

​

Flying a drone in Brunei Darussalam is an exciting way to explore and capture the beauty of this unique country. However, it’s important to comply with local regulations to ensure safe and legal operations. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you register your drone in Brunei Darussalam.

All drones in Brunei, regardless of their purpose (personal or commercial), are required to be registered with the Department of Civil Aviation Brunei. The only exceptions are toy drones and foreigners bringing in their drones during transit or a short stay in Brunei, which do not need to be registered.

Step 1: Understand the Regulations

Before you start the registration process, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the do's and don'ts of operating a drone set by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) under the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications which are in place to ensure the safety of both drone operators and the general public.​​

Do's

1. Register Your Drone:
   • Ensure your drone is registered with the Department of Civil Aviation Brunei (DCA).
     
2. Read and understand the Unmanned Aircraft (UA) user Manual:
   • Make sure to read and understand the Unmanned Aircraft (UA) user manual before operating the drone.
3. Fly only during daytime with good visibility and weather conditions:
   • Only operate your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) during daytime, in good weather conditions and avoid operating your drone in strong winds, rain, or other adverse weather.
     
4. Maintain Visual Line of Sight:
   • Always keep your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) within your visual line of sight (VLOS) while flying; flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) is prohibited.
     
5. Be mindful of the no-fly zones:
   • Avoid flying over no-fly-zones, prohibited, restricted and danger areas private without permission.
6. Stop flying and land your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) immediately if a manned aircraft is sighted in the vicinity:
   • Always stop and land your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) immediately if any low flying manned aircraft is sighted within the vicinity.
7. Check the condition of your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) and its controller before flying:
   • Conduct thorough pre-flight checks to ensure your UA is in good working condition.
     

Don'ts

1. Do not fly your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) over public events:
   • Avoid flying your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) over public events without proper authorization to use the airspace around the vicinity from DCA.
2. Do not fly your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) beyond its purpose without approval from DCA:
   • Avoid flying your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) above the maximum allowed height for recreational drone flying, which is 200 feet (~60 meters) above mean sea level (AMSL).
3. Do not carry any hazardous substances on your Unmanned Aircraft (UA):
   • Do not transport or allow your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) to carry any materials that are flammable, explosive, corrosive, radioactive, toxic, or otherwise pose a risk to people, property, or the environment.
4. Do not carry, drop or discharge any substances from your Unmanned Aircraft (UA):
   • Your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) must not be used to drop, release, spray, or discharge any substance, object, or material from the air.
5. Do not fly your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) near any road and in areas with ongoing emergency response:
   • Ensures that your Unmanned Aircraft (UA) does not interfere with critical operations, obstruct the view of emergency personnel, or pose a hazard to emergency vehicles.
6. Don't Fly Near Airports or Restricted Areas:
   • Avoid flying within 5 kilometers of airports, heliports, military bases, and other restricted areas.
7. Don't Operate Under the Influence:
   • Never fly your drone under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any impairing substances.
8. Keep Altitude in Check:
   • Fly your drone at a safe and legal altitude, do not operate your drone more than 200 feet (~60 meters) above mean sea level (AMSL)​.
     

By following these do's and don'ts, you can ensure that your drone operations in Brunei Darussalam are safe, legal, and respectful of others. 

Any violation of the rules as mentioned above is an offense in accordance with Civil Aviation Order 2006 Part X, General, Offences and Penal Provision, Para 51 (1) the offender shall be guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or imprisonments for a term not exceeding 5 years or both.​

Step 2: Gather Required Documents

To register your drone, you will need the following documents and make sure to compile all of the documents in one PDF:

For Personal Use

• Copy of IC/Passport (Colored): Attach a colored copy of your identification document (e.g., IC, passport).
• Passport Size Picture of the Applicant: Attach a 4x4 passport-sized photograph of the applicant.
• Picture of the Whole Drone: Attach a clear photograph of the entire drone.
• Picture of the Drone's Serial Number: Attach a close-up photograph of the drone's serial number​ on the drone and not on the box.
  
• Picture of the Remote Control (if applicable): If your drone uses a remote control, attach a photograph of it.
  

For Commercial Use

Step 3: Complete the Registration Form

Download Form UAS001​, then open the PDF form and fill it out using a compatible software or application. Use the provided fields to enter the required information accurately. Double-check the form for any errors or missing details before proceeding.

The form requires a signature, use the digital signature feature available in your PDF software or application.

Important: Please note that taking a picture of the form will not be accepted. It is crucial to complete the form digitally and submit it as a properly filled and signed PDF document.

Step 4: Submit Your Application

Submit the completed registration form along with the required documents to our email address unmanned.aircraft@dca.gov.bn and ensure that you keep copies of all the documents for your records.

Step 5: Await Approval

Once your application is submitted, Brunei DCA will review your documents and process your registration. This may take up to one week, so it’s advisable to submit your application well in advance of any planned drone operations.

Step 6: Receive Your Registration Approval Letter

Upon approval, you will receive a drone approval registration letter through email from Brunei DCA with the newly allocated drone registration number specifically only for the registered drone. 

Note for Transit and Short-Stay Visitors

For individuals bringing in their drones during transit or a short stay in Brunei, there is no objection to bringing in your drone. Registering your drone is not necessary if you are not planning to operate it. However, if you decide to fly your drone in Brunei, please be aware that you will be solely responsible for any unwanted circumstances that may occur while operating your drone. This includes any damage to property, injury to individuals, or violation of any laws or regulations.​

Importing Drones to Brunei

Regarding importing drones to Brunei, please note that the Brunei DCA only provides drone registration and operational oversight(drone flying permit) services. If you wish to import a drone, you must apply for an import permit through the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AITI). You can visit the AITI website to apply for the import permit and find more information on the process.​

If you encounter any difficulties or have further inquiries, you can email Brunei DCA Unmanned Aircraft Unit at unmanned.aircraft@dca.gov.bn​ or contact +673 2330142 ext. 1455 during office hours for assistance.