Civil Aviation Department Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Register or certify firsteSUA registration and category limits
Hong Kong can be workable for very small drones, but dense airspace and the eSUA regime mean you should check category, registration, and the drone map before packing.
The trip, step by step
- Bring it
- Urban density, country parks, privacy, and airport restrictions make launch planning essential.
- Register it
- Use CAD's eSUA portal for SUA and remote pilot registration where required.
- Fly it
- Small Unmanned Aircraft rules use category-based limits. Registration, pilot requirements, and aircraft labeling apply as category and weight increase.
- Map check
- Use the eSUA Drone Map for restricted flying zones and local conditions.
Before you travel
- 01Check whether the operation is A1, A2, B, or C.
- 02Register the aircraft and remote pilot in eSUA where required.
- 03Check the eSUA Drone Map for the exact launch and route.
Operating notes
- Max altitude
- A1 operations are limited to 100 ft; higher category operations can use higher limits only within the CAD rules and map restrictions.
- Commercial work
- Higher-risk, heavier, or business operations can require CAD registration, remote pilot credentials, and operational permission. In July 2025 CAD expanded the SUA Order to cover small unmanned aircraft up to 150 kg.