Plan the shot.
Prepare the permission.
A practical starting point for drone permits and application preparation in Malaysia.
Sources reviewed 16 September 2026 · Check the current official requirements before each application.
Start with the operation.
CAAM describes Standard Authorisation to Fly (ATF) for lower-risk operations such as visual-line-of-sight flying below 400 ft AGL, excluding spraying or dispensing. These conditions do not give permission by themselves. CAAM safety notice
A more complex operation may require another approval route, including a Special UAS Project. “Aerial work permit” is a common enquiry phrase; it is not a substitute for identifying the applicable CAAM authorisation. CAAM UAS overview
Review airspace, nearby airports, people, property and site restrictions before committing to a shoot. An aircraft’s app allowing take-off does not establish regulatory clearance.
Leave room for preparation.
Allow additional time to prepare documents and obtain supporting permissions. Complex locations or operations may take longer; the minimum period is not an approval guarantee. CAAM submission guidance
JUPEM handles aerial photography and mapping permit applications through eBiz. Check its requirements alongside CAAM and any location-specific permissions. JUPEM announcement
Get your documents together.
Use this preparation list to track what you have reviewed. It is a starting point, not an official completeness assessment. Check the current form for conditional requirements. Standard ATF form 03-01
Progress is saved only in this browser. Ticking a box does not verify a document or authorise a flight.
Indoor is a specific definition.
CAAM’s directive excludes genuinely enclosed indoor operations where escape into outside airspace is very unlikely from its definition of UAS operation. Open-sided spaces and indoor-to-outdoor routes need careful assessment. CAD 6011 Part V, paragraph 1.4.6
Still check venue permission, people and property safety, privacy, insurance conditions and any other applicable requirements. “Indoors” should never be treated as a promise that no permissions are needed.
Verify before submitting.
The May 2026 form lists uas.atf@caam.gov.my. CAAM’s public overview and 2025 notice still list drone.atf@caam.gov.my. Confirm the active submission channel with CAAM before filing. Current form · Public overview
The operator/accountable manager must verify and approve the application material. We can prepare an organised dossier and assist with follow-up. CAAM and other relevant authorities decide the outcome.
For fees, use the current official schedule and the authority’s assessment of your operation. Our preparation fee is quoted separately.
Go to the source.
- CAAM forms and guidance
- Standard ATF application form
- CAAM Safety Information 01/2025
- CAAM UAS information and fees
- Special UAS Project directive, Revision 01
- JUPEM eBiz portal
General preparation guidance, not an authorisation or a determination for a particular flight. Requirements can change and depend on the operation.