Photography & Drones — Singapore

Everyday photography is fine in Singapore, but photographing a gazetted "protected area" or "protected place" without the permission of that site authority is a criminal offence - and the ban applies from inside, from outside, or from ABOVE the site (Infrastructure Protection Act 2017 s.29(1)). Protected sites include military installations, certain government and security buildings, ports and water and power installations; they carry warning signs, so obey the sign rather than guessing. "Taking a photograph" is defined broadly in s.29(5): it includes making a film or video recording, recording an image for broadcast or live-streaming, and even making a drawing, diagram, plan, model, map, measurement, sounding or survey. If an authorised officer suspects you are going to take, are taking, or have taken such a photograph, s.29(2) lets them order you to stop, order you to delete or destroy any photograph taken, require you to surrender the photograph or the device, and seize the device or equipment WITHOUT A WARRANT; you must comply with any such direction (s.29(3)). Drones are covered separately: under s.30(4), photographing a protected area or place from an unmanned aircraft without the authority permission makes both the operator and the person taking the photograph guilty, and a designated officer may order the aircraft landed, assume control of it or end its flight, and seize it (s.30(3)).

Fine up to 20,000 Singapore dollars or imprisonment up to 2 years, or both, for photographing a protected area or protected place without permission, and the same maximum for failing to comply with an officer direction (Infrastructure Protection Act 2017 s.29(4)). Drone photography of a protected area or place without permission carries the same maximum - a fine up to 20,000 Singapore dollars or up to 2 years imprisonment, or both - for the operator and for the photographer (s.30(4)), and the same for failing to comply with a designated officer direction (s.30(5)). Officers may seize the photograph, the device and the aircraft without a warrant.

Verified Oct 2, 2026