Agricultural drone spraying rules in Taiwan
What you need to spray crops with a drone in Taiwan: legal status, authorities, permits, requirements and operating limits, with links to the official sources.
Legal status
Restricted or by exception. Spraying pesticides by drone is legal only for a pesticide spraying contractor (a legal person) registered with the county or city government, whose pilots hold both a CAA professional drone licence with the G2 spraying rating and an agricultural aerial pesticide applicator certificate, with CAA approval of the flights. Private individuals may not spray from drones.
Who regulates it
- Aviation: Civil Aeronautics Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (CAA)
- Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency, Ministry of Agriculture (APHIA)
- Agriculture: Agricultural Chemicals Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture (applicator training) (ACRI)
Legal basis
- 民用航空法 第99條之14、第99條之15: Drones may not drop or spray objects or fly between sunset and sunrise unless a government body, school or legal person obtains CAA approval; mandatory liability insurance.
- 遙控無人機管理規則: Drone registration, operator certificates (including G1/G2 advanced ratings), capability review and flight activity applications.
- 農藥使用及農產品農藥殘留抽驗辦法 第6條之1: Pesticide application by unmanned aerial vehicle must be carried out by a pesticide spraying contractor.
- 農藥代噴技術人員訓練辦法: Training of pesticide spraying technicians, including the aerial (UAV) category; at least 24 hours of training.
What you need
- Register as a pesticide spraying contractor with the county or city government (legal person documents plus technician certificate), then open an account in the APHIA drone spraying system. (uav.aphia.gov.tw)
- Each operator needs the aerial-application pesticide spraying technician certificate (training of at least 24 hours). (law.moa.gov.tw)
- Each pilot needs a CAA professional operator certificate with advanced practical test group 2 (G2, dropping or spraying); group 1 (G1) is also needed for night work. (caa.gov.tw)
- Licence class by drone size: Ib for take-off weight up to 25 kg, IIc for 25 kg or more. (uav.aphia.gov.tw)
- Register every drone owned by the legal person (any weight) and pass the CAA capability review with an operations manual (approval valid 2 years). (caa.gov.tw)
- Hold liability insurance of at least NT$1.5 million for serious injury and NT$3 million for death. (caa.gov.tw)
- Use registered pesticides at the approved amount per hectare; the dilution may change with the equipment. (pesticide.aphia.gov.tw)
How to get authorised
- Complete the aerial-application pesticide technician training and obtain the certificate. (law.moa.gov.tw)
- Pass the CAA professional operator tests including G2. (caa.gov.tw)
- Register the legal person as a spraying contractor with the county or city, then in the APHIA system. (uav.aphia.gov.tw)
- Register the drones, pass the CAA capability review and buy the required insurance. (caa.gov.tw)
- Apply for the flight activity at least 15 days before (30 days in military-managed areas); check in and out in the system each day. (caa.gov.tw)
- Report each spraying job in the APHIA drone spraying system. (uav.aphia.gov.tw)
Operating limits for spraying
- No flights between sunset and sunrise without CAA approval and the G1 rating (Civil Aviation Act art. 99-14).
- Flight approvals last 3 months, or 6 months for contractors registered with the county (since 19 July 2021).
Good to know
- Farmers who are natural persons cannot get the CAA exemption; sole proprietorships (商號) are not legal persons either.
Checked against official sources on 2026-09-18. Rules change: confirm with the authorities before operating. This page is a planning summary, not legal advice. The product label and the official rules always prevail.