Bali field guide
What Is Illegal in Bali: Drugs, Medicines, Drones and Conduct
Rules visitors commonly misunderstand in Bali, including cannabis and CBD, prescription medicines, the 2026 criminal code, worship and drone flights.
Published 2026-10-01
The useful part, first
Home-country legality does not travel with you: verify medicines, carry no cannabis or CBD, and obtain both aviation and site permission before a drone flight.
In this guide
01
Indonesian law applies to visitors
Bali is an Indonesian province, so national criminal, narcotics, customs and aviation law applies alongside local rules and rules set by temples or venues. A product being legal, prescribed or socially accepted at home does not make it legal to bring into Indonesia.
The new Indonesian Criminal Code took effect on 2 January 2026 and applies to foreigners. Online summaries often flatten it into frightening slogans, so use the actual rule and the complaint mechanism rather than a viral post.
02
Cannabis and CBD are not travel products here
Cannabis, THC and CBD products are illegal in Indonesia, including oils, gummies, cosmetics and products sold as medicinal. A prescription from another country does not authorise possession. Drug offences can bring extremely long sentences; Indonesian law retains the death penalty for the most serious narcotics offences.
Do not accept a package, vape or edible whose contents you cannot verify, and do not bring leftover products through the airport. Police raids and drug tests occur. The safe quantity is zero.
03
Prescription medicine needs a paper trail
Keep medicines in original labelled packaging and carry a doctor's letter or prescription stating the generic name, dose and medical need. Declare them in the arrival system. Some controlled medicines, including some drugs used for ADHD or pain, may be restricted or prohibited even with a foreign prescription.
Check the classification with the Indonesian embassy or BPOM before travel; do not rely on a travel forum or a pharmacy at home. Bring only a reasonable personal-use quantity. Our Denpasar customs guide explains the declaration and baggage limits.
04
Sex and cohabitation: what changed in 2026
The 2026 code criminalises sex outside marriage and cohabitation in defined circumstances, but these offences are complaint-based. A case can be initiated only by specified close family members: a spouse, parent or child, depending on the offence. That distinction matters, but it is not a reason to treat the law as imaginary.
Hotels do not automatically report unmarried foreign couples merely for sharing a room. Still, travellers should understand that family disputes can create legal exposure and should avoid presenting social-media summaries as legal advice for a specific case.
05
Respecting worship is more than dress etiquette
The criminal code penalises disrupting worship and publicly insulting a person who is conducting or leading worship. Temple rules may separately require a sarong, restrict access to inner areas, photography or entry during ceremonies. Follow signs and instructions from temple staff or pecalang, and never step into a procession for a photograph.
Not every etiquette mistake is automatically a criminal offence, but arguing at a sacred site is a poor way to test the boundary. Ask before photographing people at prayer, keep drones and commercial equipment packed until permission is explicit, and step around canang sari offerings rather than over them.
For the everyday etiquette side, read our separate guide to Bali taboos and temple conduct.
06
A temple is not automatic permission to fly a drone
Indonesia regulates drones through national aviation rules, including controlled, prohibited and restricted airspace. Airports and heliports matter, and a flight may require aviation authorisation. A temple or event can also prohibit launch, landing or filming from its property even when an airspace app appears clear.
There is no useful universal shortcut called 'drones are legal below a temple'. Check current airspace and NOTAM information, obtain any required aviation approval, then ask the site management. If either answer is no or unclear, do not launch. Crowds, ceremonies and wildlife are reasons to stop even before a legal limit is reached.
07
A pre-flight legal checklist
Remove cannabis and CBD products completely. Verify every prescription medicine in writing. Complete the arrival declaration honestly. For a drone, check aviation restrictions and obtain location permission. At sacred sites, follow the local gatekeeper rather than another visitor's example.
If police or customs officers question you, remain calm, request an interpreter if needed and contact your embassy and a qualified Indonesian lawyer. A guide can explain local practice; only a lawyer can advise on a criminal case.
Registration rules for the phone itself are separate: if you plan to use an Indonesian SIM beyond a short visit, read the IMEI guide before leaving airport customs.
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