Drone regulations in Thailand (2026)
Verfasst von Francis Markert | Last update on 06.05.2026 | 519 Kommentare
If you want to fly your drone in Thailand, there are several hurdles to overcome. Here I explain the requirements you need to fulfill.
In recent years, the rules for drone pilots in Thailand have changed very frequently. As a result, there is a lot of confusion and not all information you find online is up to date. I will try to give you the most current and comprehensive overview possible of the legal situation in the Kingdom of Thailand.
First of all: if you are caught flying a drone without the necessary permits, you could face heavy fines and even prison sentences. Thai prisons are no joke!
The drone flight bans on the islands of Koh Chang and Koh Mak in Trat Province have been lifted.
However, private drone flights remain prohibited in the Pattaya district and in provinces bordering Cambodia (e.g. Koh Kood). Please do not fly your drone in these restricted areas – otherwise you may face imprisonment and/or fines.
Regardless of this, all flights must still be registered via the official CAAT app. The app also displays the currently active no-fly zones.
Background:
Due to military tensions with Cambodia, the regulations for drone flights have been adjusted. As the situation may change at short notice, you should regularly stay informed about the latest developments. You can also receive all current information from our partners when using the service below.
The CAAT has significantly simplified the approval process for drone flights:
- Restricted Zones (blue areas in the app): Permits can now be requested directly in the official CAAT app and flights can also be registered there. Processing usually takes about 3 days.
- Open Zones: No prior approval is required anymore. Simply register your flight in the app – and you can take off just a few minutes later.
Important note: Another rule change has already been announced – and it is expected to be more restrictive. However, it will not come into force for another two years. Until then, the simplifications mentioned above remain valid. Since regulations may change at short notice, we recommend checking the latest requirements before traveling.
For most camera drones, you need two registrations: first with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), which handles the frequencies used by the drone, and second with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), which registers both drone pilots (after an online test) and aircraft.
Practical Permit Service
Obtaining both registrations can take a lot of time and nerves. If you would like to try it yourself, you will find a detailed guide further below. However, you can also hand over the entire process to two experts in Thailand who will handle everything for you for a small fee. If you would like to use this convenient service, simply fill out the form below. We receive many inquiries about difficulties during the application process, which is why we can highly recommend the permit service of Stefan and Walee, both of whom live in Thailand.
How quickly you can get the permits
If you use the service, you can expect the following processing times:
- CAAT: 1–3 business days after the entry stamp has been submitted and the account has been confirmed with a Thai phone number.
- NBTC: 1–3 business days (depending on the responsible office)
Processing times may be longer during Thai holidays such as Songkran, Loy Krathong, and Chinese New Year. Ideally, however, it is possible to receive all permits the day after arrival.
What is required from you
In addition to your details about your drone and your stay in Thailand, Walee and Stefan will need photos of your drone and passport as well as your signature on several documents. You will also need a Thai phone number, which is easy to arrange. They will take care of the rest for you.
Overview: Drone rules in Thailand
Drone labels can be ordered here
CAAT: 0066 (0) 2568 8815
Below I explain how the procedures with the NBTC and CAAT work.
Drone Registration in Thailand
Overall, you need three documents to fly legally in Thailand: an English-language confirmation of your drone insurance, the NBTC registration, and the CAAT registration. To avoid any issues, you should carry these documents with you during all drone flights.
Get Drone Insurance
The insurance confirmation should be issued in English and include the following details:
- Full name of the policyholder
- Brand, model, serial number, and weight of the insured drone(s)
- Coverage in Thailand must be clearly stated
- The insurance period must include the duration of your trip to Thailand
- Insurance coverage of at least 1 million THB (approx. 30,000 EUR)
Registration with the NBTC
Before the COVID pandemic, you had to visit one of the NBTC offices in person for registration. Fortunately, this process has now finally been digitized, allowing you to prepare this step before your trip to Thailand. First, create an account here. Once your email address has been confirmed, you can already enter your contact details and your address in Thailand. However, for the actual registration of your drone, a photo of your entry stamp is required, which you receive in your passport upon arrival. Therefore, you can only complete the NBTC registration once you are in the country.
The fee for drone registration with the NBTC is 214 Baht and must be paid at a Thai bank. A good option is Krung Thai Bank. Not all Thai banks are able to process the NBTC payment.
If you fail to register with the NBTC and are caught by the police, you could face up to five years in prison or a fine of 100,000 THB (approx. 3,000 EUR).
Registration with the CAAT
Since 2025, you need two confirmations from the CAAT. The first is a pilot license for yourself. To obtain it, you must complete a test with 40 (sometimes bizarre) questions. The drone pilot license is valid for two years after issuance.
Secondly, your drone itself must be registered. After registration, the aircraft receives a unique ID that must be attached to the drone. This ID is valid indefinitely and can also be used for future trips to Thailand.
Since 2025, registrations can be completed via the online platform uasportal.caat.or.th. A Thai phone number is required for registration. You can purchase a SIM card directly at the airport or in many supermarkets (e.g. 7-Eleven).
Large parts of the user interface are in Thai. However, the relevant fields have been translated into English. During the process, you will need to provide a lot of personal information. You must also upload a photo of the drone showing the serial number and proof of your drone insurance. In addition, the CAAT requires a copy of your passport including the entry stamp.
If you are caught flying without CAAT registration, you could face up to 1 year in prison and/or a fine of 40,000 THB (approx. 1,200 EUR).
If you want to fly homemade drones in Thailand, we unfortunately have to disappoint you. If your drone does not have a serial number, it is almost impossible to obtain registration from the aviation authority.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drone Rules in Thailand
Here are answers to the questions most frequently asked in the comments:
Additional Regulations for Flying Drones in Thailand
After successfully registering your drone, additional rules naturally apply.
If you are flying privately and your drone does not have a camera installed, the maximum take-off weight is 2 kilograms. Above this weight, you need approval from the CAAT. From a take-off weight of 25 kilograms, you additionally require special permission from the Ministry of Transport.
Commercial pilots require permission for their flight operations.
Safety Distances and No-Fly Zones
You must keep a distance of 9 kilometers (= 5 nautical miles) from airports.
You may approach people, vehicles, and buildings only up to a minimum distance of 50 meters.
You are not allowed to fly near crowds of people. Flying over cities and villages is prohibited. You should also avoid government buildings, military facilities, and hospitals.
Flying drones in national parks requires permission from the park authorities. Rangers are increasingly checking whether these permits are available.
For take-off and landing, you must always obtain the permission of the property owner. In practice, we usually solve this by asking security guards for permission or checking at information desks.
Your drone must always remain within visual line of sight.
Drone flights in Thailand are only permitted during daylight hours, i.e. between sunrise and sunset.
Thai regulations also require you to have an emergency plan. This includes carrying a fire extinguisher with you. We have not yet found out whether this is actually checked.
Flight Zones and App-Based Permissions
In its official app, the CAAT distinguishes between different flight zones marked in various colors. Different rules apply depending on the zone:
- Open Zones: No prior approval is required. Simply register your flight in the app and you can take off a few minutes later.
- Restricted Zones (blue areas): Approval is required, but can be requested directly in the app. Processing usually takes around 3 days – plan this accordingly during your trip.
You can see which zone applies to your planned flight location directly in the CAAT app. It is worth checking the app before every flight.
Good to Know: Additional Special Features in Thailand
In Thailand, the minimum age to operate a drone is 20 years.
Flights within the city area of Chiang Mai generally require approval from air traffic control because the airport is located so close to the city. We were able to obtain the corresponding permission ourselves. However, you should call several days in advance so the tower staff can coordinate with their supervisors. In addition, approval is required for flights over the historical park of Ayutthaya. Permission is issued by the Historical Park Office, which is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. According to the tourist information office, the permit costs either 3,000 or 5,000 Baht – the staff were not entirely sure anymore.
So that you always have the most important rules at hand, we have additionally summarized the key points in a document exclusively for Plus members. Download it now and take it with you on your next trip to Thailand.
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So that you always have the rules at hand, we have additionally summarized the most important points in a document exclusively for Plus members. Download it now and take it with you on your next trip to Thailand.
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We have researched the drone regulations for Thailand listed here to the best of our knowledge. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. If you want to be absolutely certain, contact the Thai aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also contact the Thai embassy in your home country for more information about the regulations. Please leave us a comment if you learn any news and/or have your own experiences flying a drone in Thailand!
Hi ???? Can I bring mavic pro into the krabi airport n through Singapore?
hi Francis!
thanks for your great blog!! it’s superb.
now i’m going to Bangkok soon for travelling. Can I fly my Mavic pro equipped the camera without permit? if needed, can you share more details on that?
Your Mavic has a camera, so all the above applies, you need to apply for permits about 2 months in advance and get your drone insured by some company that somehow insures drones in Thailand.
In other words, you might as well leave your Mavic at home.
This is exactly why I haven’t bothered buying a Mavic. Was considering getting one for an upcoming trip to Thailand but this has helped convince me that it’s just not worth the bother.
Since you say that the Mavic Pro has a camera and that all the above applies, I’m assuming the same will apply to the Spark? I’ve got both the Phantom and Spark, the latter for travel purposes due to its small size.
Did you travel with Spark? What was required in Thailand to use the Spark? I am traveling next week and do not have time to apply for permit, so curious to find out if its worth taking it on the trip. I will be visiting Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi.
Hi. I insured my drone with Coverdrone. This insures for most countries (there are a few exceptions, mostly war zones), and USA, though I did get extended cover for Colorado
The last drone law USA (2016) say non-résidente can’t record and flight in USA !!!! please Verify this information here
HYUNSEOK, did you go to Thailand with your Mavic? If so, did you register it? Could you please let us know. I
Hi, I’m currently traveling thru Asia and I have a Mavic with me. If I go to Thailand but don’t use it can I still get in trouble during x-ray checks at metro stations for example if I don’t have it registert?
Hi, I’m currently in Thailand for 2.5 months with my Mavic Pro. I was unaware of all drone regulations in Thailand, I just check the DJI map before. I passed several times X-rays (currently in Koh Samui) and haven’t got any trouble. About flying, well, I Flow vier Buildings in Bangkok, national Parks, beaches and even over a Buddhist temple in Samui. For me it is mostly a question of respect, you just need common sense and don’t do crazy stuff with the drone, just keep a low profile when flying. I usually try to avoid exposing me when flying, for example if a want to check a place I just sit in a spot where nobody can see I’m the pilot. If it weren’t so complicated with the regulations I would have registered, but now that I know I’ll try to be even more careful when flying.
I’m going through registration now… It takes about 2 months as I’m told. I’m stuck at the show your liability insurance policy part. I’m sure I’ll be covered by travel insurance but haven’t bought any yet as I won’t be traveling for another 3 months plus. The form is in Thai as well. I would say that anyone thinking of filming with a quad in Thailand to register it. It may be the land of the free but the government doesn’t think along the lines that westerners are used to.
The strange thing is that if I don’t have a camera on my phantom it doesn’t need to be registered or have insurance. Add a camera and it’s an uphill struggle. I’m not sure that it is worth it buying extra insurance for 5 mins of video footage. I will be heading out to sparsely populated areas in the north where I know the people and can get away with not registering but to be safe I will. You never know what will happen in a corrupt Asian country. One could always remove the camera and carry that separately so that if the quad gets inspected you can say there is no camera attached etc and not feel guilty.
https://www.caat.or.th/en/archives/27220
New laws coming in all the time are getting too restrictive world wide it seems. I’m starting to regret spending the big dollars on something I won’t be able to use where and when I want.
Hello @Christian Aguayo,
I will be in Bangkok in a couple days and would love to connect. Are you still there? If shoot me an email [email protected]
Thanks
Unlikely, I know, but if your drone did malfunction & drop out of the sky on someone, think of the consequences. Up to you, but I went for commercial licence & insurance.
Hi I have a phantom 4 and I just want to spend 3 days in Koh Samui flying my drone in safe areas, would I still have to do all that work to register it for 3 a days with insurance?
See my instagram page @perth_air too please
Notification of the Ministry of Transport Regarding Licensing Criteria and Conditions for Enforcing or Releasing Aircraft with No Type of Aircraft Controlled by External Aircraft BE 2558
Posted on July 2, 2015.
According to the announcement, the definition is as follows.
“Aircraft controlled by external flight” means aircraft controlled by an aircraft operator outside the aircraft and an aircraft control system, excluding small aircraft. Which is used as a player under the Ministerial Regulation prescribing non-aircraft objects, 2005
“Aircraft control system” means a set of equipment consisting of a linking command, control or aircraft control. Including stations or places where these sets of equipment or instruments are used to control flight from outside and aircraft.
The aircraft in this notice fall into two categories, namely
Type 1 is for playing as a hobby. For entertainment Or for sports
Type 2 is for purposes other than Category 1, ie news coverage. TV shows or movies Research and development aircraft Or for other purposes
Type 2 is not over 25 kg while Type 1 is broken down by size as follows:
Type 1. A weight of not more than 2 kg requires that the operator or aircraft release must be over 18 years of age or have a legal representative supervised. Which aircraft in this article. Ministry of Transport allowed to fly. Must meet the conditions set.
Condition
(1) before flying
(A) verify that the aircraft is in a safe state of flight; This includes aircraft and aircraft control systems.
(B) Get permission from the owner of the area to fly.
(C) Study areas and layers of airspace to fly.
(D) an emergency plan, including a plan for an accident. Medical treatment And to solve the case can not force the aircraft.
(2) during flight
(A) shall not fly in such a way as to cause harm to the life of the body, property and disturb the peace of another person;
(B) Prohibit flying into restricted areas and hazardous areas as declared in Thailand Aviation Press Release Paper (Aeronautical Information Publication – Thailand or AIP – Thailand) as well as government offices. State agencies, hospitals, unless authorized by the owner of the area.
(C) The downward flight of the aircraft shall be unobstructed.
(D) An aircraft operator or aircraft must be able to see the aircraft at all times during the flight and not to impose the aircraft on an aircraft or other similar device.
(E) Flight must be made between sunrise and sunset. This can clearly see the aircraft.
(F) Do not fly near or into the cloud.
(G) No flight within nine kilometers. (Five nautical miles) from the airport or the temporary rise and fall of the aircraft. Unless authorized by the owner or operator of the aerodrome permit or temporary permission.
(H) Flight shall not be made using a height exceeding ninety meters (three hundred feet) above ground.
(ฌ) Do not fly over city, village, community or congregational areas.
(J) Prohibiting the aircraft from approaching an aircraft with a pilot.
(K) Do not violate the privacy of others.
(L) Do not fly, causing trouble to others.
(M) not to transmit or bring the dangerous substance as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations or the laser emission device attached to the aircraft.
(N) Do not fly with a horizontal distance to any person, vehicle, building or building less than thirty meters (One hundred feet)
As it stands today Sep 18, 2017, Registration is not required for a Mavic Pro. The Drone weighs in at .7348Kg and you must adhere to all of the above stipulated rules. 300ft max altitude. Guys, please adhere to this so that we don’t lose our flying privileges. PLEASE!!!
Hello Francis,
Can you kindly elaborate more on what does “commercial use” mean? If I am travelling for a job to get some footages but only using a phantom 4, does it counted as “commercial use”?
Thanks!
If you are getting paid, then it’s commercial usage.
Where are you getting the info that if the the drone has a camera that registration is compulsory, even if under 2 kgs? Looking tat the CAAT site, I don’t see an update to the regs after 2015 (https://www.caat.or.th/en/archives/27871) . The equivalent Thai documents appear to have the same date. Those regs define any drone under 2 kg, camera or no, as being a hobbyist drone and not requiring registration, just the usual common sense rules regarding when and where not to fly. Can you post link to new regs that you’re referring to?
I agree that the CAAT site is confusing on this point. By clicking on the “Recent Laws” link on the home page, one would assume that it would take you to the most recent laws – like most things in Thailand, it’s best not to assume…
If one scrolls down on the CAAT home page, you will see Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Regulation under both the Our Service and Did You Know sections. The regulation in this link (https://www.caat.or.th/en/archives/27220) is dated 20 February 2017.
The law is not so confusing. It states very clearly that ALL RPA (remote pilot aircraft) with camera installed must register. NO exceptions. I have a Phantom 4Pro+, which is under 2 kg, BUT it has a camera installed, so I need to register unfortunately
But what if you bring your drone with you but you don’t fly? Do you still need to register? For me that part is still a bit confusing!
I’m backpacking through Asia and want to visit Thailand, but if it’s to hard to get the drone in I will maybe have to skip Thailand what would be a shame
I don’t know the rules for not flying, but if I were you I would take it with you. If you are not flying you are not doing anything. But do not report it thru customs just take it thru nothing to declare. And on board you have to check your airline. I am using Emirates and they want the drone to check in with your suitcase, you can not take in on board, and the battery you should take with you with your handlugage
Bart,
You are commenting on a government graphic. The law as best we can read in English is given in the PDF. In that document a “camera” is defined as “filming, photographing, or making television program”. So the common interpretation of the word “camera” is not in play, and the graphic is very confusing. Graphic even says you can not “control UAV by using camera on aeronautics”. if you think that is clear then it is safe to assume all drones are outlawed in Thailand for now.
I am not shooting for commercial use, and using a mavic, does this still apply to me?
Hey Francis.
Thanks for good block☺️
Im gong to phi phi, with my kids, and travel many times to Thailand, but is My først with my drone.
Its in july, so i cant gået at permit in time. Do you thinking its a problem? And can the take it in the costum?
Are the very observent, and can i go to jail..
What do you thinking ☺️
Have you taken the drone with you? Where there any problems?
So what is the current if I flew a dji phantom 2 vision what exactly do I need seen so much different info latley
Minimum age is now 20 years!
Now, each Cameradrone must be registered. It is almost impossible for tourists, you need for this a official proof of residence and crimial report obligation by 3 different offices, and they know nothing of it. Also you must carry a fire extinguisher and emergency plan with you.
Francis did you make your registration already?
No. I will go to Germany soon and will try when I come back. I had asket the Immigration, but they said, they would not do and sent me to the police. Policeman said, he is not responsible and sent me to another office, but that was closed. And everywhere you need a Thai for translation.
I had no probs. In Vietnam now
Just got back from 2 weeks in Thailand w/ my Mavic Pro, no problems. Got through all airports between Tokyo, Bangkok, Chiang mai, Koh Samui, Phuket, and Seoul. Kept it folded up in my carry on, with battery and chargers all in separate bags. I think it’s pretty unrecognizable under x-ray when folded up and could easily pass as a camera. There was a restriction about batteries in checked bags going into Koh Samui / Phuket so keep everything in your carry on. I flew all over Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai, and only from my hotel room in Koh Samui and from the beach in Phuket. It still felt like I was breaking the rules, so best to use your judgement and if you ever feel uncomfortable it’s best not to risk it. Tried to keep it around 200m high so it was inaudible. Don’t try flying over temples or James Bond Island (Phuket) it’s part of a national park and is crawling with Park Rangers who will put you in jail for +6mo. I kept an extra $3000THB in my drone bag in case to pay off anyone for forgiveness 😉 // I also emailed the CAAT my completed Category 1 UAV registration form, but they never responded. Maybe good idea to keep a copy with you just in case you need to prove good intention. https://www.caat.or.th/th/archives/20367
Hello, while this information is surely important, interesting and accurate, ask ANY of the various DJI official dealers in Bangkok (I’ve personally asked several of them over the years, again and again) and they will all say they same thing: You neither need to register your drone nor buy an insurance for it because in reality nobody cares. Just use common sense and you should be fine. I’m not saying you’ll be 100% fine or guarantee anything but these DJI dealers are knowledgeable, experienced drone pilots with a large customer base and they all say it’s completely optional and they wouldn’t recommend it and they never had any issues with the law, neither had any of their buyers. I’m mainly posting this because I’m seeing people leaving their Mavic at home when traveling in Thailand which sounds really odd for me as a hobby drone pilot in Thailand where you can take such great videos everywhere, it’s Thailand after all, people can get away with pretty much everything here so flying a drone isn’t exactly worth worrying imho :p
You obviously don’t understand the mentality that prevails in Asian countries. Sure people there may scoff at the laws but, as a foreigner in Thailand you will get different treatment if caught doing the wrong thing. Breaking the law is worth worrying about because they will come down hard on you just because they can. There is a good chance that you will be treated as guilty regardless especially if they see whatever happened as serious.
They are cracking down on many things no in Thailand like wearing seatbelts, helmets on motorbikes, speeding and they even have red light cameras now. The land of smiles is only smiling on the surface. You do not want to go to prison there for something which may be dismissed or only mean a small fine in your home country.
Sure, you might be safe out in the countryside and no one will care but, it only takes one person to say something and they may come down hard if they find out you are flouting the law.
It’s NOT worth the risk. Get registered. Same goes for driving r riding a motorbike. Make sure you are licenced and have insurance and get an international driver’s licence.
When the shit hits the fan you will be screwed. I’ve been married to a Thai for 20 years and been going there to live on and off for a long time. It can be a dangerous place especially if you play with fire.
I’m going through registration right now and have liability insurance cover for the min THB 1Mill. Just have to wait now so stay tuned for a video….
I know the mentality, country and culture very well, unlike you, I have been permanently living in Bangkok since the 90s, I’m here all year every year, I’m also fluent in written and spoken Thai. As I’ve stated, the legal situation stated here is correct and I’m not guaranteeing you won’t get into trouble or recommending breaking laws. All I’m saying is, the reality is quite relaxed. And I’m talking about drones specifically and none of the other things you’re mentioning, not sure what you’re getting at. I’ve talked to the local drone community at length about this topic, so why do you think they all have a very relaxed stance? Please go ahead and ask any DJI dealer what they think one should do and see for yourself. Farang or not, they’ve all said จริงๆแล้วไม่ต้องทำอะไรเลยก็ได้ ไม่มีใครสนใจอะครับ
No will care till you are deep in shit. Then it’s too late. I know how relaxed it is there and have done stuff in the past without caring about the consequences but things are changing. Regardless of what DJI dealers say I would beware. The dealers just want to sell drones and don’t care what happens to customers. A too carefree attitude can be a bad thing. Then again Thailand is not North Korea……..
Fair enough if you wanna do this but has anyone actually ever successfully done so?
I’ve asked around and no drone owner that I know, neither Thai nor farang, has done it. Especially this point basically makes people give up on it before trying and I can’t imagine this being easy:
“Prove that you have not committed any offenses in Thailand. To do so, you need a confirmation of the National Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and the Immigration Bureau.”
Yes, I agree, I have the same experience. Since the soldiers have the power, police are more carefull with solutions beside the law. Prison in Thailand is not so funny.
Hi Adam, did you able to get through the registration? i was looking into this to registered my drone, as i frequently travel to BKK now days.
Where did you get your Insurance from ? Thanks.
I insure through Coverdrone, covers Thailand
like so many other blurry laws in Thailand, specially new ones, this will probably be over looked to start with and your be safe taking your drone without registration, but as drones get more popular and more media coverage some airport/government official will realise there is some easy money to be exploited from tourist, by handing out heavy fines or by confiscation for not having the correct paper work, these laws will be enforced then forgotten then enforced then forgotten………. the registration will change constantly and become more of a ball ache every time……… I really wouldn’t be surprised if there was a “registration fee” applied before the end of the year another little way for some high up official to fleece your hard earned cash and line his pockets…… this isn’t the land of the free nor is it the land of smiles…….but I still love it,…..I just cant help returning to the land of smoke and mirrors
Many things are about to change!!
I’m Thai and I’m a professional drone VDO/photographer in Thailand. A lot of things happen in the past few months and its seem like the government official (police, etc.) are about to take things more seriously. So be careful when you are flying in Thailand, use your good judgment before flying especially around Bangkok area.
The regulations above are correct and up to date, but anyone would take it seriously!! It’s up to you. I’m just recently started take action to get all the necessary action towards the legal regulations to fly in Thailand.
Fly safe and have a great time drone photographing here.
Any idea if the DJI Spark does not apply to some of these rules? It’s extremely small and only weighs 300g (0.2 kg).
I flew my Mavic recently without any issues, found your site after my visit (good in that I probably would not have bought the Mavic!) other sites I read said not to worry about it. No one seemed to care or even notice, even at airports (HKT and BKK). The weather was poor most of the time (July) so I really didn’t get it out much. I would recommend being smart and don’t assume, ask, and be safe.
I contacted the Thai government last week to have more information. They told me that because my Mavic Pro has a drone and even if the weight is less than 2Kgs I need to get a permit and must have a third party liability insurance.
They sent me all the forms in english. I filled all of them and attached a proof of insurance.
I submitted everything this morning.
For now the process seems pretty simple.
The most difficult part was to get an insurance.
According to them it’s going to take 2 months so I will keep you posted to let you know how it goes.
Correction : because my Mavic Pro has a camera…
And not a drone 😉
What are the documents you submitted?
How did you get the insurance?
Where am I suppose to submit it? Unable to find any pointers at the CAAT website.
1. Application form at https://www.caat.or.th/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/UAV-Registration-Application-Form.pdf
2. Consent form at https://www.caat.or.th/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Consent-to-the-Disclosure-of-Personal-Information.pdf
Where did you get insurance? I’m finding it difficult to find insurance that will cover 3rd party for non-commercial users, for such a high amount.
Hey Christopher,
Can you send me the info on this? I need those forms in English as well and don’t know where to start with this. I have a DJI Spark and will be heading to Thailand in about 3 months (November). Would like to have all the proper documents ready by then. Thanks!
Christopher, any way you can send me the forms in English? And any updates on the process thus far?
Nick send me an email to : [email protected]. I will forward you the forms in english.
No update so far. They told me it would take up to 2 months so I don’t expect any news anytime soon
How did your registration go? How long did it take?
Thanks
Hi Chris, I just sent you an email. Would you be able to forward me the forms in english also?
Thanks
Thanks for your information!
Btw could you please share your experiences about getting an isurance?
That was a nightmare. I checked my homeowner policy to see if my personal liability insurance would cover the use of a drone but they don’t.
Most of them have an exclusion for drones so don’t count on it unless you are lucky.
Then I contacted private insurance companies. (around 8). All of them only offer insurances for commercial use of a drone. But not for recreational use.
Then I contacted MAAC (The Model Aeronautics Association of Canada) as I know they have an insurance for their members.
They sent me the insurance policy but the thailand government refused it because they are very strict. For a certificate to be valid they need on the certificate:
– Your full name
– Make, model and weight of the drone
– The worlwide coverage MUST be specified clearly
– The amount covered by the insurance MUST be specified clearly
I finally ended up registering to IDRA (The International Drone Racing Association).
Since recently they offers a full worlwide insurance with all the requirements needed for the thai government.
This one was accepted. It costs 165$ / year for 2 drones.
Thank you so much, Christopher!! 🙂
I have been trying to get a response for IDRA for months. I payed for the Insurance. I have tried to email them for months with no response. How did you get a hold of them?
Im get today info directly from this CAAT/civil Aviation Authority of Thainland/ institution too. My request was about permission fly for model of Drone Dji Spark with camera. But general problém with insurance company in Thainland is, that they cannot make insurace for foreigners,only for local people. Insurance ammount for damaged third party, from owner of Drone, have to be minimum on 1.000.000 THB Their form permission, exist in English language too 🙂
What is needed for UAV registration:
1. Form of Consent to the Disclosure of Personal Information
2. UAV Registration Application Form
(I have attached those 2 forms below.)
3. You need to have the insurance paperwork which covers damages caused to the body, life and properties of the third parties. The minimum sum insured is not less than 1 Million bath per time.
What should be mentioned on insurance paperwork are:
– UAV Brand
– UAV Model
– **UAV Serial Number**
– UAV Weight
– Your name as an insured on the paperwork as well
– Please also mention if this insurance policy will be covered in Thailand or Worldwide
Ps. If you cant really find insurance for UAV registration, you can search the one in Thailand as there are some companies that support for UAV registration at the moment.
4. Copy of your passport
**It will be helpful if you can provide insurance paperwork in English to reduce approval wait times**.
For your information, you should plan ahead before you bring your UAV to Thailand. When you register for UAV, I will send your personal information to National Intelligence Agency, Immigration Bureau and Office of Narcotics Control. It will take approximately up to 60 days to get the result before I can process the approval.
Hi Christopher,
Can you send me the English version of the forms as well to my email address? [email protected]
Thanks a million
I live in Thailand and have a Mavic pro. I can tell you no one here knows what the rules are for drones. If you are polite about what you are doing you will have no problem. They have dealers in Bangkok so just ask them and they will tell you what I said.
Marc, you said well on July. we are in middle October
Just returned from Thailand and I had no issues at all. Not at customs, not anywhere. I did not register my Phantom 4 Pro+. I took some shots in Bangkok http://youtu.be/gBcKLry23jg and Phuket http://youtu.be/Jh9jQbTrY40 and people were mostly interested and very friendly. Of course you should take good notice of were you are flying. But if you don’t disturb anybody I did not encounter any problems. Good luck to you all
For sure you can always ignore the laws but that’s a risk to screw up your vacations if you get caught.
Personnally I don’t want to take that risk just for a drone.
I did everything they told me to get this permit but of course if they refuse it for some bad reasons I will probably use it anyway.
Did you pack your drone in your check-in luggage, or as part of your carry-on? I’m more worried about getting past security with my DJI Spark.
Any suggestions on how you packed your drone would be appreciated!
Mee to I have spark but Now with this strange laws.. don’t know
Does someone know what “Request for Certificate of registration for customs clearance” in the UAV Registration Application Form means?
Is this related to commercial dealers who want to import drones into the country?
Or is this the type of registration necessary so that your drone does not get confiscated at airport customs, even if you are just in “transit” and do not even intend to fly in Thailand?
I want to take my DJI Spark to Asia this year and we will land and stay in Thailand for some time.
Now I am wondering if I also need a registration for Thailand, as I could waive flying in Thailand but do not want to risk losing my drone for the rest of my trip.
As I understand all the regulations are only referring to “control and launch” of the aircraft, not having in your luggage. But good luck trying to explain this to a Thai customs officer…
It’s for actually importing a drone via a shipping agent like DHL.. You need an import permit.. hence the reason we don’t have DJI care here. No problem hand carry as a tourist.
Hi everyone I just want to contribute a new data point. I flew into a secondary city in Thailand and almost had my mavic confiscated at customs when they put my (and every single arriving passenger) bag into xray. They asked me if I had registration and I said no im going to apply for it after I get to hotel and we went back and forth for a good 5 minutes and they claim I need registration before I bring a done in. Probably an overreaching agent that misinterpreted the rule but contributing a data point regardless. I’ve been to Thailand many times with the drone no issues and I’m familiar with the general don’t know / don’t understand of most enforcement.
Does anyone know, if removing the props and battery from drone does it alter the profile enough in xray so that it doesn’t look like anything special?
Did the agent mention if you also need a registration if you do not plan to fly in Thailand and only have the drone with you for transit?
Which airport have you landed at?
It just felt they were both clueless and overreaching on the rules and almost implying that it’s not even allowed to be carried if you didn’t register. To be honest in smaller cities and in a country when rules are selectively applied and enforced its always going to be somewhat of a crap shoot unless you have something that’s basically bulletproof. I mean what can you do if they insist on taking it? Nothing much.. Maybe argue and argue but there are limits to it.
I’m guessing PHUKET.. correct?
Last month when I came back to Bkk airport I asked about drones. They showed me only some rules about big batteries and said no problems for drones to pass. Only if you realy fly you must have the CAAT permission. I think most police dont know about this law. If they would, they could earn a lot of money from tourists with drones. But some day they will know.