Flying your Drone in Thailand: How to Register Your Drone Properly!
Thailand offers breathtaking landscapes and great photo opportunities. It's no wonder many photographers are eager to fly their drones to capture the stunning nature of this beautiful country.
As a tourist traveling to Thailand, you can bring and fly your drone. However, prior registration with several authorities is required. Flying without drone permission can lead to hefty fines or even imprisonment.
In this article, we will show you step-by-step how to register your photo drone in Thailand to ensure safe and legal use.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Laws and Regulations
Before registering your drone in Thailand, it’s important to understand the current laws and regulations.
For most camera drones, you need to register with two authorities: the CAAT (Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand) and the NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission), where you must submit all required documents.
The Thai Aviation Authority (CAAT) is responsible for drone regulations, and the NBTC is the authority where you must register if you use a photo drone.
In addition, drone insurance is urgently required. Further down in this post, you will find detailed information about what needs to be covered by the insurance.
General rules for drones in Thailand include:
Maximum flight altitude: 90 meters in uncontrolled airspace (flights in Chiang Mai generally require air traffic control approval due to the proximity of the airport to the city)
No requirement for drone identification tags
Keep a 9 km distance from airports
Maintain a 50-meter distance from buildings, people, and vehicles
The drone must fly within visual line of sight
Drone registration: NBTC and CAAT registration necessary
Drone insurance required
Drone flying is only allowed during daylight hours (between sunrise and sunset)
Step 2: Drone Insurance
To register your drone, you must provide proof of insurance. This insurance must cover the following key details:
Insurance certificate in English or Thai
The validity of the insurance in Thailand must be clearly stated
Coverage amount of at least 1 million THB (approximately 30,000 Euros)
Full name of the insured (the drone pilot) must be on the certificate
Brand, model, serial number, and weight of the insured drone(s)
Ideally, take care of this confirmation in advance, as it can take some time. We needed two attempts with our insurance until all the information was correctly printed on the certificate.
Step 3: Documents
Before starting the registration process, make sure you have all the necessary documents ready. These usually include:
Copy of your valid passport
Drone model and serial number
Proof of drone purchase
Photos of the drone (including the serial number)
Address in Thailand (the hotel you are staying at)
Step 4: Online Registration with the NBTC
Registration with the NBTC is generally possible online. You can easily start this process before your trip.
First, you need to create an account with the NBTC. After confirming your email address, you can already enter your contact details in Thailand. For the final registration, a photo of your entry stamp in your passport is required, which you will receive upon arrival at the airport and can only be completed on-site.
The cost for drone registration with the NBTC is around 200 Baht and must be deposited at a Thai bank. We recommend the Krung Thai Bank for this.
In addition to registration with the NBTC, registration with the CAAT is also required.
Step 5: Online Registration with the CAAT
If your drone can take photos and videos or weighs over 2 kg, you need to ensure it is registered with the CAAT.
The CAAT offers an online registration service. The website is mostly in Thai, but all relevant fields are translated into English. During the registration process, you need to provide some information about yourself and your drone. Additionally, photos of your drone from various angles, a signed self-declaration, and proof of your drone insurance are required.
After uploading all necessary documents, the CAAT will conduct a background check. Within 15 days, you will receive your confirmation online, although it was much quicker in our case.
We always carried a printed copy of our confirmation with us.
Is Registering Your Drone in Thailand Worth the Effort?
Registering your photo drone in Thailand is quite a hassle, but it’s possible to fly legally in Thailand, and we believe it’s worth the effort. With a camera drone, you can capture many great perspectives that would otherwise remain hidden.
Moreover, you can register online before your trip, saving time during your vacation. However, start the process early, as registration can only be completed after you have arrived.
Need more information for your travel planning? The following articles will help you plan your dream trip to Thailand:
Want more insights into our travels? Check out our Instagram channels tom_rbg_ und anna_mser! If you have any questions about the routes, feel free to contact us through these channels!
