Curious about flying drones in Thailand? So were we when we got our hands on the DJI Mini 3 Pro. But let’s face it – figuring out the legal stuff wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. We wished we had a simple guide like this one to steer us in the right direction from the get-go. That’s why we’ve created this no-nonsense rundown to help you navigate Thailand’s drone rules hassle-free. Whether you’re a tourist eager to snap some aerial shots or a local exploring new perspectives, we’ve got your back. This guide to drone regulations in Thailand covers the do’s and don’ts of drone flying in the Land of Smiles, assuring your adventures stay within the law.
Overview of drone regulations and penalties in Thailand
Now, let’s take a closer look at the drone regulations in Thailand. The following regulations are essential to understand to avoid any legal issues during your drone adventures.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) are the key authorities responsible for overseeing drone regulations in the country. They set the guidelines that govern drone operation in Thai airspace. These guidelines cover aspects such as registration, flight restrictions, and safety protocols. This means that you have to comply with both authorities if you want to legally fly your drone in Thailand. You’ll have to apply for a permit with both of them. The process is different for each one – more on that later.
Lastly, you will also need to have drone insurance that’s valid in Thailand. If you already have insurance for your country back home, then make sure the insurance covers accidents in Thailand, too. This, together with the make and model of the drone, should be very clear on the insurance paper when applying. This drone insurance should cover a minimum of 1 000 000 THB (€ 25 000).
But what if you don’t follow the rules? Well, violating drone regulations in Thailand can result in significant consequences. Penalties for violations of drone regulations in Thailand are serious and can include fines, confiscation of equipment, and… even jail time. While imprisonment is rare, Thai law says that violators could face up to 5 years in prison for breaking drone laws. Additionally, the maximum fine is substantial as well, reaching up to 100 000 THB (€ 2 500). So, before you take off, make sure you’re well-informed about the regulations and fly responsibly to enjoy your drone adventures without any legal worries.
Registration process
We already told you about the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). Let’s take a closer look at how you can and why you should register your drone with these two institutions.
NBTC
The NBTC handles the frequencies used by the drone, and manages the initial registration phase for drones in Thailand. Previously, this process required physical visits to NBTC offices, but for a couple of years you can start the application online.
To do this you have to create an account on the NBTC website, where you have to provide your contact information and address in Thailand. Now, the actual registration of your drone can only happen after you arrive in Thailand, because you have to show the entry stamp in your passport. Still, signing up and filling in some details in advance can save you a lot of time. Once submitted, you’ll also need to deposit the registration fee of 200 THB (€ 5). After a couple of days (usually 3 to 5), you will receive the result of your application.
CAAT
Every drone that has recording equipment, or drones that exceed 2 kg in weight, need to register with the CAAT, in addition to with NBTC. To do this, you can use CAAT’s online platform. You will have to provide a lot of personal information for the form. You also have to upload a signed self-declaration, a photo of your drone and controller displaying their serial numbers, and proof of drone insurance for at least 1 million THB. CAAT registration can be completed before you arrive, but it can take up to 14 business days for them to review the application.
Alternative: FEIC
Now, we’d get it if you feel a little overwhelmed with all this information. We were, too! For this, we offer a solution. We didn’t want to do all the steps of registering our drone ourselves, because we didn’t want to make a mistake. On top of that, our drone insurance was not valid in Thailand, so we needed extra insurance anyway. We stumbled upon FEIC, a company that can take care of both insurance as well as registration of your drone in Thailand. We are not sponsored by them or anything, we just really like the service(s) they offer. Opting for their insurance and registration package proved incredibly simple and straightforward.
First, we had to buy insurance for our drone by filling in the online form and making the payment. We went for the cheapest plan, which cost us around € 40 (1599 THB). We had to fill in some personal information, upload copies of our passports, and photos and specifications of the drone and controller. Once we made the payment, we were able to buy the registration plan as well. This cost another € 38 (1498 THB), for which we had to send them another picture of the serial number of the controller since we forgot to do that.
Insuring our drone only took 1 day to complete. CAAT registration took 2 days, and NBTC registration was completed on our second day in Thailand and took 9 days in total. When we landed, we had to send FEIC a photo of the stamp in our passport to complete NBTC registration. After that, all was done! We would highly recommend using FEIC if you don’t want to deal with all the formalities yourself. For less than € 80, they took care of both insurance and registration so that we could start flying!
Flight restrictions
When it comes to flying drones in Thailand, there are several important restrictions to keep in mind to ensure safety and compliance with regulations:
- Maintain visual line of sight: Pilots must keep their drones within sight at all times to monitor their movements effectively.
- Keep distance from manned aircraft: You can’t fly your drone close to manned aircraft to avoid potential collisions.
- Maintain distance from people and property: Keep a minimum horizontal distance of 30 meters (98 feet) from people, vehicles, constructions, or buildings to ensure safety and privacy.
- Avoid restricted areas: You can’t fly your drone in restricted areas without proper authorization. This includes government buildings, military installations, and certain natural reserves.
- Respect airport boundaries: Stay at least 9 kilometers (5 miles) away from airports or temporary airfields.
- Limit altitude: Drones should not fly higher than 90 meters (295 feet) above ground level.
In addition to the restrictions above, there are also some places in Thailand where you can’t fly your drone without acquiring authorization. Places like Phi Phi Islands, Similan Islands, or Hong Island are all part of a national park which means you can’t fly without authorization.
This doesn’t have to mean that you can’t fly your drone there! You have two, maybe three, options when it comes to flying your drone legally in these places. The first option is asking your tour operator (well in advance) if they can take care of getting permission to fly. We did this once for the Phi Phi Islands, which worked well enough. The second option is asking your accommodation for help, which we did in Krabi. Lastly, it might also be possible to get permission on the day itself by going to one of the park rangers and asking them. We didn’t try this ourselves so don’t know how successful you’d be, but it doesn’t hurt to try!
There are a lot of no-fly zones in Thailand, and they can all be found on the NBTC website.
In conclusion
We hope this guide helped you in knowing all about drone regulations in Thailand! Now that drone registration in Thailand is out of the way, why not check out some of our Thailand content below? 😉
Ultimate guide to Phi Phi Islands
Top 5 day tours in South Thailand
6 must-visit beaches in Thailand
Complete guide to Khao Sok National Park (2024)
