How to prepare a drone for flying in Thailand

Planning a drone trip involves three separate tasks: radio-equipment import requirements, registration and permission for a particular flight. Completing one does not complete the others. This guide addresses an ordinary small camera drone; heavy or specialist operations need their own procedure.

Does a 249 g camera drone need registration?

Yes. The official NBTC FAQ and CAAT’s guidance require camera drones to be registered regardless of weight. Different weight criteria for drones without cameras do not exempt a typical camera-equipped model.

A hotel’s agreement to use its grounds does not remove airspace restrictions. CAAT registration does not replace site permission either.

The 2026 rules used in this guide

The current special measures used here are CAAT Notification No. 16, signed on 25 June 2026 and effective the following day until amended. It expressly repeals Notification No. 15 of 6 February 2026.

The replacement requires registered pilots and aircraft, valid insurance, an advance application and permission through UAS Portal. Notification through the portal and to the Anti-Drone Center is required before each flight. Check the portal’s current instructions for channels and notification details.

No. 16 does not reproduce a universal requirement to apply at least three days ahead. Do not copy that figure from the repealed notice. Confirm application lead time, operating conditions, height and the terms of your authorisation in current CAAT guidance and UAS Portal before fixing a filming time.

Geographical restrictions cover listed districts in seven border provinces. They are not a ban covering every part of each province. Match your coordinates against the current list and map; a resort name does not establish that the location is permitted.

Prepare before travelling

Record the model, serial number, owner information, transmitter specifications and proof relating to the aircraft. Ask NBTC about the import and application requirements for your particular model. Do not rely on an unverified tourist exemption allowing an initial 30 days of flying.

Arrange aircraft and battery carriage separately with your airline. Baggage acceptance serves a different purpose. Customs requirements are not satisfied simply by registering a pilot either.

For aircraft under 25 kg, CAAT’s January 2025 preparation guide states third-party liability cover of at least 1,000,000 baht. Check that the policy covers Thailand, the aircraft, dates and intended activity. Ordinary personal travel medical insurance does not establish this cover. Recheck current UAS Portal requirements before paying for a policy.

Complete registration and flight approval

1. Use the official NBTC AnyRegis portal to identify the equipment procedure and attachment list. Foreign applicants have a passport-based account option; the portal includes form คท.30, KT.30
2. Submit the required details and documents, pay the official amount requested and obtain the resulting document. A submitted application is not an approval
3. Register the pilot and aircraft separately in CAAT’s UAS Portal. CAAT’s preparation guide describes a Thai telephone number with OTP and a knowledge test; see the SIM-card guide for connectivity
4. Check personal details and aircraft serial number, obtain the approved registration number and mark the aircraft as instructed by CAAT
5. Apply for the intended flight, supply the required information and wait for permission
6. Recheck site conditions, new notices, weather and the aircraft, then complete the required pre-flight notification

Pilot and aircraft documents have different validity rules. CAAT’s September 2025 guidance gives the pilot certificate a two-year term. An aircraft number without an expiry date does not make the human pilot’s qualification indefinite. Check both statuses in your account.

Check again on the flying date

Read new CAAT notices and restrictions for your coordinates, including airports and temporary zones. Keep registration, insurance and permission evidence available. Review the approved operating conditions, agree use of the launch site and remain within your authorisation.

One example shows why the date matters: CAAT published a VTR1 restriction specifically for 16 October 2026. That dated notice cannot be presented as a continuing nationwide ban on 21 October. Equally, an older approval does not establish that no new restriction applies.

If permission has not been confirmed or the location’s conditions remain unclear, reschedule the flight. Plan ground-level photography for a Bangkok visit or island trip as well: a short holiday does not guarantee that every procedure will finish before your preferred sunrise.

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