There will be a “Fine for unregistered Drone with the NBTC is 100,000 baht or five years in prison or both”. “You must register with NBTC within 30 days of entering Thailand or purchasing a drone in Thailand even if you do not fly it.”
Yikes. 5 years in a Thai prison doesn’t sound fun and I’m already pretty much broke. Of course this does sound a bit harsh and the likelihood of such a hefty punishment is next to none but why risk it?
At the same time, I do hear conflicting accounts on rules and regulations for flying drones in Thailand and the above information came from the FEIC who are Aviation Insurance Brokers who dominate the search engines. But again, why risk it? We have used drones in Thailand since before any regulations and have kept up with regulations throughout. For peace of mind if anything.
Do All Drones Need to be Registered in 30-Days?
Well, all drones regardless of size that are fitted with a camera must be registered. So you’re talking DJI minis etc. even if they’re little more than the weight of an apple or smartphone. However. If you have no plan on capturing image I guess you could always remove the camera. Otherwise all drones need to be registered with both the National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
Do I have to register my drone if I don’t fly it?
“You are only permitted to possess an unregistered drone in Thailand for up to 30 days. For stays longer than 30 days in Thailand then you must register your drone with both CAAT and NBTC within 30 days even if you do not fly it”.
Again this information is a copy/paste from the FEIC insurance brokers guidance (as above) but I was also told similar from the DJI rep that we bought our drone advising us to register first with the NBTC (no needed for insurance) then the CAAT after.
Do I Need Drone Insurance to Register a Drone?
You need to have drone insurance before you can register with the CAAT and you must register with the CAAT within 30-days of purchasing a drone in Thailand or arriving as a visitor to Thailand with a drone. So it is best to purchase drone insurance as a first step of the 30-day registration given it may take a number of days to acquire. Otherwise insurance is not needed to register a drone with the NBTC.
Step-by-Step Guide (30 Day Drone Registration)
I will keep this as simple as possible. Within 30-days you will need to register a drone with the NBTC and the CAAT. You do not need drone insurance to register with the NBTC but you do need drone insurance to register with the CAAT.
- Step 1: Research and buy drone insurance. This may take a couple of days. We used Jmart paying 599 Baht for 1 million baht coverage for 1 year.
- Step 2: Complete registration with the NBTC (drone insurance is not necessary). Application completed online here.
- Step 3: Complete registration with the CAAT (drone insurance necessary). Application completed online here.
Buying Drone Insurance in Thailand
Feel free to shop around here. Ultimately we opted for Jmart paying 599 baht for 1 million baht coverage. This is for 1 year (2024). The process normally takes 1-2 days.
What Documents do I Need to Acquire Drone Insurance in Thailand?
- Identification Documents: Such as a copy of your passport or national ID card.
- Proof of Ownership: Provide documentation that proves you own the drone, which may include the purchase receipt or invoice.
- Drone Specifications: Details about your drone, including its make, model, serial number, weight, and other relevant specifications.
Contacting local insurance providers will help you understand the specific requirements and documentation needed for coverage in Thailand.
Registering a Drone with NBTC in Thailand?
While waiting to have the drone insured I would start the register with the NBTC (unlike the CAAT there is no need for drone insurance). There is a small payment of 200Baht which can be completed through internet banking after completing the registration process online. This coverage is for 2-years before renewal. The website to apply here.
What Documents Do I Need to Register a Drone with the NBTC?
The National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) requires drone owners to register their drones. The specific documents needed may vary, but commonly required documents include:
- Identification Documents: Such as a copy of your passport or national ID card.
- Proof of Ownership: Provide documentation that proves you own the drone, which may include the purchase receipt or invoice.
- Drone Specifications: Details about your drone, including its make, model, serial number, weight, and other relevant specifications.
Again for up-to-date information check the official NBTC website.
Registering a Drone with CAAT in Thailand?
You need to register a drone with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) within 30-days of purchase of a drone in Thailand or within 30-days of entering Thailand with a drone as a visitor. There is no charge for registering with the NAAC and there is no need for renewal as it covers the life (I guess) of the drone. Website below.
What Documents do I Need to Register Drone with CAAT?
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) require drone owners to register their drones. The specific documents needed may vary, but commonly required documents include:
- Identification Documents: Such as a copy of your passport or national ID card.
- Proof of Ownership: Provide documentation that proves you own the drone, which may include the purchase receipt or invoice.
- Drone Specifications: Details about your drone, including its make, model, serial number, weight, and other relevant specifications.
- Insurance Information: The CAAT require proof of insurance coverage for your drone.
It’s crucial to check the latest regulations and requirements directly with CAAT or a reliable source, as drone regulations can change, and new requirements may be introduced. You can visit CAAT’s official website or contact them directly for the most up-to-date information.
Is it Easy to Register a Drone in Thailand?
Yes and no. It is fairly simple if you have access to a camera, internet, laptop, scanner, and printer. If you can navigate the registration websites and work out the whole process. Otherwise things become a bit tricky.
So for tourists, travellers and visitors living out of suitcases in Thailand, it can a bit tricky which was the same for us having already lost a week of the 30-days having ordered delivery of the drone to our condo address while travelling. Again, we are new to the whole 30 Days to Register Drones in Thailand situation.
It wasn’t until 2-weeks in that we were finally able to work on it when back at our home in Isaan. The first problem, the printer does not work, as printers need regular use they become pretty much useless (it was about 5-years for us). But at least the scanner works. Either way, we were back-and-forth to print shops putting together the paperwork.
It maybe possible to do digital signatures etc on documents otherwise we would print each page and then sign them before scanning. Again scanning could maybe be done by phone as we were otherwise just being careful. The documents are fairly similar for each process making it easier for the 2nd two stages. The CAAT registration was not online (2024) meaning we had to print and complete it separately. The CAAT also require all documents in the same PDF which we managed to do using the free Adobe PDF merger.
How Much Does it Cost to Register a Drone in Thailand?
Under 1000 Baht including insurance. If you choose to register the drone yourself then it should cost under 1000 Baht in total including drone insurance. This is similar to what we paid as below:
- Drone Insurance: 600 Baht
- NBTC Registration: 200 Baht
- CAAT Registration: 0 Baht
It is possible to have agents and insurance brokers complete the application for you and they charge roughly double the above. However you do still have to gather and send much of the information anyway so there will still be a fair bit of work involved either way.
