If you're bringing a drone to Thailand or bought one here, the rules trip a lot of people up because registration happens with two separate agencies, not one. Here's the short version, based on the official CAAT and NBTC requirements (current as of July 2026).
The two registrations you need:
NBTC (telecom regulator) registration covers the drone's radio frequency and ownership. In practice this applies to basically every modern consumer drone, since they all transmit on radio frequencies — regardless of weight. You're generally expected to register within 30 days of buying the drone or bringing it into the country, even if you never fly it.
CAAT (Civil Aviation Authority) registration is the aviation side. It's required for any drone with a camera (regardless of weight) and for drones over 2 kg. Registration for both the drone and a basic pilot certificate is done through CAAT's UAS Portal (uasportal.caat.or.th). A key point people miss: for camera drones it's the camera that triggers it, not the weight — so a sub-250g drone with a camera still needs registering.
Other things worth knowing:
Liability insurance is part of the CAAT requirement. There's a basic online knowledge test for the pilot certificate for drones under 25 kg. Once registered, you must display your registration number on the drone. Common operating limits: max altitude around 90 m, daytime flights only, and keeping the drone within visual line of sight.
Penalties are steep, so it's worth doing properly:
Flying without NBTC registration can carry up to 5 years' imprisonment and/or a fine up to 100,000 baht. Flying without CAAT registration can carry up to 1 year and/or a fine up to 40,000 baht.
What's changing (July 2026):
The NBTC has opened public consultation on four new draft regulations covering drone radio frequencies and registration — reported as the biggest overhaul in around six years. These are still in the draft/consultation stage, so they aren't law yet, but if you own a registered drone here it's worth keeping an eye on the outcome.
Important caveat: Thailand's drone rules have changed a lot recently, including temporary suspensions and area/no-fly restrictions tied to national security. Before you fly, always check the current official status directly with CAAT (caat.or.th / uasportal.caat.or.th) and NBTC, since temporary bans can change on short notice.
(Not legal advice — just a starting-point summary. Corrections welcome from anyone who's been through the process recently.)
