How to register a drone in Thailand – step by step

To fly a drone legally in Thailand, you need to register with two government agencies (NBTC and CAAT), buy insurance, and pass a pilot test. The process is annoying, sometimes confusing, and takes longer than it should. But it’s doable, and we’ve done it multiple times.

This guide walks you through every step. For the rules on where you can fly, no-fly zones, and penalties, see our guide to drone laws in Thailand.

What you need before starting

Get these sorted first so you don’t get stuck halfway through:

1. A Thai phone number. Buy a SIM card at the airport when you land (150-300 baht). You need this for the CAAT portal verification.
2. Third-party liability insurance. Minimum 1,000,000 baht coverage. The policy must include your name and drone serial number, and be written in English or Thai. See step 1 below for where to buy.
3. Photos of your drone showing the model, serial number, and controller serial number. Take these before you leave home.
4. Your passport with entry stamp.
5. Proof of address in Thailand. A hotel booking confirmation works for tourists.

Step 1: Buy drone insurance

You can’t complete CAAT registration without insurance, so do this first. You need third-party liability coverage of at least 1,000,000 baht (~$31,000 USD). The policy must show your name and your drone’s serial number.

Thai providers are cheapest and their policies are pre-approved by CAAT:

• Thailand Drone Insurance (TDS): from 499 baht for drones under 300g
• MyDroneThailand: 599 baht (under 300g) or 799 baht (301-3000g)
• FEIC Thailand: from 749 baht, multiple plan tiers

International policies (like Coverdrone) are accepted if they meet Thailand’s coverage requirements. Make sure the paperwork is in English and includes your drone serial number – CAAT will reject applications without it.

Step 2: Register with NBTC

NBTC handles the radio frequency side of things (your drone transmits radio signals). This registration costs about 200 baht and can be done in person or online.

In person (faster): Walk into any NBTC office with your documents – no appointment needed. Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. The Bangkok office is on Soi Phahonyothin 8, walkable from Ari BTS. Hand over your paperwork, they check it, and you get your certificate in about 15 minutes.

Online: Register at anyregis.nbtc.go.th (there’s a foreigner-specific page). Processing takes 2-3 business days.

Documents needed (printed copies for in-person):

• Passport photocopy with entry stamp
• Photos of drone serial number and controller serial number
• Proof of address (hotel booking for tourists)
• Completed registration forms (available at the office or downloaded from the NBTC site)

NBTC offices are in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Chumphon, Chanthaburi, Suphanburi, Prachin Buri, and Nonthaburi.

Important for foreigners: your NBTC registration is tied to your current entry stamp. When you leave Thailand, it expires. You have to re-register every time you enter the country. Thai nationals don’t have this problem.

Step 3: Register with CAAT and pass the pilot test

CAAT handles flight safety. This is the longer part of the process. Registration is free but takes up to 14 days to process, and you need to pass an online pilot exam.

The process:

1. Go to uasportal.caat.or.th and create an account (use your Thai phone number)
2. Start an “Individual” application for drone registration
3. Upload your documents: passport, proof of address, drone photos with serial numbers, insurance policy
4. Complete the application and submit. Don’t submit until everything is filled in – you can’t edit after submission.
5. Wait for registration approval (up to 14 days). You’ll receive a registration number to affix to your drone.
6. Take the online pilot test (see below)
7. Download the UAS Portal mobile app – you’ll need it for submitting flight plans

The CAAT website states it only works properly in Google Chrome. From our experience, the portal has improved since its early days but still has occasional bugs. Save your progress frequently.

The pilot test

The test is 40 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes. You need 30 correct (75%) to pass. It’s available in English and covers five categories:

1. Thailand air law for UAV
2. Thailand airspace regulations
3. Human performance in drone operation
4. General UAV knowledge
5. UAV operation procedures

If you’ve read our drone laws guide and understand the basics of drone operation, you should be fine. If you fail, you can retake it after 24 hours.

Don’t want to deal with all this? Use a registration service

If this process sounds like too much hassle (and honestly, for a 2-week holiday, it kind of is), registration services will handle most of it for you:

• FEIC Thailand: 1,498 baht (~$46 USD) for combined NBTC + CAAT assistance
• MyDroneThailand: approximately 3,000 baht for full registration service
• ThaiFreude: approximately 3,000 baht, handles most steps including helping you bypass the test

These services are popular with tourists who don’t want to spend their holiday navigating Thai government portals. They know the system, speak the language, and can usually get things processed faster.

Realistic timeline for tourists

Here’s what the registration timeline actually looks like if you’re a tourist arriving in Thailand:

• Day 1: Arrive, buy Thai SIM card at airport, purchase drone insurance online
• Day 1-2: Visit NBTC office in person (15 minutes) or submit online (2-3 days)
• Day 1-2: Submit CAAT application online (same day as NBTC if you’re efficient)
• Day 2-14: Wait for CAAT approval (up to 14 days, sometimes faster)
• After approval: Take pilot test online, download UAS Portal app
• 3 days before flying: Submit flight plan via the app

Best case: you’re flying legally within a week. Worst case: 2-3 weeks. If you’re on a short trip, a registration service is probably worth the money.

Tips from our experience

• You don’t need to bring your drone to the NBTC office. Just the photos of the serial numbers.
• Use your Thai address on all forms. Hotel address is fine for tourists.
• Carry printed copies of your insurance, NBTC certificate, and CAAT registration when you fly. Not every police officer or security guard knows the rules, but having paperwork tends to resolve situations quickly.
• Take photos of everything you submit. The portal can be glitchy and having backups saves time if you need to resubmit.
• CAAT registration is valid for 2 years. NBTC registration expires when you leave Thailand and must be redone each entry. So if you visit Thailand regularly, at least the CAAT part doesn’t need to be repeated every time.

Frequently asked questions

Can I register my drone before arriving in Thailand?

Not since January 2025. The CAAT portal requires a Thai phone number and your arrival stamp. You need to be in the country to start the process.

How long does CAAT registration take?

Officially up to 14 days. Some people report getting it in under a week. Registration services can sometimes speed this up. Plan for 2 weeks to be safe.

Do I need to register a DJI Mini (under 250g)?

Yes. It has a camera, so it needs both NBTC and CAAT registration. The weight exemption only applies to drones without cameras.

How hard is the CAAT pilot test?

40 questions, 40 minutes, 75% to pass. It’s in English and covers Thai drone laws, airspace, and basic flight operations. If you’ve read this guide and our drone laws article, you’ll be prepared. You can retake it after 24 hours if you fail.

Is it worth registering for a short holiday?

Honestly, it depends on how important drone footage is to your trip. If you’re here for 2 weeks and drone flying is a priority, use a registration service (1,498-3,000 baht) to speed things up. If you’re here for a month or longer, the self-registration process is manageable. If you’re only here for a week, the timeline probably doesn’t work unless you get lucky with fast CAAT processing.

Whatever you do, do not fly unregistered. The fines are steep and enforcement is real. For the complete rules on where and how you can fly, head to our drone laws in Thailand guide. And for more general Thailand planning, check our beginner tips.