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.

Check current prices, policy wording and CAAT's requirements before buying from any of the providers listed below:

• 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

For an international policy, including Coverdrone, check that it covers your planned drone use in Thailand and meets CAAT's requirements. Confirm the required language and drone-identification details before submitting 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. Its June 2025 service guide describes separate basic pilot and aircraft services, with registration completed automatically once the applicant has fulfilled the portal requirements. That is not a guaranteed end-to-end turnaround or permission to fly.

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. Once aircraft registration is approved, affix the issued registration number to your drone.
6. Complete the separate basic pilot application and online test (see below), following the portal's instructions for your application.
7. Apply for flight permission through UAS Portal before flying; see CAAT's June 2026 guidance and follow the current permission conditions and notification instructions.

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

CAAT's English study material covers the following areas. Check the current test instructions in the UAS Portal for the question count, time limit, pass mark and available exam languages:

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

Use CAAT's official study material to prepare; our drone laws guide is supplementary reading, not a guarantee that you'll pass. 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

Before paying, ask what the service handles, which steps you must complete yourself, and whether its quoted timings include approval by both agencies.

Realistic timeline for tourists

These are planning stages, not fixed completion dates. Check the portal's instructions for each separate CAAT service:

• On arrival: Buy a Thai SIM card and arrange drone insurance if you have not already done so
• NBTC: Apply in person or online and check current processing arrangements
• CAAT aircraft registration: Submit the application through the UAS Portal
• Aircraft approval: Check its status and affix the issued registration number
• Pilot certificate: Complete the separate pilot application and online test
• Before flying: Obtain flight permission and complete the required pre-flight notifications

Allow time for incomplete paperwork, retaking the test and obtaining flight permissions. Don’t plan a flight around a promised registration turnaround.

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's pilot certificate and aircraft registration are different. Its visitor guide gives the basic pilot certificate a two-year validity; the aircraft registration number does not expire unless cancelled. NBTC registration expires when you leave Thailand and must be redone each entry. Check each document's validity and the permissions needed for a new flight.

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?

Use CAAT's service guide above to check the relevant process. Allow for completing your application, test and any separate flight-permission requirements.

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?

Start with CAAT's official study material and check the current exam instructions in the portal. Our drone laws article provides background, but is not a substitute for that preparation. 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, compare doing the paperwork yourself with paying for registration assistance. Ask what the quoted fee covers; don't assume a service can secure approval before your trip ends.

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.