REGULATIONS / TH

Thailand: drone rules for inspection

In Thailand every drone must be registered with the NBTC (radio), and drones with a camera or of 2 kg or more must also be registered with the CAAT. Pilots take an online knowledge test, and third-party insurance of at least THB 1 million (THB 2 million over 25 kg) is required. Standard conditions are daylight, VLOS and ≤90 m. Flights within 9 km of airports, over urban areas, crowds or sensitive sites, at night or BVLOS need prior written permission, applied for 14 working days ahead with operations and risk manuals and landowner consent. Since 2025, flights in seven provinces on the Cambodian border are generally banned. In December 2025 CAAT consulted on organising these permitted operations as a 'Specific Category'.

Checked against official sources

Fields are recorded in the language of the research notes.

Authority	タイ民間航空局 (CAAT)、国家放送通信委員会 (NBTC) / Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT); National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)
Main framework	Ministry of Transport notification of B.E. 2558 (2015) on permits and conditions for operating remotely controlled unmanned aircraft, as amended (including a B.E. 2567/2024 MoT notification on training). CAAT services run through the UAS Portal. In December 2025 CAAT consulted on a draft announcement (hearing 19 December 2025 - 6 January 2026) setting criteria for operations outside the prescribed conditions for aircraft up to 25 kg. It treats them as a medium-risk 'Specific Category' with operator rights by aircraft type. Whether the draft was adopted was not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Registration	All drones must be registered with the NBTC whatever their weight or use. CAAT registration is also required for drones with a camera or recording device and for drones of 2 kg or more. Drones over 25 kg also need written approval from the Minister of Transport (TAT guide). Both operator registration (with an online knowledge test) and aircraft registration are free on the CAAT UAS Portal. The registration number must be permanently marked on the aircraft.
Remote ID	No Remote ID requirement appears in the CAAT guidelines reviewed (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Pilot licensing	Operators of drones up to 25 kg register on the UAS Portal and pass an online knowledge test (E-Exam, retake after 24 h). The TAT guide says registration is valid for two years. Operators of drones over 25 kg also need a medical certificate and training under the 2024 MoT notification, and CAAT reviews the application within 7 working days. The December 2025 draft would require CAAT-approved training and operator rights by aircraft type for Specific-category operations, with manufacturer training between 1 September 2024 and 31 December 2026 accepted during transition.
Risk categories	There are standard conditions under the 2015 notification, and permission is needed to deviate from them. Weight bands for registration are below 2 kg, 2-25 kg and over 25 kg. The December 2025 draft would formalise deviations as a 'Specific Category'. Agricultural UAS permits come in Private (A), Community (B) and Professional (C) types.
BVLOS	BVLOS falls outside the standard conditions (VLOS only, no navigation by FPV or onboard camera alone). It needs CAAT permission applied for at least 14 working days in advance, with an operations manual, risk-management manual, insurance, landowner permission and, where applicable, permission from the restricted-area manager. CAAT decides within 9 working days.
Night & over people	Standard conditions allow daylight flight only, in clear weather and VLOS. Night flights, flights above 90 m and flights in restricted zones need prior written approval. Flights over urban areas, crowds or sensitive sites (government buildings, hospitals, military zones) are prohibited unless authorised. The minimum safe distance is 30 m for drones under 2 kg and 50 m for 2-25 kg (TAT guide; what the distance is measured from is not stated, and the original text was not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)).
Near structures	Flights within 9 km of an aerodrome or temporary landing site need approval and the aerodrome operator's permission. Bangkok has a restricted area (VT R1) with its own notification form. According to the TAT guide, each flight must be submitted through the UAS Portal at least 3 days ahead and the Anti-Drone Centre notified (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22). Because of the Thai-Cambodian border situation, flights are prohibited in controlled districts of seven border provinces except with CAAT approval. CAAT Announcement No. 3 B.E. 2568 (effective 11 August 2025) set registration, insurance, risk-assessment and 12-hour pre-notification conditions for agricultural drones there (reported in Pattaya Mail; (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)).
Indoor & confined	(not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Imaging & privacy	Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019), fully effective 2022 (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Recent changes	June 2025: CAAT UAS service guidelines updated (operator and aircraft registration, permission process). August 2025: border-area restrictions, including CAAT Announcement No. 3 B.E. 2568 for agricultural drones (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22). December 2025: draft CAAT announcement on Specific-category permissions and operator rights put out for comment.

Sources

Sources checked: 2026-10-22