Thailand - Drone ban lifted but App to report flights mandatory now

[Stefan in Thailand]

Hi,

Everyone traveling to Thailand with a drone should know that using the UAS Portal app has now become mandatory.

With this app you can:

• Check whether your flight is in an open, restricted, or forbidden zone.
• Apply for permission from the Royal Thai Air Force wing commander if you plan to fly in a restricted zone.
• Report all your flights, including start and landing times.

The challenge: the app is only available in the Thai App Store (iOS) and Thai Play Store (Android).

• For iOS, you’ll need to create a new Apple ID registered in Thailand.
• For Android, you’ll need to set up a new Gmail address.
  At the moment, the app appears to be accessible only within Thailand.

If you’re interested, I can provide you with a detailed step-by-step guide for installation and use.

Yes, flying your drone legally in Thailand has become more effort.

Greetings from Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand
Stefan

 

[Aerophile]

I'll be visiting Thailand in April, and I will be bringing along my Mini 3 Pro. If things are still as restricted then as you say they are currently, I'll probably have some questions for you (so please don't disappear ).

Thanks for keeping us posted on the situation (and hopefully, the situation along the border will settle down...though I suspect the political situation in Bangkok is in for some more turmoil ahead with the latest political shuffling).

"Amazing Thailand" as the adverts say!

 

[Stefan in Thailand]

I'll be visiting Thailand in April, and I will be bringing along my Mini 3 Pro. If things are still as restricted then as you say they are currently, I'll probably have some questions for you (so please don't disappear ).

Thanks for keeping us posted on the situation (and hopefully, the situation along the border will settle down...though I suspect the political situation in Bangkok is in for some more turmoil ahead with the latest political shuffling).

"Amazing Thailand" as the adverts say!

Rest assured, I’ll be here in April. Hopefully, there won’t be any need to answer your questions – but in amazing Thailand, you never know how things might turn out.

 

[Stefan in Thailand]

The challenge: the app is only available in the Thai App Store (iOS) and Thai Play Store (Android).

• For iOS, you’ll need to create a new Apple ID registered in Thailand.
• For Android, you’ll need to set up a new Gmail address.
  At the moment, the app appears to be accessible only within Thailand.

The UAS Portal App is now available in international Appstore or Playstore too.

 

[Cam A Kazi]

As far as i am aware

I'll be visiting Thailand in April, and I will be bringing along my Mini 3 Pro. If things are still as restricted then as you say they are currently, I'll probably have some questions for you (so please don't disappear ).

Thanks for keeping us posted on the situation (and hopefully, the situation along the border will settle down...though I suspect the political situation in Bangkok is in for some more turmoil ahead with the latest political shuffling).

"Amazing Thailand" as the adverts say!

As far as I am aware, you must still complete mandatory registrations with both the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Both can be done online. To complete this, you also need mandatory 3rd party insurance with a min coverage of 1M THB.

CAAT site : uasportal.caat.or.th
NBTC site: anyregis.nbtc.go.th

Do search online to get necessary latest info, and I would suggest you complete it all online well in advance.. my process time was just over 1 month.

 

[Stefan in Thailand]

As far as i am aware

As far as I am aware, you must still complete mandatory registrations with both the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Both can be done online. To complete this, you also need mandatory 3rd party insurance with a min coverage of 1M THB.

CAAT site : uasportal.caat.or.th
NBTC site: anyregis.nbtc.go.th

Do search online to get necessary latest info, and I would suggest you complete it all online well in advance.. my process time was just over 1 month.

You are right, drones still have to to be registered with CAAT and NBTC. But neither can be completed before entering the country (at least if you cannot use a Thai phone number abroad). A lot of the information on internet (especially Youtube) is outdated. Rules changed several times within the last 2 years.
On the other hand, it can be done much faster than 1 month.

 

[Aerophile]

You are right, drones still have to to be registered with CAAT and NBTC. But neither can be completed before entering the country (at least if you cannot use a Thai phone number abroad). A lot of the information on internet (especially Youtube) is outdated. Rules changed several times within the last 2 years.
On the other hand, it can be done much faster than 1 month.

I'll be going in April. I have family there who are probably willing to let me use their phone numbers, residential address, etc., and fill in some forms for me if needed. Since my visit there will be fairly short and I'd rather not waste valuable vacation time on bureaucratic tasks, I'd prefer to get this all (or as much as is possible) set up before traveling. Is that something that can be easily accomplished while outside the country, given some patience and helpers who can translate and provide contact info?

 

[Stefan in Thailand]

I'll be going in April. I have family there who are probably willing to let me use their phone numbers, residential address, etc., and fill in some forms for me if needed. Since my visit there will be fairly short and I'd rather not waste valuable vacation time on bureaucratic tasks, I'd prefer to get this all (or as much as is possible) set up before traveling. Is that something that can be easily accomplished while outside the country, given some patience and helpers who can translate and provide contact info?

Hi Aerophile,
to create a CAAT account you need a thai phone number where you can recceive a OTP (one time password) that can be used only 10 minutes. If you have somebody to forward you the OTP imidiatly, you can do that before you come to Thailand.
To receive the NBTC approval you need to send the immigration stamp in the passport after arrival. So that can be done only after entering the country. Usually it takes only a few days to get it.
Here are the 3 steps described how to get approval by the authorities: 2025: Instructions for Drone Registration Thailand - 3 Steps

 

[wco81]

As far as i am aware

As far as I am aware, you must still complete mandatory registrations with both the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Both can be done online. To complete this, you also need mandatory 3rd party insurance with a min coverage of 1M THB.

CAAT site : uasportal.caat.or.th
NBTC site: anyregis.nbtc.go.th

Do search online to get necessary latest info, and I would suggest you complete it all online well in advance.. my process time was just over 1 month.

Yeah this is the reason I didn't even take my drone when I visited last year.

There are services who will do it for you and it's not too expensive but just isn't worth jumping through all those hoops.

 

[Filipp]

Hi Stefan,

Thanks a lot for all your info, very helpful!

I'll be in Thailand for NYE and I was thinking to use one of those services that help with the entire registration, do you recommend any?
Another question, is it true that after approval of CAAT and NBCT I'd still need to upload each flight I want to do and this require further approval (that can arrive after days..)?

Thank you for your support!

 

[Tsun]

Yes, currently it's still mandatory to upload flight plan 3 days in advance. In addition to what Stefan already mentioned, I'll add:
-in order to fly in national parks, which cover most of pretty beach islands Thailand is known for, you also need a separate permission from park management, which is difficult since they often don't respond to e-mails, and their offices are in out of the way places if you want to apply in person
-in order to fly in restricted airspace (which covers most of mainland Thailand), you need to also contact local police.
-flight altitude is limited to 90m AGL, and area in your flight plan can't exceed 0.08 km^2, so around 160m radius circle
-you need to maintain at least 30m horizontal distance to other people, so most touristy places are a no-go

In short, I don't think it's worth the hassle unless you're staying in Thailand for several weeks, they've made it as difficult as possible short of straight ban. I went through the paperwork myself, so I can't really recommend a particular service, but I think FEIC is used by most people Thailand Drone Registration Service – FEIC (Thailand) Limited

 

[Filipp]

Yes, currently it's still mandatory to upload flight plan 3 days in advance. In addition to what Stefan already mentioned, I'll add:
-in order to fly in national parks, which cover most of pretty beach islands Thailand is known for, you also need a separate permission from park management, which is difficult since they often don't respond to e-mails, and their offices are in out of the way places if you want to apply in person
-in order to fly in restricted airspace (which covers most of mainland Thailand), you need to also contact local police.
-flight altitude is limited to 90m AGL, and area in your flight plan can't exceed 0.08 km^2, so around 160m radius circle
-you need to maintain at least 30m horizontal distance to other people, so most touristy places are a no-go

In short, I don't think it's worth the hassle unless you're staying in Thailand for several weeks, they've made it as difficult as possible short of straight ban. I went through the paperwork myself, so I can't really recommend a particular service, but I think FEIC is used by most people Thailand Drone Registration Service – FEIC (Thailand) Limited

Thanks a lot Tsun!