Plan
Drone rules: Thailand
Last checked: October 1, 2026
Allowed with conditions
Flying is allowed, but with conditions you need to know before you travel.
Allowed after registration with NBTC and CAAT and with liability insurance. Flights remain banned in border districts of seven provinces along the Cambodian border (incl. Trat, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo).
Registration with the NBTC and – for camera drones – with the CAAT, including for tourists.
Liability insurance of at least 1 million baht must be proven before any operation.
For tourists
Registration takes time, so start before your trip. Night flights, flights above 90 m and in restricted zones need special CAAT approval; keep 9 km from airports.
Further rules
- In Thailand, drones generally have to be registered both with the telecommunications authority NBTC and – for camera drones and devices over 2 kilograms, and from 25 kilograms additionally with ministerial approval – with the aviation authority CAAT.
- Flights are only permitted in daylight, in good weather and within the constant visual line of sight of the person flying; night flights and flights above 90 metres require separate written permission from the CAAT.
- Since the CAAT eased again in 2026 the nationwide restrictions imposed during the 2025 border conflict with Cambodia, you also need to obtain clearance via the authority's UAS portal before every flight.
- In seven provinces bordering Cambodia – Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat – drone flights remain generally prohibited and are only approved in individual cases, for example for agriculture, disaster relief or rescue operations.
- Proof of third-party liability insurance with minimum cover of one million Thai baht is mandatory before any operation.
- For drones under 2 kilograms, a minimum distance of 30 metres from people and buildings must be kept; for heavier devices up to 25 kilograms it is 50 metres. In addition, a safety distance of 9 kilometres from airports applies.
- Breaches can be punished with up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 40,000 baht or both, and security forces are authorised to neutralise drones classified as a threat.
Sources
This overview is not legal advice and not an official statement — laws change, and we cannot guarantee that every entry is fully up to date. Before your flight, please also check the official source or the local civil aviation authority.