Information about NBTC Thailand Drone Registration

Anyone that wants to fly a drone in Thailand is required to register at two agencies; the National Broadcasting Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) and Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). On this page we explain about the NBTC drone registration.

NBTC is for registering you as an individual and the radio frequency used by the drone and drone remote control. You can find a list of documents required by NBTC and some frequently asked questions about NBTC Thailand drone registration below.

If you aren’t using our Thailand drone registration service then you can register your drone with NBTC yourself online at: https://anyregis.nbtc.go.th/sign_up/foreigner/

Previously registration had to be done in person at one of the NBTC offices and you may see outdated information stating this requirement, but since 2021 this is no longer the case. You can still visit an NBTC office to register if you prefer, no appointment is needed and it may only take 10-15 minutes.

The approval granted is valid for the same duration as your visa or entry stamp at the time of NBTC registration, and for Thai citizens the approval is valid up to 90 days. Remember if you extend your stay in Thailand you will have to renew your NBTC registration.

Documents required NBTC Thailand drone registration

  1. Completed UAV’s Radio Equipment Registration and Owner’s Declaration of Conformity (ODoC) Form
  2. Signed copy of identity card or signed copy of your passport and entry stamp for tourist
  3. A copy of registered address or proof of address in Thailand (e.g. booking confirmation from the hotel for tourist)
  4. Photos of the drone showing Model, trademark (brand), serial number, controller, quantity, and the performance of the Drone including devices installed.

Fine for unregistered Drone with the NBTC is 100,000 baht or five years in prison or both.

You must register with NBTC within 30 days of entering Thailand or purchasing a drone in Thailand even if you do not fly it.

The regulations apply to all drones fitted with cameras including hobby use. If the drone is used for commercial, please review further regulations required from the CAAT.

View the UAV’S RADIO EQUIPMENT REGISTRATION form and more information on the NBTC website: https://www.nbtc.go.th/Business/commu/radio/licensing/แบบฟอร์มคำขอ/47519.aspx

We also offer a Thailand drone registration service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after buying your drone insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions about NBTC Thailand Drone Registration

Do I need to register my drone for use in Thailand?

Yes. Drones need to be registered to 2 Authorities to legally fly in Thailand. The 2 Authorities are:-

  • Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT)
  • National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)

You can register online in the following websites:

Previously NBTC required registration in person at their office, but now offers online registration through their website. The NBTC registration office is still open if needed.

We also offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

Can FEIC help with the drone registration process?

Yes, we also offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

If you have any other questions you may send queries to our Thailand team at: [email protected]

Where do I need to register my drones?

You can register online in the following websites:

Previously NBTC required registration in person at their office, but now offers online registration through their website. The NBTC registration office is still open if needed.

We also offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

How long does NBTC drone registration take?

NBTC drone registration typically takes 2-3 days to complete. Sometimes you will get approval the next business day but this is not guaranteed.

Unfortunately NBTC registration cannot be completed remotely before you arrive as you will need to submit a photo of your immigration entry stamp in your passport as part of the registration.

Please note applications need to be submitted before 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Weekends and public holidays can cause delays with your application.

We also offer a Thailand drone registration service to help with this. We cannot speed up the approval process as it is dependent on the authorities but we will ensure all documents are submitted correctly to avoid your application being rejected.

 

What is NBTC?

NBTC is the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission in Thailand.

This is one of the two authorities that require you to register your drone in Thailand. The other one is CAAT.

You can visit the NBTC website at https://www.nbtc.go.th/

We offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

I have a mini / small drone and is under 250 grams. Do I still need to register?

Yes. Registration is required for all drones with camera for all weight categories.

Drones will need to be registered in the following:-

  • Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT)
  • National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)

You can register online in the following websites:

Previously NBTC required registration in person at their office, but now offers online registration through their website. The NBTC registration office is still open if needed.

We also offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

What documents does NBTC require?

  • Declaration of conformity
  • Passport and visa or arrival stamp
  • Date of drone possession
  • Drone photo including clear serial number
  • Controller photo including clear serial number

For NBTC Registration visit: https://anyregis.nbtc.go.th/sign_up/foreigner/

Notes:

NBTC does not have an online payment platform. Registration fee currently THB200 can be paid through bank deposit or transfer. Fee is subject to change by the Authority.

Previously NBTC required registration in person at their office, but now offers online registration through their website. The NBTC registration office is still open if needed.

We also offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

How long does the registration take before I can fly my drone?

This is dependent on the Authorities. CAAT drone registration can take up to 14 days from the day of submission and NBTC can take 1-3 days from day of submission, so please register in plenty of time before you need to fly your drone.

The timeframes may be longer if there are public holidays.

We also offer a Thailand drone registration service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

Can I buy your registration service without buying your drone insurance?

Sorry no, we only offer our drone registration service for customers that buy one of our drone insurance plans.

This is so that we can be sure that your insurance is valid.

Do I have to register my drone if I don’t fly it?

Yes. You are only permitted to possess an unregistered drone for up to 30 days.

This means that if your visit to Thailand is longer than 30 days then you must register your drone with both CAAT and NBTC within 30 days. Failure to register your drone within 30 days violates NBTC regulations and you may incur fines from NBTC.

If you purchase a drone within Thailand you also must register it within 30 days. If you wait longer than 30 days you will not be able to register it with NBTC without visiting an NBTC office in person to settle the issue.

We offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

Can I register my drone before arriving in Thailand?

Yes and no. There are two parts required for your drone registration:

  1. CAAT registration can be done in advance before arriving in Thailand. But note it can take up to 2 weeks to process so please register with plenty of time.
  2. But the NBTC registration requires your Thailand arrival stamp so you cannot register with NBTC in advance and must wait until you arrive in Thailand to complete the registration with NBTC.

Note that registration with NBTC only takes 2-3 days so it is usually not a problem to do upon arrival, it just means you will have to wait 2-3 days before you can fly your drone in Thailand.

When do I need to renew NBTC registration?

Your NBTC registration is valid for the length of your Thailand visa (or entry stamp) used at the time of registration.

You need to renew your NBTC registration if you extend your stay in Thailand.

Every time you extend your visa you also need to extend your NBTC registration.

We offer a service to help with NBTC registration and renewal if you have purchased your drone insurance policy from us. Just contact us at [email protected].

Example cases where you need to renew your NBTC registration:

  • If you have a 60 day tourist visa then your NBTC registration is valid for 60 days. If your visa is multiple entry and you leave and re-enter Thailand within the 60 days then your NBTC registration is still valid. But if you extend your visa for an additional 30 days (for a total of 90 days) then you will also have to renew your NBTC registration for the additional period.
  • If you have a 45 day entry stamp on arrival then your NBTC registration is valid for 45 days. If you leave and re-enter Thailand on a new stamp but within the original 45 day period then your NBTC registration is still valid, but you will have to renew before the original 45 days finish.
  • If you have a Special Tourist Visa for 90 days then your NBTC registration will also be valid for the same 90 days. If you extend your visa to 180 days you will also need to extend your NBTC registration, then if you extend your visa a second time to a total of 270 days you will also need to extend your NBTC registration for a second time.

 

Do I need to register if I buy a drone in Thailand?

Yes you still need to buy insurance and register with CAAT and NBTC if you purchase your drone in Thailand.

For NBTC registration you will require the original invoice/receipt from the shop you bought it from, and it must be registered within 30 days of purchase or you will be liable for fines from NBTC.

If you purchase a drone from a private individual then it is assumed that they will have already registered the drone with NBTC. You will need to ask them to cancel their registration with NBTC so that you can re-register it in your name. If they have not registered and it is within 30 days of the original purchase then they need to give you the original invoice/receipt so that you can register it. If the seller has not registered the drone and it is past 30 days since original purchase then you will not be able to register with NBTC without paying fines for possession of an unregistered drone for more than 30 days.

We offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

How long is my NBTC registration valid?

Your NBTC registration is valid for the same length as your Thailand visa or entry stamp. So you will have to re-register with NBTC every time you visit Thailand with your drone.

We also offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

I arrived over 30 days ago and did not yet register my drone, what should I do?

Possession of a unregistered drone for more than 30 days is against NBTC regulations and may cause you to be subject to fines from NBTC if you attempt to register it.

Unfortunately we cannot help to register the drone beyond the 30 day cut-off time. If you intend to stay in Thailand then you will have to resolve the issue yourself with NBTC to explain your case and settle any fines before you can register the drone in Thailand.

We advise you to always register your drone within 30 days of arrival (or within 30 days of purchase if you buy the drone in Thailand). Note you also have to renew your NBTC registration every time you extend your visa. As long as it is within 30 days we offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

What address should I put in my insurance and registration with the Authorities?

For guests and tourists, we would suggest putting your first hotel address.

For Thailand residents, we would suggest putting your current address.

We also offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.

Still have questions? Contact our expert team in Bangkok at [email protected]