In order to fly drone in Thailand, you must be registered two different Thai Agencies: CAAT (Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand) and NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission). Drone should be for private use and be under 2kg weight.

Fines for not complying range from 40,000 baht to 100,000 baht and 1-5 years in prison.

Drones regulated by the Announcement of the Ministry of Transport regarding Rules to Apply for Permission and Conditions to Control and Launch Unmanned Aircraft in the Category of Remotely Piloted Aircraft B.E. 2558 (A.D. 2015)

By virtue of Section 24 of the Air Navigation Act B.E. 2497, Minister of Transport shall have power to permit and specify conditions to control and launch Unmanned Aircraft in the category of Remotely Piloted Aircraft as follows;

Article 1. This announcement is called “Announcement of the Ministry of Transport on Rules to Apply for Permissions and Conditions to Control and Launch Unmanned Aircraft in the Category of Remotely Piloted Aircraft B.E. 2558 (A.D. 2015)”.

Article 2. This announcement comes into force on the announcement date.

Article 3. In this announcement.

“Remotely piloted Aircraft” means an aircraft where the flying pilot is not on board the aircraft and use the aircraft control system but not include small airplane which using as a toy pursuant to the Ministerial Regulation on the Non-Aircraft Objects B.E. 2548 (A.D.2005)

“Remotely-piloted aircraft system” means A set of configurable elements consisting of a remotely-piloted aircraft, its associated remote pilot station(s), the required command and control links and any other system elements as may be required, at any point during flight operation.

Article 4. Remotely piloted Aircraft in this announcement is divided into two categories which are—

(1) For the purpose of hobby, entertainment, or sport (recreation);
(a) Weight of not more than 2 kg
(b) Weight of more than 2 kg but not exceeding 25 kg

(2) For purposes other than (1) where its weight does not exceed 25 kg;
(a) For reporting incidents or traffic-related matters (i.e. mass media),
(b) For photographing, filming or TV programs,
(c) For research and development of aircraft,
(d) For other purposes.

Article 5. The Minister of Transport grants general permission to control or launch the Unmanned Aircraft which weight of not more than 2 kg using for the purpose of hobby, entertainment or sport (recreation) stated in article 4 (1) (a). However, the controller or launcher of the unmanned aircraft must be older than 18 years of age unless under control of the legal representative, and also act under the following conditions;

(1) before flight,
(a) check that the Unmanned Aircraft and its Remotely-piloted aircraft system is in a good condition to fly;
(b) get permission from the owner of the land to fly;
(c) check the environment and airspace of the location to fly;
(d) have an emergency plan including plan for accident, medical care and plan for problem solving in case of loss of control of the drone.

(2) during flight,
(a) must not fly in a way that may cause harm to the life, property and peace of others;
(b) must not fly into restricted area, limited area and dangerous area announced in Aeronautical Information Publication – Thailand or AIP-Thailand and also at government buildings and hospitals unless permission is given.;
(c) take-off and landing area must not be obstructed by anything;
(d) must keep the Unmanned Aircraft in line-of-sight at all times and not rely on the monitor or other devices;
(e) must only fly between sunrise and sunset when the Unmanned Aircraft can clearly be seen;
(f) must not fly in or near clouds;
(g) must not fly within 9 km (5 nautical miles) from airport or temporary airfield unless having permission from the airport or airfields operators;
(h) must not fly over 90 meters above the ground;
(i) must not fly over cities, villages, communities or areas where people are gathered;
(j) must not fly near other aircraft that have pilots;
(k) must not violate the privacy rights of others;
(I) must not cause a nuisance to others;
(m) must not deliver or carry dangerous items or lasers on the Unmanned Aircraft and
(n) must not fly horizontally closer than 30 meters (100 feet) to people, vehicles, constructions or buildings

Whenever the person who controls and launches the unmanned aircraft is not able to comply with the aforementioned conditions, he or she must be stopped to operate the unmanned aircraft unless having permission under article 17.

Article 6. The Minister of Transport will grant permission to control or launch the Unmanned Aircraft which weight of more than 2 kg but not exceeding 25 kg and is used for hobby, entertainment or sport as stated in article 4(1) (b) if the person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft has qualifications and characteristics pursuant to article 7 and has been registered pursuant to article 8 In order that, the person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft must comply with the conditions as prescribed in article 9.

Article 7. The person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft under article 6 shall have the following qualifications and characteristics—

(1) being at least 20 years of age;
(2) must not a threat to national security; and
(3) never been sentenced by the final judgment to imprisonment for an offense under the law on narcotics or customs.

Article 8. The person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft under article 6 shall submit an application for registration to the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand along with the following documents—

(1) a copy of the identification card or passport;
(2) a copy of registered address;
(3) model, trademark (brand), serial number, quantity, and the performance of the Unmanned Aircraft including devices installed;
(4) a copy of the insurance policy, which covers damages caused to the body, life and properties of the third parties, and also the minimum sum insured is not less than one million baht per time;
(5) purpose of using the Unmanned Aircraft;
(6) area specified and geographical position to fly;
(7) contact information of the applicant; and
(8) an affirmative showing that the person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft having qualifications and characteristics under article 7.

Article 9. The person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft that already been registered under article 8 shall comply with the conditions as follows;

(1) before flight,
(a) must comply with article 5 (1) (a) (b) (c) and (d);
(b) provide maintenance the Unmanned Aircraft according to manufacturer’s manual;
(c) has knowledge and skills in control of the Unmanned Aircraft and its system;
(d) has knowledge and understanding in the rule of the air;
(e) carry along with the certificate of registration or its copy all the time of the flight;
(f) carry along with a usable fire extinguisher all the times of the flight; and
(g) has an insurance policy, which covers damages caused to the body, life and properties of the third parties, and also the minimum sum insured is not less than one million baht per time;

(2) during flight,
(a) must comply with article 5 (2) (a) to (m);
(b) must not fly horizontally closer than 50 meters (150 feet) to people, vehicles or buildings those are not related to the flight operations; and
(c) in case of accident, the controller or launcher shall immediately inform the competent official.

When it appears that the person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft violates or fails to comply with the conditions stated in paragraph one, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand shall have the power to order the corrective action within a specified period. If no action is taken or violation or non-compliance with the order, the Director General shall have the power to revoke the registration pursuant to Article 6.

Article 10. The Minister of Transport will grant permission to control or launch the Unmanned Aircraft which weight not exceeding 25 kg using for others purposes in accordance with Article 4(2) if the person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft has qualifications and characteristics pursuant to Article 11, and already been registered under Article 12. In order that, the person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft must comply with the conditions as prescribed in Article 13.

Article 11. The person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft under Article 10 shall has the following qualifications and characteristics—

(1) for the purposes of reporting incident or traffic (mass communication), the applicant must be a juristic person having the objective and operation of mass communication, such as newspaper, journal, radio, television, etc.

(2) for the purposes of photography, filming or TV program, the applicant must be—

(a) a natural person who—
(1) being at least 20 years of age;
(2) must not a threat to national security; and
(3) never been sentenced by the final judgment to imprisonment for an offense under the law on narcotics or customs.

(b) a juristic person, in which their legal representative and manager must be qualified in accordance with (a).
(3) for the purposes of the aircraft research and development, the applicant must be a juristic person established for the objective of the aircraft research and development;
(4) for other purposes shall has qualifications and characteristics under (2) (a) (b).

Article 12. The person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft under article 10 shall submit an application for registration to the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand along with the following documents;

(1) in case of a juristic person,
(a) a certificate of juristic person which includes objectives, place of business, and updated authorized signatory persons, issued by the authority concerned and not more than 30 days since the certificate has been issued;
(b) a list of managing partners or managing directors and authorized regulator (if any},
(c) a copy of identification card or passport for a person in (b);
(d) a list of the name of the person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft or any other people who require in the operation of the Unmanned Aircraft;
(e) a copy of identification card and a copy of registered address as well as a Letter of Consent of people in (d);
(f) model, trademark (brand), serial number, quantity and aircraft performance as well as installed devices;
(g) a copy of insurance policy covers damage caused to body, life and third party sum insured amount not less than one million baht per flight;
(h) purposes of using Unmanned Aircraft;
(i) area specified and geographical position to fly;
(j) contact information of the applicant; and
(k) an affirmative showing that the representative and manager of juristic person having qualifications and characteristics under article 11 (2).
(2) in case of a natural person,
(a) a copy of identification card or passport;
(b) a copy of registered address; and
(c) documents as mentioned in (1) (f) to (k).

Article 13. The person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft that already been registered under article 12 shall comply with the conditions as prescribes in Article 9.

Article 14. Upon receiving the application under article 8 or 12, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand shall then verify the qualifications and characteristics as stated in article 7 or 11 and also the documents as stated in article 8 or 12 as the case may be.

After verification under paragraph one, upon finding that applicant meets the qualifications and characteristics and also all documents are corrected, the Director General will issue a Certificate of Registration to applicant, otherwise dismiss the application and notify to the applicants. However, the applicant will not be disqualified for re-applying the application.

Article 15. The Certificate of Registration under article 14 is valid for 2 years since the issuing date.

Article 16. When the holder of Certificate of Registration wishes to continue using the registered Unmanned Aircraft, he or she has to apply for registration under article 8 or 12 as the case may be to the Director General at least 30 days before the expiration date of the Certificate of Registration.

Article 17. In case of a person who controls or launches the Unmanned Aircraft is unable to comply with the conditions stated in article 5, 9, and 13 and also notify the Director General in written document, the Director General shall have the power to authorize the controller or launcher of the Unmanned Aircraft to operate differently from the mentioned conditions. However, the Director General may impose the additional conditions and limitations for safety reasons.

Article 18. Any person who wishes to control or launch the Unmanned Aircraft which weighs more than 25 kg must submit the application to the Director General in the case by case basis. In this regard, Unmanned Aircraft will be performed when written permission has been obtained from the Minister of Transport and must comply with his prescribed conditions.

Given on 2 July B.E. 2558 (2015)

Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, Minister of Transport