There has been another tightening of the drone regulations in Thailand. These new rules came into effect on 17 May 2026, but there is a 2-year transition period during which they will not yet be fully enforced.

IMPORTANT: The procedure described in this article only applies to pilots who already have a CAAT account in Thailand.

What is this about?

From 17 May 2028, pilots will need an Operational Authorization for drone flights in around 80% of Thailand’s territory.
You will find information below on how to obtain this authorization. One thing in advance: you will need training.

When does this apply?

The rules were introduced on 17 May 2026. For now, very little changes if you already have a CAAT account. Only two years later — from May 2028 onward — will you need this operational authorization for restricted zones.

Where does this apply?

The rules concern areas classified as having medium or higher risk (“Specific Category”). This affects around 80% of the country.

These include:

1. Flights in prohibited, restricted, or dangerous areas

(VTD, VIP, or VTR zones)

These are the blue zones shown in the UAS Portal App. They are training areas of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and the Thai Navy.

See also the maps in the UAS Portal App.

Examples include:

Surat Thani Province (Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan)
Around 70% of Chiang Mai Province

2. Flights within a 9 km radius of airports

(Special permission from the airport is required)

The rules also apply to flights outside the “normal” operating framework. Operational authorization is also required for:

What do you need to do to fly your drone legally in Thailand?

In general, you need:

NBTC registration
Insurance
CAAT registration (pilot license and drone ID)
UAS Portal App

In addition:

A) In open zones

(these are not colored on the UAS Portal App map)

Use the UAS Portal App to register your flights. This only takes a few minutes. See our guide.

This includes areas such as:

Phuket
Phang Nga Bay
Krabi
The Golden Triangle

Requirement:

You must comply with the CAAT regulations:

Flight time only between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Flight area limited to either:
– a maximum radius of 130 meters, or
a square area of max. 260 × 260 meters
Maximum altitude: 90 meters
Recreational use only
Fly always within visual line of sight

B) In restricted zones

(“Specific Category”, restricted, marked in blue or yellow)

Until May 2028, there is still relatively little to consider. You only need to complete the following steps once:

Then:

Switch to English
Click the button “Rating for specific category less than 25 kg”
Select “Not yet completed”
Choose type: “Rotorcraft”

The training mentioned above must be completed by May 2028 through a provider recognized by the CAAT in order for the pilot to continue flying in restricted zones (“Specific Category”, see above).

HOWEVER, at the moment we are not aware of any organization offering this type of training.

After completing the training, you will receive a certificate of participation that can be uploaded to the CAAT portal. This will allow you to obtain the Operational Authorization.

Our Recommendation

Please check before traveling to Thailand in which province you want to fly your drone.
If you already have a UAS Portal App account, you can check the flight zones directly in the app. Otherwise, refer to the UAS Portal App maps.
If you are unsure about flight areas, feel free to contact us.
Please tell us the province and district where you want to fly. We are happy to help.

Flying Drones in National Parks

If you want to fly a drone in a national park, you additionally need permission from the national park administration. You can find all information in the article “Drone Flying in National Parks.”

Please note:

NBTC and CAAT drone registrations are prerequisites for obtaining a national park permit.
The national park permit is an important document that must be shown to park officials as proof that the flight has been approved.
National park permits can only be requested after NBTC and CAAT registration has been completed.