Find out about CAAT Thailand Drone Registration
Anyone that wants to fly a drone in Thailand is required to register at two agencies; the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the National Broadcasting Telecommunication Commission (NBTC). On this page we explain about the CAAT drone registration.
CAAT is the aviation authority responsible for registering all aircraft flying in Thailand, and this includes your drone. Even a small personal drone is considered an aircraft and falls under the authority of CAAT and in the aviation insurance category. The only exception is if your drone does not have a camera, but all kinds of drone with camera must be registered with CAAT.
You can find an outline of the process to register with CAAT and some frequently asked questions about CAAT drone registration below. The most important requirement is to have a drone insurance policy covering at least THB 1 million in third-party liability insurance. You can get your drone insurance policy online through us, just view our drone insurance plans to get started.
We offer a drone registration service for THB 1,498 to help you with the CAAT and NBTC registration. We will assist you to ensure all documents are submitted correctly and that you have what you need to pass the CAAT pilot test first. We currently only offer this service to customers that purchase our drone insurance, so have a look at our drone insurance plans to get started.
But if you aren’t using our Thailand drone registration service then you can do your CAAT registration by yourself online at: https://uasportal.caat.or.th/
How to buy our drone registration service?
You can buy the drone registration service alongside any of our drone insurance plans. Please view our drone insurance plans below to get started:
VIEW PLANS
Our drone insurance plans
Our Thailand drone registration service will handle NBTC and guide you through CAAT registration requirements and is the easiest way for you to legally fly your drone in Thailand.
The CAAT drone registration process
- Obtain a Thai phone number on arrival in Thailand (a Thai phone number is required to create an account)
- Register for the CAAT portal at: https://uasportal.caat.or.th/
- Register your drone by uploading the required documents to the portal, you will be given a registration number
- Affix or write the registration number on your drone
- Qualify as a pilot by taking the 40 question timed test
- Download your pilot licence once you pass the test
- You have now completed your registration with CAAT
- Don’t forget to also register with NBTC
Documents required for CAAT drone registration
- Document of ownership or purchase receipts for the drone
- Photos of the drone including serial number
- Drone Insurance Policy
The CAAT Pilot Test
As of 2025 the CAAT drone registration process requires applicants to take a 40 question timed test in 40 minutes. This is done through their web portal. Since it requires a Thai phone number to register you will not be able to complete this until you arrive in Thailand. Additionally, if you fail the test you must wait 24 hours to retake it, which can cause delays in getting your registration, but once you pass the test you receive your registration approval immediately. The test requires a 75% correct answers to pass and requires you to have knowledge of Thailand’s drone laws and regulations.
If you buy our drone registration service we will give you sample questions to help you pass first time. We can’t complete the test for you but we can give you everything you need to pass quickly and easily.
What do I need to do after I complete my Thailand drone registration?
Copies of your drone insurance and drone registration documents issued from NBTC and CAAT must be carried with you at all time while flying your drone.
What if I don’t register my drone?
The penalty for flying an unregistered drone according to CAAT’s regulation is imprisonment for a maximum of one year and fine of no more than 40,000 Baht, or both.
For more information see the conditions on the CAAT website: https://uasportal.caat.or.th/
Find out more about our one stop Thailand drone registration service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC. You can purchase this service alongside your drone insurance plan.
Frequently Asked Questions about CAAT 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 yourself in the following websites:
- CAAT Registration: https://uav.caat.or.th/
- NBTC Registration: https://anyregis.nbtc.go.th/sign_up/foreigner/
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.
The easiest way is to use our drone registration service where we register with CAAT and NBTC on your behalf. You can purchase this service at the same time as buying your drone insurance plan.
Can FEIC help with the drone registration process?
Yes, we also offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC. 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:
- Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT): https://uasportal.caat.or.th/
- National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC): https://anyregis.nbtc.go.th/sign_up/foreigner/
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. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.
How long does CAAT drone registration take?
CAAT drone registration can be completed within 1-2 days after you arrive in Thailand. The registration is done online but it requires a Thai phone number as part of the registration so it typically cannot be done before you arrive in Thailand.
The CAAT online portal now requires you take a 40 question timed test to demonstrate your knowledge of drone laws and regulations. If you fail the test then you must wait 24 hours to retake it. This can cause additional delays in your application.
We also offer a Thailand drone registration service to help assist you with this. We cannot complete the application before you arrive as it is dependent on the authorities but we will ensure all documents are submitted correctly and that you have what you need to pass the test first time to avoid your application being rejected or delayed.
Updated January 2025.
What is CAAT?
CAAT is the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
This is one of the two authorities that require you to register your drone in Thailand. The other one is NBTC.
You can visit the CAAT drone registration website at https://uasportal.caat.or.th/
We offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC. 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:
- CAAT Registration: https://uav.caat.or.th/
- NBTC Registration: https://anyregis.nbtc.go.th/sign_up/foreigner/
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 Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) require?
- Document of ownership or purchase receipts for the drone
- Photos of the drone including serial number
- Insurance Policy
For CAAT Registration visit: https://uasportal.caat.or.th/
We also offer a service to help register your drone with CAAT and NBTC. You can purchase this service after applying for your drone insurance.
Updated January 2025.
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?
Unfortunately not. There are two parts required for your drone registration:
- Registering with the CAAT online portal requires a Thai phone number, so unless you already have a Thai phone number this cannot be accessed before arriving in Thailand.
- 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 CAAT can be done online the day you arrive and NBTC typically 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.
Updated January 2025.
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.
Can I register with CAAT using the Drone Insurance Certificate or do I need the full Policy?
Yes you can register your drone with CAAT using the Drone Insurance Certificate that we issue. We can usually issue your certificate of insurance the same or next business day after you complete your application.
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 is my CAAT registration valid?
Your CAAT registration is valid for 2 years.
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.
When registering with CAAT it asks what type of insurance I have, do I select “Identified Controller” or “Unidentified Controller”?
Please select “Identified Controller”.
We will show the names of the controllers/operators in your insurance Policy. This means that the controllers are “identified”.
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.
