The government is raising drone standards by adding training, registration, and online flight permission systems to safely support commercial uses and future technologies. These will take effect on 17 May 2026 GMT+7.
On 13 May 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Lalida Pertvivatana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has issued new regulations setting criteria and procedures for permitting operators or remote pilots of unmanned aircraft or "drones" weighing no more than 25 kilograms to fly under conditions differing from those in the 2015 Ministry of Transport announcement. This aims to raise safety standards and accommodate more complex drone activities. The new rules will be effective from 17 May 2026 GMT+7.
The Deputy Spokesperson explained that such flight operations fall under the “Specific Category,” indicating a moderate risk level. Operators must undergo risk assessments and obtain prior approval from CAAT, especially for commercial use, filming, surveying, flights in restricted areas, or flights differing from general regulations.
Key points of the new announcement include requiring drone operators to complete a CAAT-certified training course to gain knowledge of relevant laws, air traffic rules, safety measures, and flight risk management. Operators must also hold "operational rights" corresponding to the type of aircraft used.
Additionally, the announcement introduces electronic registration for aircraft, mandating that all drones display a clear registration number on their body. The standard format is XX-NN-NN-NNNN, with uppercase letters and numbers, in a color contrasting the background, and at least 0.3 centimeters in height, enhancing identification and tracking efficiency.
The announcement further requires applicants for flight permission to submit flight plans online each time, specifying objectives, date, time, flight area or coordinates, names of controllers, and insurance documents. CAAT may impose additional measures such as flight manuals, risk management plans, or flight demonstrations before approval to ensure compliance with safety standards.
The 2026 regulations introduce several key changes compared to the 2015 rules, including:
• Previously, training was not mandatory; now drone operators must complete a CAAT-approved course within one year.
• Previously, no drone registration system existed; now all drones must be registered and display registration numbers on their body.
• Previously, flight permission was not required for every flight; now operators must submit flight plans and await CAAT approval before flying.
• The license validity period has been extended from 2 years to 5 years, with renewals required at least 30 days in advance.
• Previously, applications were submitted on paper; now all procedures are conducted online.
• Insurance requirements remain, mandating third-party coverage of no less than one million baht per incident.
Existing license holders under the 2015 rules may continue under their current rights until expiration. However, if they wish to operate in the Specific Category under the new announcement, they must comply with the new criteria.
“The government supports drone use for the digital economy, innovation, agriculture, creative media, and modern business sectors, but it must be based on safety, international standards, and social responsibility to build confidence in sustainable technology use,” the spokesperson said.