Drones, Photography and Filming Rules in Phuket

Registration and insurance

Guides agree that a camera drone needs registration with two bodies: the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) for the radio frequency, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) for flight safety. Even small camera drones such as sub-250 gram models are described as needing registration, and some sources say only drones without a camera under 250 grams are exempt.

• CAAT registration is reported to require liability insurance, with one guide quoting at least 1,000,000 baht of cover.
• NBTC registration is reported to be tied to your entry stamp for tourists, so it ends when you leave, while CAAT registration lasts for a period such as two years.
• You will usually need a copy of your passport, visa or entry stamp, a Thai address and phone number, and photos of the drone and serial numbers.
• Carry the documents when you fly.

Processing times vary. Do not buy a drone intending to register it on the day you want to use it.

Where you cannot fly

• Near airports. Phuket Airport's buffer zone covers parts of the north and west coast, and sources say flying near Patong, Kata and Karon is restricted.
• National parks and marine parks, which generally ban drones without written permission from the Department of National Parks. Permits are described as rarely granted for recreational flying.
• Royal sites, government buildings, military sites and hospitals without advance clearance.
• Crowds, festivals and other people's private property without permission.
• Over temples and religious sites, where flying is disrespectful even when it is not banned.

Guides give a typical altitude cap of about 90 metres and a requirement to keep the drone in sight. Check the airspace and local notices before every flight.

Penalties

Penalties reported by travel and legal guides include fines and prison for flying without registration, with some quoting up to 40,000 baht or a year for missing CAAT registration and up to 100,000 baht or five years for missing NBTC registration, and fines of up to 100,000 baht in national parks. In Phuket, confiscation and being ordered to land are described as the most common outcomes for tourists. Foreigners risk visa problems, and the legal help guide explains how to get advice if you are stopped.

Photography, privacy and filming

• Ask before photographing people, especially monks, children and anyone in a private setting. Posting identifiable images without consent can breach privacy law.
• Respect temple rules about dress, photography indoors and posing with statues. The etiquette guide covers temples.
• Do not film military sites, police operations or government buildings.
• Commercial filming, such as paid shoots, usually needs a permit and a work permit for foreigners, so read the guide to teaching and working legally and ask a lawyer.
• Check beach and marine park rules before flying or filming, and see the beach safety guide.

Practical tips

• Keep batteries in carry-on luggage when you fly, and check airline rules.
• Insure the drone and yourself, and check your travel insurance exclusions in the health and insurance guide.
• If an officer asks you to land, do so and show your documents.
• Join a local flying group to learn which spots are tolerated, but still follow the law.