Agricultural Spraying Drone Registration Thailand 2026: Rules & Permits
Agricultural drones such as the DJI Agras T40, T25, T50 or XAG play a crucial role in modern farming. However, because agricultural drones are large and heavy when loaded with spray chemicals, Thai aviation law classifies them as extra-large drones with specific licensing conditions.Over 25 kilograms
1. Legal Requirements for Agricultural Drones (> 25 kg)
- Special approval must be obtained from the Minister of Transport / CAAT: Drones weighing over 25 kilograms cannot be flown immediately with a standard license; a special-case approval application must be filed.
- NBTC radio equipment registration: Because they use high radio frequencies and high transmission power, a Kor Thor 30 (คท.30) possession license is required.
- Third-party liability insurance with high coverage: You must arrange third-party liability insurance as required by law to cover damage to crops, livestock, or neighboring persons.
Another point often overlooked: taking paid jobs spraying pesticides or fertilizer falls within CAAT's definition, because it is flying for a fee or to generate income. Agricultural drone operators may therefore need to register as an unmanned aircraft system operator (UAS Operator Certificate) in addition to holding a personal pilot license. Read the details in the article"Commercial flight"Flying drones commercially in Thailand: what permissions do you need?
Comparison table: agricultural drones over 25 kg vs. general drones
| Topic | Agricultural drones (with spraying substances exceeding 25 kg) | General drones (with a camera, not exceeding 25 kg) |
|---|---|---|
| NBTC registration (คท.30) | Required — it uses high radio frequencies and high transmission power. | Required — every camera-equipped drone model, regardless of weight |
| CAAT-side authorization | Obtain special-case approval from the Minister of Transport / CAAT | Pilot license + aircraft registration certificate, via the UAS Portal |
| Third-party liability insurance | Minimum 1,000,000 baht per incident; 5–10 million baht recommended for commercial work. | A minimum of 1,000,000 baht per occurrence is required to apply for the CAAT license |
| Main documents for the application | Training certificate, flight area layout plan, safety plan, insurance policy. | ID card, house registration, photo of the drone, photo of the Serial Number, receipt |
2. Document preparation steps for agricultural drone pilots
Prepare the certificate of completion of agricultural drone flight training.
Drone operators must hold a certificate of completion of safe agricultural drone operation training.
If you run a commercial spraying business in the company's name, also prepare corporate documents, such as the company certificate (certified copy not older than 3 months), ภ.พ.20, and a letter appointing the company's drone pilot, together with a copy of the pilot's ID card.
Apply for a radio equipment license and register with the NBTC.
Register the Serial Numbers of the drone, remote controller, and transmission equipment with the NBTC.
Documents the NBTC requires: a signed certified copy of your ID card, a full-body photo of the drone, clear photos of the Serial Numbers of the aircraft and the controller, and the receipt/tax invoice. You must register within 30 days from the purchase date. The fee is 214 THB (VAT included), filed at anyregis.nbtc.go.th. See the article for how to do it. How to register a drone with the NBTC, every step
Submit a flight approval application to CAAT and the Department of Civil Aviation.
Submit the agricultural flight area map, safety plan and insurance policy.
On the CAAT side, you must attach a third-party insurance policy with coverage of no less than 1,000,000 baht per incident, clearly stating the coverage start and end dates. Verification can take several weeks during certain periods, so you should plan to submit in advance before the spraying season. See the steps at CAAT drone registration via the UAS Portal
3. Flight rules that agricultural drones must follow every time
Even after all approvals are granted, every spraying flight must still strictly comply with the basic flight rules.
- Fly only during daytime (sunrise–sunset) and keep the aircraft in visual line of sight at all times (Visual Line of Sight).
- Do not fly higher than 90 meters (300 feet) above the ground
- Keep at least 30 meters from unrelated people, structures, and vehicles. Do not fly over crowds, and keep workers outside the spraying line at all times.
- Flying within a 9-kilometre radius of an airport or over prohibited zones is forbidden unless you have written permission — check the No-Fly Zone map via the CAAT app / UAS Portal or the GEO Zone in the DJI Fly app before every flight. See it in the article. Guide to drone No-Fly Zones in Thailand
- If you must fly in a controlled zone, you must request special permission from CAAT and the relevant agencies at least 15–30 days in advance.
4. Penalties for flying an agricultural drone without permission
The offenses come in two tiers: using radio frequencies without permission (not registering with NBTC) violates the Radio Communication Act B.E. 2498, punishable by up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 100,000 THB, or both; while flying without a CAAT licence or without third-party insurance violates the Civil Aviation Act B.E. 2497, punishable by up to 1 year's imprisonment or a fine of up to 40,000 THB, or both. If violations occur in a commercial context, the licence may be permanently revoked, the drone may be seized as evidence, and if the sprayed substance causes damage without insurance in place, the owner must bear civil liability personally, which can reach millions of baht.
5. Common mistakes of agricultural drone users
- Thinking that having just the NBTC's คท.30 certificate means you can spray immediately — drones over 25 kilograms must first obtain special approval on the CAAT side.
- Insuring at the minimum 1,000,000 THB even though you continuously take commercial jobs — for agricultural work we recommend coverage of 5–10 million THB.
- Letting the policy expire — third-party insurance is valid for 1 year and must be renewed at least 30 days in advance, then the new policy must be updated in the UAS Portal.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does every model of agricultural drone require special approval from CAAT?
Not every model — the criterion is the aircraft weight including the spraying chemicals. If it exceeds 25 kilograms (e.g., DJI Agras T40, T25, T50, or XAG), you must apply for special approval from the Minister of Transport / CAAT in addition to NBTC registration. Models whose weight does not exceed this threshold follow the normal procedures of both agencies.
Taking paid jobs spraying with a drone — what additional permission is required beyond personal flying?
This falls under commercial flight as defined by CAAT. You must first hold a personal pilot licence, then apply for a UAS Operator Certificate through the UAS Portal, attaching company documents and an insurance policy that covers commercial work. And every time you take a job in a special area, you must request permission from the area owner or the local authority in advance.
What insurance coverage amount is required for agricultural drones?
CAAT sets a minimum of 1,000,000 baht per occurrence to be eligible to apply for a license, but spraying work carries a higher risk of causing damage to crops, livestock, and neighboring people than general flying. For commercial use, coverage of 5–10 million baht is therefore recommended.
How long is an agricultural drone license valid, and when must it be renewed?
The NBTC's คท.30 certificate is valid for the lifetime of that drone. The CAAT pilot licence is valid for 2 years, the aircraft certificate for 1 year, and third-party insurance for 1 year — renew the policy at least 30 days in advance, then update the new policy in the UAS Portal system. Details are in the article. How to renew your CAAT drone licence and keep your NBTC (คท.30) registration current
Can I fly spraying missions near an airport or near a community?
No — flying within a 9-kilometer radius of an airport is prohibited unless special permission is granted. Flying over crowds is prohibited. You must keep at least 30 meters from people and unrelated structures, fly only during the daytime, no higher than 90 meters, and if the plot is near a controlled zone, permission must be requested at least 15–30 days in advance.