Drone permits in Thailand come from two authorities with different validity periods. The NBTC certificate (คท.30) is valid for the entire service life of that drone and has no renewal cycle, while the CAAT permit and the insurance policy are time-limited and must be renewed on schedule. If you let the CAAT permit or the insurance lapse, your flying can become illegal without you realising it. This article explains the validity periods, the steps and the documents you need to prepare.
How Long Is the NBTC Drone License Valid?
The radiocommunication equipment registration certificate (คท.30) is valid and therefore does not need periodic renewal — but if you change the aircraft or the radio specification, you must update the record in the system.for the lifetime of that drone
Summary of Drone License Validity in Thailand
- NBTC คท.30: Valid for the lifetime of that drone (update the record online at anyregis.nbtc.go.th if you change the aircraft or the radio specification)
- CAAT pilot license: Valid for 2 years; renew via DronePortal.
- CAAT aircraft certificate: Valid for 1 year; condition inspected annually.
- Third-party liability insurance: Valid for 1 year; renew together with RRCT
NBTC side (คท.30): no expiry date — act only when your details change
Step 1: log in to AnyRegis and check your registration details
Go to anyregis.nbtc.go.th, log in with your existing account, then verify that the drone details and Serial Number photos on file still match the aircraft you actually fly.
Step 2: file an update when you change aircraft or radio specification
คท.30 has no renewal cycle, so there is nothing to file in advance. However, if you change the drone, change the controller or change the radio specification, you must file an update and refresh the Serial Number photos so they match the equipment you actually fly.
Step 3: pay the fee (when filing an update or a transfer)
The 214 THB fee (VAT included) is the initial registration fee. Filing an update or a transfer incurs a further government fee at the rate set by the NBTC. Payment is by QR Code or PromptPay.
Let RRCT handle your drone registration end to end
RRCT handles everything in one go — NBTC registration updates, CAAT permit renewals and insurance — from ฿1,299.
Steps to renew the CAAT licence (DronePortal / UAS Portal)
Many people assume the NBTC คท.30 registration must also be renewed on a cycle, but in fact It is the CAAT side that must be maintained every year because both the pilot license and the insurance policy have a shorter validity. The steps are as follows
Step 1: renew the third-party liability insurance policy first.
CAAT requires third-party liability insurance with coverage of no less than for the entire time the license is valid. You should renew at least in advance so the policy never lapses for even a single day, because the day your insurance lapses = the day your license becomes unusable.1,000,000 baht30 days
Step 2: Update the new policy in the UAS Portal system
Log in to the system and attach the new policy (PDF file), specifying the policy number and the start–end dates of coverage. The system will keep it on record as proof that your license is still backed by insurance.
Step 3: Apply to renew the pilot license
Check your personal information, license number, and flight history thoroughly before submitting the renewal. If the information does not match your ID card or passport, the application may be rejected and you will have to start over.
Step 4: Keep the renewal proof with you
Once approved, download the new license/certificate and keep it on your phone, and print one copy to keep in your drone bag. Officials may ask to inspect it on every flight.
Comparison table: how NBTC registration upkeep differs from CAAT renewal
| Topic | NBTC — คท.30 | CAAT — pilot/aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| What it oversees | The radio frequencies of the aircraft and the remote controller | Flight safety, the pilot, and the aircraft. |
| Channel | anyregis.nbtc.go.th | CAAT's DronePortal / UAS Portal |
| Government fees | 214 THB (initial registration) | At present, no fee is being charged. |
| What must be attached | Photo of the Serial Number of the aircraft and the remote controller (if there are changes) | A new third-party liability insurance policy with coverage ≥ 1,000,000 baht. |
| Application window | No renewal cycle — file an update when you change aircraft or radio specification | Should be done at least 30 days in advance (tied to the policy's validity period). |
Drone insurance renewal: the part people most often forget
Third-party liability insurance is valid for only , and is a mandatory condition of CAAT registration — meaning even if your other licenses have not yet expired, if the insurance lapses for a single day, your registration status immediately becomes incomplete.1 year
Checklist before the insurance expiry date
- Note the policy end date in your calendar and set a reminder 45 days in advance.
- Verify that the third-party coverage is still no less than 1,000,000 baht.
- If you also have hull (aircraft-body) insurance, check that the insured value of the aircraft still matches the current price.
- Once you have the new policy, it is not enough to just keep the file on your deviceMust also be updated in the CAAT system.
For details on the differences between the two types of insurance, read more at How are third-party drone liability insurance and hull insurance different?
What happens if you let your license expire and keep flying?
Flying a drone without a license that is still valid is an offense under and , which carries a maximum penalty of up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine of not more than 100,000 baht, or both. And if damage occurs to a third party, an expired insurance policy will provide no coverage whatsoever — you must bear full responsibility yourself.Radio Communication ActAir Navigation Act
In addition, letting it expire and applying anew may be counted as , not a renewal — which requires submitting the full set of documents and takes much longer than a normal renewal. Read the penalty details atRe-registrationPenalties and fines for flying an unregistered drone
Common mistakes when managing registration and permits (and how to avoid them)
- Assuming คท.30 must be renewed on a cycle: The คท.30 certificate has no expiry date. What you must do is file an update when you change aircraft or radio specification. The items that genuinely run on a cycle are the CAAT permit (2 years) and the insurance (1 year).
- Renewing insurance later than the license: This creates a gap in coverage; the insurance should be renewed first, then the CAAT application filed.
- Forgot to update the policy into the CAAT system: Renewed the insurance but did not upload it = the system still sees it as the old, expired policy.
- Unclear Serial Number photo: It is one of the top reasons applications get rejected. Photograph it so every digit is fully visible — not blurry, not reflecting light.
- Changed the aircraft/remote controller without notifying: The new Serial Number must be updated in the system; otherwise, the license will not cover the equipment actually in use.
- Sold the drone but did not transfer the name: The previous owner remains legally bound. See the steps at Transferring ownership of a second-hand drone
Should you renew it yourself, or is it better to use a service?
The NBTC side has no renewal cycle, so there is no deadline to remember. What you really need to manage is Syncing the insurance term with the CAAT license which requires keeping two systems in sync on time, and becomes more complex when you own several drones
RRCT takes care of this for both agencies in a single round, and arranges a new policy aligned with the cycle, so you don't have to remember the schedule yourself. Send photos and documents via LINE and our team will review them free of charge when you actually file. You can see all the documents you need to prepare at Documents required for drone registration
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do drone registration and permits have to be handled with both authorities?
The two must be handled separately. The NBTC covers the radio frequencies of the aircraft and the controller; the คท.30 certificate is valid for the entire service life of that drone and has no renewal cycle (filed via anyregis.nbtc.go.th, initial registration fee 214 THB). CAAT covers the pilot and the aircraft, and requires third-party liability insurance of at least 1,000,000 THB. Handling only one of the two is still incomplete.
How far in advance should I start?
Start with the insurance policy about 30–45 days ahead, because CAAT requires a policy that is still in force when it assesses the application; then submit the permit renewal. On the NBTC side (คท.30) there is no expiry date and no renewal cycle, so nothing needs filing in advance — except when you change aircraft or radio specification, which requires an update in the AnyRegis system. Acting ahead closes any gap in coverage.
If your license has already expired and you only just realized it, what should you do?
Stop flying immediately until the renewal is complete, then log in to the system to file a renewal or a new application as the system requires, because flying while the license has lapsed violates the Radio Communication Act and the Civil Aviation Act, which carry penalties of up to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to 100,000 THB — and an expired insurance policy will not cover any damage whatsoever.
Switching to a new drone or buying an extra remote controller — do you need to renew or register anew?
The declared Serial Number must match the equipment actually in use. If you replace the aircraft or add a remote controller, you must update the information and the Serial Number photos in the system to match. Otherwise, the license will not cover the equipment you are flying, and you risk being regarded as operating an unregistered aircraft.
Can RRCT handle both the NBTC and CAAT sides? What documents are needed?
Yes. RRCT handles both authorities in one round — filing NBTC registration updates when something changes, and renewing the CAAT permit together with a new insurance policy. The main documents are your ID card (or passport for foreigners), Serial Number photos of the aircraft and the controller, and your existing policy if you have one. Send them via LINE @DroneServiceTH and our team will check them free of charge before the actual filing.
Summary
A drone license in Thailand is not a single document that covers everything — you must handle both the NBTC side (radio frequency) and the CAAT side (pilot + aircraft + insurance). The most commonly missed point is letting the third-party insurance policy lapse, which immediately renders the CAAT license incomplete even if the other documents are still valid. Set reminders at least 30 days in advance, verify that the Serial Number matches the actual device, and keep proof of approval with you every time you fly. If you don't want to keep track of multiple schedules yourself, RRCT is ready to take care of both agencies for you in one go.