Nationwide drone flight restriction lifted from August 16 to August 31, 2025.

Announcement of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand Re: Prohibition of Operating or Releasing Unmanned Aircraft, specifically Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Drone) in Areas that May Affect National Security During the Thailand – Cambodia Border Situation (No. 4) B.E. 2568 (2025 A.D.)

Whereas the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) issued Announcement No. 2, B.E. 2568 (2025), announced on July 30, 2025, which was effective until August 15, 2025; and (whereas) Announcement No. 3, B.E. 2568 (2025), announced on August 8, 2025, further imposed an absolute prohibition on any person operating or releasing civilian unmanned aircraft (Drone) for all purposes in all areas throughout the Kingdom, but granted an exception for agricultural flight operations under specified conditions, restrictions, and areas.

However, the situation following the entry into force of the said announcement has been closely monitored, with an analysis of the impact on people's lives, coupled with continuous monitoring and evaluation of the Thailand-Cambodia border situation together with relevant security agencies. It was found that the overall situation has shown a tendency to ease to a level where control measures for the operation or release of civilian unmanned aircraft (Drone) could be partially relaxed, while still maintaining the highest priority for national security, public order, and the safety of security operations in the border areas. Therefore, to allow the daily lives of the public and various business operations to return close to normal, while simultaneously maintaining preventative measures against the operation or release of unmanned aircraft (Drone) that may affect security, it is deemed appropriate to stipulate that the operation or release of civilian unmanned aircraft (Drone) for all purposes can be conducted under strict conditions and restrictions.

By virtue of Section 24 of the Air Navigation Act B.E. 2497 (1954) and its amendments, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport Order No. 293/2568 Re: Assignment of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand to act on behalf of the Minister of Transport, ordered on March 7, B.E. 2568 (2025), which assigned the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand through the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand to act pursuant to Section 24 of the Air Navigation Act B.E. 2497 (1954) and its amendments on behalf of the Minister of Transport in granting permission to operate or release unmanned aircraft, the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand hereby issues the following announcement:

ข้อ ๑
ให้ยกเลิกประกาศสำนักงานการบินพลเรือนแห่งประเทศไทย เรื่อง ห้ามบังคับหรือปล่อยอากาศยานซึ่งไม่มีนักบิน ประเภทอากาศยานที่ควบคุมการบินจากภายนอก (Drone) ในพื้นที่ที่อาจกระทบต่อความมั่นคงของประเทศในช่วงสถานการณ์ชายแดนไทย – กัมพูชา (ฉบับที่ ๓) พ.ศ. ๒๕๖๘ ประกาศ ณ วันที่ ๘ สิงหาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๖๘

Clause 2
Permission is granted for persons who comply with Clause 3 to operate or release unmanned aircraft, specifically Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Drone), for civilian use for all purposes in all areas throughout the Kingdom, except for areas where flight operations are still prohibited under Clause 4, and such persons must comply with the conditions and restrictions for flight operations specified in Clause 5.

Clause 3
Persons who are authorized to operate or release unmanned aircraft, specifically Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Drone), under this announcement must strictly comply with the Ministry of Transport Notification Re: Criteria for Requesting Permission and Conditions for Operating or Releasing Remotely Piloted Aircraft B.E. 2558 (2015) or the Ministry of Transport Notification Re: Criteria for Requesting Permission and Conditions for Operating or Releasing Remotely Piloted Aircraft Weighing More Than 25 Kilograms B.E. 2567 (2024), as the case may be. They shall be permitted to conduct flight operations when:

(1) Hold a non-expired registration document for the operator or pilot of the unmanned aircraft, specifically Remotely Piloted Aircraft.
(2) Have a registration for the unmanned aircraft, specifically Remotely Piloted Aircraft, specifying the purpose of the flight operation.
(3) Submit an application for flight operation permission to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) via the UAS Portal application or uasportal.caat.or.th.
(4) Have no history of violation or revocation of the registration document for the unmanned aircraft operator/pilot or the flight operation permission document.
(5) Hold a copy of the insurance policy detailing coverage for damage to the body, life, and property of a third party, which is still valid and covers the period requested for the flight operation, with the third-party coverage amount as prescribed by law.

When the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has verified the information pursuant to the first paragraph and found it to be correct and complete, permission will be granted for the unmanned aircraft, specifically Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Drone), to conduct flight operations according to the conditions, restrictions, and areas specified in this announcement.

Clause 4
The operation or release of civilian unmanned aircraft, specifically Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Drone), remains absolutely prohibited for all purposes in the following areas that may affect the maintenance of security, public order, and national stability during the Thailand – Cambodia border situation:

(1) Airspace areas according to permanently prohibited areas, specifically prohibited areas, and danger areas, and as announced in the Aeronautical Information Publication – Thailand (AIP Thailand).

(ก) VTP7 SATTAHIP (บริเวณฐานทัพเรือสัตหีบ จังหวัดชลบุรี)

(ข) VTP36 KHAO SOIDAO TAI (บริเวณจังหวัดจันทบุรี)

(ค) VTP37 KHAO KHLONG OA (บริเวณจังหวัดตราด)

(ต) VTP38 KO CHANG – KO KHUD (บริเวณจังหวัดตราด)

(จ) VTD16 RATCHABURI AREA 2 (บริเวณจังหวัดราชบุรี)

(ฉ) VTD30 WEST NAKHON RATCHASIMA (บริเวณจังหวัดสุรินทร์ จังหวัดบุรีรัมย์ และนครราชสีมา)

(ช) VTD32 NAKHON RATCHASIMA (บริเวณจังหวัดนครราชสีมา)

(ซ) VTD34 PHETCHABUN, PHICHIT (บริเวณจังหวัดเพชรบูรณ์และจังหวัดพิจิตร)

(ฌ) VTD40 KABIN BURI/WATTANA NAKHON, PRACHIN BURI (บริเวณจังหวัดปราจีนบุรีและจังหวัดสระแก้ว)

(ญ) VTD43 LOP BURI (บริเวณจังหวัดนครราชสีมา และจังหวัดลพบุรี)

(ฎ) VTD45 UBON, SI SA KET (บริเวณจังหวัดศรีสะเกษ)

(ฏ) VTD46 NAKHON RATCHASIMA (บริเวณจังหวัดนครราชสีมา)

(ฐ) VTD53 PHITSANULOK (บริเวณจังหวัดนครสวรรค์)

(ฑ) VTD54 UBON (บริเวณจังหวัดอุบลราชธานี)

(ฒ) VTD55 UBON (บริเวณจังหวัดอุบลราชธานี)

(ณ) VTR62 EASTERN AREA (บริเวณจังหวัดสระแก้ว จังหวัดตราด จังหวัดบุรีรัมย์ จังหวัดศรีสะเกษ จังหวัดจันทบุรี และจังหวัดสุรินทร์)

(2) Areas where martial law has been declared, or areas where troops are stationed or ground operations are taking place, namely Sa Kaeo province, Trat province, Buriram province, Sisaket province, Chanthaburi province, Surin province, and Ubon Ratchathani province.
(3) The area of Sattahip district, Chonburi province, and Mueang district, Rayong province.
(4) Areas within a distance of nine kilometers (five nautical miles) from all airports or temporary aircraft landing sites.
(5) Areas that security agencies specifically announce as additional prohibited areas.

In this regard, the areas under (1), (2), (3), and (4) are detailed in the appendix attached to this announcement.

Item 5
A person who is permitted to operate or release an unmanned aircraft (Drone) that is externally controlled, according to this announcement, must comply with the following conditions and limitations for flight operations:

(1) Must report the flight operation area, date and time, and purpose of the flight operation at least 3 days in advance before every flight operation through the following channels:
(a) Report to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand via the UAS Portal application or uasportal.caat.or.th, and
(b) Report to the Anti-Unmanned Aircraft (Drone) Center, Metropolitan Police Bureau (SorTorOr.Nor.) via electronic mail: [email protected]
(2) Flight operations must be conducted at an altitude not exceeding 90 meters (300 feet)
(3) Flight operations must only be conducted between 06:00 a.m. and 06:00 p.m. Night flights are strictly prohibited under any circumstances.

Flight operations in areas other than those under Item 4 that differ from the conditions and limitations under (2), or flight operations that differ from other conditions as stipulated in Item 17 of the Ministry of Transport Notification Re: Criteria for Requesting Permission and Conditions for Operating or Releasing Unmanned Aircraft, Externally Controlled Aircraft Type, B.E. 2558 (2015) or Item 21 of the Ministry of Transport Notification Re: Criteria for Requesting Permission and Conditions for Operating or Releasing Unmanned Aircraft, Externally Controlled Aircraft Type with a Weight Exceeding 25 Kilograms, B.E. 2567 (2024), as the case may be, shall request to operate differently from the stipulated conditions to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand through the UAS Portal channel or uasportal.caat.or.th

Item 6
Violators shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, a fine not exceeding forty thousand baht, or both, in accordance with Section 78 (1) of the Air Navigation Act, B.E. 2497 (1954) and its amendments. Furthermore, military personnel are authorized to destroy the aircraft from the ground in accordance with Section 10 (3) of the Act on Dealing with Aircraft Committing Unlawful Acts, B.E. 2553 (2010), or the assigned state security agencies are authorized to take countermeasures against the unmanned aircraft (Drone) that is externally controlled and violates this announcement, including the use of an Anti-Drone System.

Item 7
Any person who sees or is aware of the operation or release of an unmanned aircraft (Drone) that is externally controlled in violation of this announcement must report the information, including the date, time, location of the sighting, the characteristics of the drone, and photographs or video clips (if available), to the responsible agency as soon as possible through one of the following channels:

(1) Unmanned Aircraft System Standards and Technology Development Division
Unmanned Aircraft Standards Section, The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand
Telephone 02-568-8851
Electronic mail: [email protected]

(2) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Anti-Drone Center, Police General Command (SATO-N)
Phone: 02-126-7846
Email: [email protected]

(3) Emergency reporting centers near the area, such as the local police station, military unit, or security agency responsible for that area.

Item 8
The operation or release of unmanned aircraft (Drone) that is externally controlled by the Royal Thai Armed Forces, the Royal Thai Police, the Customs Department, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the National Intelligence Agency can be conducted in accordance with the authority and responsibility of the respective agencies.

In order to support and facilitate the operations of security agencies, if the aviation operations of the Customs Department, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment are within areas that may impact the security, orderliness, and stability of the country in the Thai-Cambodian border situation as outlined in point 4, cooperation is requested to provide advance notice of the flight operations, including the operational area, date and time, altitude, and purpose of the flight, before each operation via the following channels:
(a) Notify the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand via the UAS Portal application or uasportal.caat.or.th, and
(b) Notify the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Anti-Drone Center, Police General Command (SATO-N), via email: [email protected] , and
(c) Notify the military units or security agencies responsible for that area.

This will be effective from August 16, 2025, to August 31, 2025, or until a further announcement is made to the contrary.

Announced on August 15, 2025.

พลอากาศเอก
(มนัท ชวนะประยูร)
ผู้อำนวยการสำนักงานการบินพลเรือนแห่งประเทศไทย