{"id":499,"date":"2026-10-17T16:09:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T09:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orbitcine.com\/?p=499"},"modified":"2026-10-17T16:16:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T09:16:53","slug":"hire-drone-permission-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orbitcine.com\/en\/hire-drone-permission-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiring a Drone Team: Do You Need a Permit, and What Should You Check?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Quick answer<\/strong> When you hire a drone team for a standard shoot, you don't need to apply for any permit yourself. The team must be registered as drone operators with CAAT, have their drones registered with the NBTC, and carry third-party liability insurance. If the job requires flying outside the general conditions\u2014such as above 90 meters, near an airport, at night, or with FPV goggles\u2014the team must obtain Specific Category approval from CAAT before flying. As the client, you take care of consent from the property owner.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The question clients ask most before booking is whether they need to get permission from anyone first. The answer depends on whether the job can be flown within the general conditions, and in 2026 CAAT issued a new announcement for flights that differ from those conditions. This article explains in plain terms what the pilot team is responsible for, what the client is responsible for, and what to check before hiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not sure whether your job needs a permit?<\/p>

Send the location and type of job for the team to check first, free of charge. The team will tell you which permits are needed and how long they take, and send a quote within one day.<\/p>

Send project details<\/a> Message LINE @orbitcine<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hiring a drone team: do you need to apply for permission yourself?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No. Flight permissions are the drone operator's responsibility. Paid aerial photography counts as commercial drone use, so the team must be registered as operators with CAAT and have the drone registered with the NBTC before taking the job. If the job falls within the general conditions, a registered team can fly without applying for extra permission each time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the client needs to handle is the location: consent from the owner or juristic person of the property, informing people involved on site, and permits for certain places that have their own filming rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General conditions that need no extra permission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 2015 Ministry of Transport announcement sets the basic flight conditions\u2014for example, flying between sunrise and sunset, flying no higher than 90 meters above ground, keeping the drone in the operator's direct line of sight at all times without flying by the onboard camera view, not flying within 9 kilometers of an airport unless authorized, and keeping the required distance from uninvolved people, vehicles and structures. Most shoots of land, homes, factories or resorts can be planned within these conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hiring a drone team: which jobs need extra permission?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

CAAT's 2026 announcement treats any flight that differs from the general conditions as a medium-risk operation, or Specific Category, which CAAT states took effect on 17 May 2026. The team must apply online and receive approval before flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type of job<\/th>Within the general conditions?<\/th>What the team must do<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Daytime aerial shots, no higher than 90 meters, drone always in sight<\/td>Yes<\/td>Fly under the existing registration and check no-fly zones before flight day<\/td><\/tr>
Flying above 90 meters<\/td>No<\/td>Obtain Specific Category approval before flying<\/td><\/tr>
Flying within 9 kilometers of an airport<\/td>No, unless authorized<\/td>Request permission in advance following the procedure for that area<\/td><\/tr>
Flying after sunset<\/td>No<\/td>Obtain Specific Category approval before flying<\/td><\/tr>
FPV video flown with goggles<\/td>No, because it is flown through the onboard camera<\/td>Obtain Specific Category approval before flying<\/td><\/tr>
Jobs that need to fly closer to people or buildings than allowed<\/td>No<\/td>Adjust the plan to stay within the conditions, or obtain Specific Category approval<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Applicants for this approval must complete a CAAT-recognized training course, the drone must be registered with its registration number marked on the airframe, and each application must state the purpose, date and time, area or coordinates, operator names and the insurance policy. CAAT may approve a single flight or a period of time, so clients should give as much notice as possible for jobs like these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No-fly zones and temporary restricted areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the flight conditions, there are permanent no-fly zones such as royal residences, military areas and other restricted areas, and at times CAAT announces additional temporary restricted areas\u2014for example, some districts in provinces along the Cambodian border. These announcements change from time to time, so the team must check the latest version before every job. For an overview, see  drone no-fly zone map by province <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What clients need to prepare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Consent from the property owner<\/strong> For housing estates, condominiums or projects, inform the juristic person or property manager before flight day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Permits for specific locations<\/strong> Places such as national parks, government sites or historic sites often have their own flight and filming rules; permission must come from the agency in charge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Coordinates and preferred dates and times<\/strong> Used to check no-fly zones and airport radius, and to assess whether extra permission is needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Inform people on site<\/strong> If staff, guests or event participants will be in the frame, let them know about the filming in line with personal data protection guidelines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. A backup day<\/strong> Allow for rain, strong wind or waiting for an approval.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Hiring a drone team: what to ask before you book<\/h2>\n\n\n\n