Thailand
Thailand has full freedom of panorama, but its data-protection law makes publishing identifiable people without consent risky.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Thailand Film Office (Department of Tourism) for commercial shoots; site managers for temples and attractions
Cost: No permit for personal photography; commercial shoots need notification or permission, and heritage sites charge fees
Personal and tourist photography in public needs no permit. The Grand Palace and major temples allow outdoor photos but ban interior shots, tripods, flash, and drones. Be cautious around government, royal, and military sites.
Drone / airspace
Camera drones must be registered with both CAAT and the NBTC and carry liability insurance
Fly only in daylight within visual line of sight. For depth, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes to photograph, but the Personal Data Protection Act treats an identifiable image as personal data
Publishing or commercially using a person's image without consent can carry civil and criminal liability; get a release.
Freedom of panorama
Full
The Copyright Act permits photographing public artworks and monuments (Section 37) and architecture regardless of location (Section 38), with no non-commercial restriction. You can legally sell images of public buildings, monuments, and sculptures.
Practical notes
- At the Grand Palace and temples, shoot outdoors only; no interior photos at the Emerald Buddha chapel, and dress codes apply.
- Register any camera drone with CAAT and the NBTC before flying, and permit commercial shoots through the Thailand Film Office.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: