The responsible body for supervising amateur radio licensing and operations in Thailand is the Post and Telegraph Department (PTD) of the Ministry of Communication and Transport of the Royal Thai Government.
The PTD has granted a concession to the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) to permit visiting amateurs licensed by their home countries, on Government business, or as guests of RAST, to operate the RAST club station HS0AC for a limited period without the need to get advance permission from the PTD. You should contact Ray Gerrard, RAST Secretary International HS0/G3NOM Email<g3nom@rast.or.th> ( fax +66 (0)37 328 042,) or Tony Waltham, HS0/G4UAV, RAST's International Affairs Director Email < dx@thai.com> at +66 (0)2 240 3666 as soon as possible prior to your arrival in Bangkok. They will inform you about the arrangements.
If you are a US or Swiss citizen, and you are planning to live and/or work in Thailand, or if your business takes you there regularly, you can apply for a reciprocal operating permit, You must be licensed in your home country. You can obtain a Thai license and call-sign providing equivalent privileges. Similar agreements with Austria, Canada, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom in negotiation.. A Reciprocal Licensee is normally issued with a call sign in the series HS0Z..
In order to begin the licensing process it is recommended that you contact RAST (as above) who can give guidance on the process, and provide supporting documentation.
The PTD has requested RAST to help check documentation before submission.
If you prefer to deal with the PTD direct, you should take two passport-sized photographs, a copy of your home country amateur radio license, and your passport with photocopies of your Thai visa and the personal information page of your passport to the Licensing Department, Posts and Telegraph Department, Soi Sailom, Phaholyothin Road, Bangkok.
In recent years, the PTD has issued interim (temporary) licenses (HS0/home call) to foreigners from countries whose authorities were negotiating Reciprocal Agreements with the PTD. This arrangement has now been withdrawn by the PTD, who will not normally issue any new interim/temporary licenses to foreigners.
Important!! do not bring your own equipment to Thailand without first obtaining an import permit. This applies to all transceivers, even handhelds. It is illegal to possess such equipment in Thailand without having proper documentation from Thai authorities. Even if you have a valid amateur radio licence in Thailand, you need an import permit for transceivers, PTD inspection and registration before it can be used. RAST Officers will explain to you how to obtain the necessary permit.
RADIO AMATEUR SOCIETY OF THAILAND (RAST)
This is the national radio society of Thailand, the member society of the International Amateur Radio Union. Meetings are held on the first Sunday of every month at 11:00 A.M. at the Sena Place, 17 Phaholyothin Soi 11, (Soi Senaruam), Bangkok, 10100,
Telephone +(66 (0)2) 271 4410 and 271 4424-8 .
The current President of RAST is Khun Mayuree Chotikul, HS1YL, Telephone +66 (0)2 618 4435-7 Fax - Extension 13. (during office hours)
The RAST Club Station is HS0AC at the Asian Institute of Technology, about 20 minutes drive North of the Airport in Bangkok. . The HS0AC Station Manager is Ray Gerrard HS0/G3NOM. Direct Telephone Line HS0AC . +66 (0)2 524 6291.
Issued by RAST 1st February 2001.