AMATEUR RADIO LICENSING IN
Updated
The responsible body for supervising
amateur radio licensing and operations in
RAST can provide information
regarding the detailed nature of these reciprocal agreements and to faciliate
contact with the authorities.
{Under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King}
This is the national radio society of
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.
Please note that RAST is an entirely voluntary
organisation, with no paid staff. Therefore RAST cannot undertake to process
individual licenses or permits for members beyond giving advice and providing
supporting documentation.
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 HS0ZDZ. At present the station is not
operational due to building construction work.
For foreigners three forms of operating licenses
exist:
These are described in detail below.
The operator licence is then issued as either :
In addition to the operator Licence,
you will need an equipment Licence for each transceiver, and a station
licence if you want to operate from home or your rented accommodation.
These three licenses are described in more detail below.
If you are a citizen of one
of these countries, and you are planning to live and/or work in
For general information on the licensing process you
can contact RAST (see section 3) who can give guidance and latest information.
If you decide to apply for a licence it is stongly recommended that you become
a member of RAST in which case more detailed information can be given to help
you, including a supporting letter. (Please see information elsewhere on the
web-site on how to become a member).
The PTD does not deal with licence applications from
overseas by post, personal visits have to be made to the Head Office in
If you have a Thai friend or amateur who is willing to
visit the PTD for you to process your licence and permits, you can obtain
and complete a “proxy form” from the same office. If you decide to delegate
your responsibility to another person in this way, RAST cannot accept any
responsibility for the outcome, and will not investigate any problems that may
arise.
If you decide to process the licence yourself and you
are a RAST member we can check your documentation for you and give you advice
and help but this will not normally extend to making visits to the PTD Office
on your behalf. Normally, several visits to the PTD are necessary to secure
your operating licence, and then your follow-on permits.
The following countries are believed
to be either preparing or are in the process of submitting diplomatic requests
for a reciprocal licence with
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Several years ago, the PTD issued interim (temporary)
licenses (HS0/home call) to foreigners from countries whose
administrations were negotiating Reciprocal Agreements with the PTD or
were on special Government business. This arrangement has now been withdrawn by
the PTD, who will not normally issue any new interim/temporary licenses to
foreigners. However, you may hear some of these licensees still active.
Exceptionnally special licenses may be issued of this format. These licenses
are in the form of formal written docuements, similar to the Reciprocal
Licenses.
The Radio Amateur Society of
Thailand (RAST) has been granted a concession 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 HS0ZDZ <Email<[email protected]> ( fax +66
(0)37 328 042,) or Tony Waltham, HS0ZDX, RAST's International Affairs Director
Email < [email protected]> at +66 (0)2 240 3666 as soon as possible prior to
your arrival in Bangkok. They will inform you about the arrangements.
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 operating licence in Thailand, you
need an import permit for transceivers, PTD inspection,
registration, and equipment licence before it can
be used. It can only be used at a location which has a station licence
This is first and easiest licence to obtain and the
one that grants the call sign. Usually this is in the form HS0Zxx for a
reciprocal licence. A few exceptional cases exist of the HS0/home call series,
but are not normally issed at this time. This licence has to be obtained before
applying for an import permit, equipment licence,
and station licence
This operator licence
can only be used at a location with a station licence, using
transceivers with an equipment licence assigned to that station.
However it therefore allows a visitor to operate from another licensed amateurs
station. The practice in Thailand is to use the operators licence
call sign of the operator no matter which station he or she is operating from.
An amateur with an operator license can also operate from a licensed
Club Station
The five big steps:
Decide if you are eligible for a reciprocal
licence by reading this document carefully. If you are unsure contact the RAST
International Secretary.
Obtain the application forms In
person from the Post Telegraph Department (PTD), Amateur Radio Licensing
Department, or by Email, or Snail Mail from the RAST International Secretary.
Normally the following forms are
supplied by RAST as a set:
· a
list of documents required
· An
application form in English Language
· An
application form in Thai Language
· A
proxy form to appoint a Thai citizen to process the licence on your behalf.
Take the forms to the RAST office and formally register
your application . This is a Government requirement, and you will be given
a copy of the registration form to submit with your application. This service
is given free of charge by RAST. It is also possible to process an application
registration at a table in the canteen at the PTD office, this service is also
provided free of charge by the Volunteer Radio Association (VRA).
You will also need a supporting letter
from RAST. If you are already a RAST member this speeds the process up since
you will probably be already known to members. Otherwise there could be a short
delay while your are “screened”. This is nothing sinister, but we do have to
verify your credentials and that you are a responsible person. It also helps if
you can advise the RAST International Secretary of your intention to submit
documents and apply for a supporting letter, so that preparations can be made
before your visit to the office.
If you would like to join RAST and this is highly
recommended so that you can keep abreast of licensing requirments etc.
foreigners normally take out a life membership which is 2,100 baht (about US$48),
or if it is a short-term visit the dues are 300 baht for annual membership.
Please check elsewhere on the web-site or with the International Secretary for
details of how to join RAST.
The following documents are needed for your Reciprocal
Operating Licence application:
· passport photos
1" x 1" not wearing dark glasses or a hat.
v
If resident in Thailand on grounds of marriage, please bring a copy of your
marriage registration certificate, and a copy of a name change certificate if
this applies.
v
If you are applying on grounds of working in Thailand you should provide a copy
of your work permit and/or a letter from your office or company certifying that
you are required to work in Thailand on a regular basis.
v
If you are retiring or retired in Thailand you should be prepared to show
immigration documents or other evidence of this.
v
If you will be regularly visiting or staying in Thailand for any other reason,
you will need to provide substantive evidence in the form of a letter of
certification from a professional person or organisation
v
RAST ADVICE: You should provide if possible a simple single document certifying
your status in Thailand.
Take all of your documents in person
to the Amateur Radio Licensing Section of the Post Telegraph Department, and
submit them. If your application is in order they will normally ask you to
collect the license from their office within a few days.
The next stage would be to request an equipment
importation permit or to purchase a registered transceiver in Thailand from
another amateur, or to purchase VHF equpment from a shop in Thailand
Then a licence to use the equipment is required. This
requires submission of the transceiver for testing and inspection by the PTD
staff, accompanied by customs clearance documentation, if it is imported.
It helps if you are importing a transceiver which has
already been approved by PTD, and RAST keeps an approved rig list
on this web site. A wide range of VHF equipment is approved, a list would be
too unweildy to maintain. However bare in mind that the legal power output on 2
metres is 10 watts. The legal power output for HF is 200 watts. VHF equipment
is widely stocked in Bangkok amteur radio shops and prices are reasonable. The
shopkeeper will usually process the equipment Licence for you as
part of the purchase as long as you have your operator licence
Even if the rig is on the approved list, it has to be
submitted along with the manufacturers specification, and appropriate customs
processing documentation, and the importation documentation. The rig is then
checked agains specficiation. If approved a registration label is affixed to
the rig.
An import licence can be requested from the PTD, after
your operating licence has been issued and when you have identified the
transceiver which you desire to import.
This requires an application form to be filled in, and
submitted with details of the proposed transceiver which is to be imported.
i.e. Detailed specification in the English language, diagrams, operating and
servicing handbook if possible. The rig can then be imported, and processed
through the Customs Department then taken to PTD where it will be inspected and
tested. A registration label will be stuck on the rig. a "licence to
use” (equipment licence) will be issued, if it complies with the
specification submitted earlier. Please note, that if it is proposed to import
a transceiver it will facilitate the process if the frequency coverage complies
with frequency bands allocated in Thailand. Please see the frequency band
schedule shown on this web-site.
The final steps if you want to operate from your home
or temporary accommodations are:
Ray Gerrard
HS0ZDZ
Station Manager HS0AC
The President of RAST is Khun
Mayuree Chotikul, HS1YL, Telephone +66 (0)2 618 4435-7 Fax - Extension 13.
(during Thailand office hours GMT +7 hours)
RAST Office
23/12 Soi Chalernpon 2
Padiphat Road 6
Samsennai
Paiyathai
Bangkok 10400
Office Hours – Monday to Friday
0900 – 1600, Please confirm by
telephone in advance.
Address for Correspondence
RAST
PO Box 2008
Bangkok
10501
Thailand
Ray Gerrard HS0ZDZ
RAST Secretary (International)
PO Box 69
Bangkok Airport Post Office
Bangkok, 10112, Thailand
Email: [email protected]
Tel +66 (0)37 328 041
Fax +66 (0)37 328 042
Amateur Radio Licensing Department
Posts and Telegraph Department
Soi Sailom
Phaholyothin Road
Bangkok
Telephone Number 02 278 0151 (General Inquiries)
The licensing Section is in the 2 storey building just
past the canteen and is on the second floor.
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Issued by RAST International Secretary 6 th August
2003.
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