Drone owners have four days to register their devices or face up to five years in prison or a 100,000-baht fine.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) issued an order in October that all owners of unmanned aerial vehicles must register their devices within 90 days, with a deadline of Jan 9.
The three channels through which drone owners can register are the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), the NBTC headquarters and its 21 provincial offices, and police stations nationwide.
NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said 7,064 drones were registered as of Jan 3, with 2,970 registered at the NBTC headquarters in Bangkok, 3,388 at NBTC provincial offices and 706 via the CAAT.
The NBTC has yet to receive figures on the number of drones registered at police stations.
Users of non-registered drones will violate the Communication Radio Act. Punishment includes imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding 100,000 baht or both.
"We reiterate that the rule is to safeguard the peace of people and protect the Kingdom," Mr Takorn said.
According to NBTC data, Thailand has about 50,000 imported drones. The devices are increasingly popular for various services and activities.
Under a previous Transport Ministry rule, 350 drones were registered since 2015.
Mr Takorn said the NBTC needs to optimise the regulatory system for drone shops and individuals who own the devices.
Shops that import drones must register with an official form, a picture of the device and a copy of the ID card of the registrant.
Drone owners have to fill in their name, surname and the drone's serial number, and include a picture of the registered drone and a copy of their ID card.
