NBTC Certification FAQ

NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission) certification is the Thai regulatory approval required before telecommunications and RF equipment can be legally imported, sold, or used in Thailand. Depending on the device type and frequency band, products must obtain either an SDoC, Class A Registration, or Class B Certification.

SDoC (Supplier's Declaration of Conformity) is a self-declaration path for lower-risk, low-power devices. The manufacturer declares conformity against an applicable NBTC technical standard — no NBTC review is required before market entry.

Class A (Registration) requires submitting an application and test reports to NBTC. NBTC reviews the submission and issues a Certificate of Registration.

Class B (Certification) is the most rigorous path, required for cellular and higher-risk equipment. NBTC review is mandatory, and approval takes the longest.

See the full breakdown at NBTC Certification Types.

Certification type is determined by the frequency band your device operates in, the applicable NBTC application category, and in some cases the transmit power level. Use the NBTC Certification Checker for a preliminary classification, or browse by product category at Find by Device. For confirmation on complex or multi-band devices, contact us for a Regulatory Consultation.

Yes. NBTC accepts test reports issued by accredited laboratories outside Thailand, provided the laboratory holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for the relevant test scope. The test report must cover the applicable NBTC technical standard — not just a home market standard such as FCC, CE, or MIC.

Yes. FCC (United States) and CE (European Union) approvals are not recognised by NBTC and do not substitute for Thai certification. Your existing test reports may be reusable if they cover the correct NBTC technical standard and were issued by an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory — but a separate NBTC application is always required.

Each NBTC application category has a corresponding NBTC Technical Standard (TS). For example, Wi-Fi 6E products are tested against NBTC TS 1039-2566, while LTE devices are tested against NBTC TS 1027-2560. The applicable standard depends on your device type and operating frequency. Zergo verifies test standard alignment as part of both the Pre-Submission Review and the core certification service.

For Class A and Class B applications, NBTC requires a Thai juristic person holding both an NBTC trade licence and an NBTC Supplier Code to file the application. This entity is the "local representative." The requirement is a legal filing condition — it does not mean the local rep manages your certification or communicates with NBTC on your behalf.

Zergo manages all application preparation, submission, and NBTC communication. The local rep requirement only affects whose credentials appear on the application.

Yes. Zergo can serve as your local representative for Class A and Class B applications, handling the legal filing requirement under our credentials. If you already have a local representative in Thailand — such as a distributor or importer — we can work with their documentation instead. In either case, Zergo handles all application preparation and NBTC communication.

No. SDoC is a manufacturer self-declaration and does not require a local representative with an NBTC trade licence or Supplier Code. Zergo can still assist with SDoC preparation to ensure the declaration and product labelling meet NBTC requirements.

Estimated timelines from the point of submission are:

• SDoC — approximately 1 week
• Class A (Registration) — approximately 5 weeks
• Class B (Certification) — approximately 6 weeks

These are estimates based on standard NBTC processing. Incomplete documentation or NBTC queries can extend the timeline. Zergo's document review process is designed to minimise delays before submission.

Core documents required across most applications include:

• Technical specification sheet or datasheet
• Product photos (external and label)
• Test reports covering the applicable NBTC technical standard
• ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation certificate of the testing laboratory (Class A and Class B)
• Authorisation declaration from the manufacturer

Specific applications may require additional documents. Zergo reviews all documentation before submission as part of the standard service.

The output depends on the certification path:

• SDoC — SDoC document and reference number
• Class A — Certificate of Registration and Registration Number
• Class B — Approval Certificate and Approval Number

Class A and Class B certified products must also display the official NBTC label, which is purchased from NBTC separately using the approval document and a quantity invoice.

Yes, for Class A and Class B certified products. The NBTC label must be affixed to the product and is purchased directly from NBTC after the certificate is issued, using the approval document and an invoice specifying the import quantity.

SDoC products do not carry an NBTC label but must display a conformity statement referencing the applicable NBTC technical standard.

Zergo manages the full certification process: documentation verification, application preparation, submission to NBTC, all NBTC communication, and delivery of your approval documents. We handle the complexity — you receive the completed certification.

Optional add-ons include a Pre-Submission Review (USD 150) and a Regulatory Consultation (USD 200), both deductible from the core service fee if you proceed. See the full details at NBTC Certification Service.

The Pre-Submission Review (USD 150) is an optional add-on where Zergo checks your existing documentation for completeness and verifies that test reports align with the applicable NBTC technical standard — before the formal application is prepared. This service is deductible from the core service fee if you proceed with certification through Zergo.

The Regulatory Consultation (USD 200) is a structured session for manufacturers who need guidance before committing to a certification path — for example, when product specifications are still being finalised or when a device operates across multiple bands. Clients submit their specifications in advance so the session is focused and productive. The fee is deductible from the core service fee if you proceed with certification through Zergo.

Yes. Contact us with details of the products you need certified and we will provide a scope and timeline. Multi-product submissions are common for manufacturers entering the Thai market with a product range.