Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) Guide (2026): Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Thailand Digital Arrival: If you are Travelling to Thailand in 2026? The traditional blue-and-white paper TM.6 arrival card is officially a thing of the past. Before you arrive, there is one important piece of online paperwork you need to know about: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC).
All non-Thai nationals entering the Kingdom by air, land, or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) prior to immigration clearance.
Fortunately, completing it is fairly straightforward. The official Thailand Digital Arrival Card is free, takes only a few minutes when you have your information ready, and can be completed online before you travel.
Whether you are entering visa-free, using a tourist visa, or holding a long-term option like the DTV, completing this digital form is mandatory.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the TDAC process step by step, explain when you should submit it, what information you’ll need and what to do if your flight or hotel changes.
Important: The TDAC is an arrival card — it is not a visa. Your visa or visa-exemption requirements are separate.
What Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card, usually shortened to TDAC, is Thailand’s online arrival-registration system for international travelers.
It replaces the old paper arrival card that many regular Thailand visitors will remember completing during their flight.
All non-Thai nationals entering Thailand are required to submit their travel information before entering the country. This applies whether you arrive by aircraft, cross a land border or arrive by sea.
You complete the form online, submit your details and receive your TDAC electronically.
Key Requirements At-a-Glance
- Official Portal:
tdac.immigration.go.th Submission Window: Within 72 hours (3 days) prior to your arrival date.
Official Cost: 100% FREE.
Format: Receive a PDF with a unique QR code to present on your phone or print out.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who needs a TDAC? | Non-Thai nationals entering Thailand |
| Does it apply to air arrivals? | Yes |
| Does it apply to land borders? | Yes |
| Does it apply to sea arrivals? | Yes |
| Do children need one? | Yes |
| Is TDAC a visa? | No |
| How much does the official TDAC cost? | Free |
| When can I submit it? | Within 3 days before arrival, including your arrival date |
| Do I need a new TDAC for another entry? | Yes |
| Can families submit together? | Yes, up to 10 travelers in one submission |
These requirements are confirmed in the current Thailand Immigration Bureau TDAC guidance.
Scam Warning: TDAC is Always Free
The Thai Immigration Bureau does not charge any application, processing, or administrative fees for the Digital Arrival Card.
Do not pay for third-party websites or mobile apps charging $30–$50 to file this form on your behalf. Always verify that you are on the official government domain ending in .go.th/
What Information You Need Before Applying
Have the following details ready before opening the application window:
Passport Information: Full name (exact spelling as shown on the machine-readable zone strip), passport number, nationality, and date of birth.
Travel Logistics: Arrival date, mode of transport (air, land, or sea), port of entry (e.g., Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket), and flight/vehicle number.
Thailand Accommodation: Full address or name and city/province of your hotel, resort, or apartment stay.
Health Declaration: List of countries or territories visited in the 14 days prior to entering Thailand.
- Purpose of travel
- Health declaration information where required
- An email address for receiving your TDAC
Having your passport, flight confirmation and first accommodation booking beside you should make the process considerably easier.
Thailand TDAC Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Step 1: Access the Official Portal
Visit the official Thailand Immigration Bureau TDAC website.
Submit your TDAC through Thailand Immigration
Select the option to submit an Arrival Card.
You can submit individually or use the group submission system if you’re travelling together.
Step 2: Enter Personal Details
Enter your personal information exactly as required.
The system supports retrieving passport information by scanning the passport’s machine-readable zone (MRZ) or uploading an MRZ image. If you use this feature, Thailand Immigration advises checking the retrieved information carefully.
Don’t rush this part.
Check names, passport information, nationality and date of birth carefully against your passport.
Step 3: Input Flight & Accommodation Data
Next, enter the details of your journey to Thailand.
This includes information such as your arrival date and flight or other transportation information.
Use the details from your actual booking rather than relying on memory.
Still researching flights to Thailand?
Step 4: Enter Your Accommodation in Thailand
You’ll be asked for your accommodation information in Thailand.
For most tourists, this will be their hotel or other accommodation after arriving.
Keep the address from your booking confirmation handy so you can enter the information accurately.
If you’re travelling around Thailand and staying in several places, don’t panic because you’ve got Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket hotels booked. The form asks for accommodation information for your arrival in Thailand; follow the fields shown in the current official system.
Step 5: Complete the Health Declaration
The TDAC also incorporates health-related information.
Depending on factors such as where you’ve recently travelled, your nationality, where you boarded or other public-health requirements, the system may request additional health information.
The official system asks about countries visited during the two weeks before arrival where applicable.
Answer these questions accurately.
Step 6: Check Everything Before Submitting
You’ll be shown a preview of your information.
This is the point to stop for a minute and check it.
Look carefully at your:
Name → Passport details → Nationality → Arrival information → Accommodation → Health information.
Step 7: Enter Your Email and Submit
Enter the email address you want associated with your TDAC, accept the terms and conditions and submit the form.
The TDAC information will be sent electronically to the email address you provided.
Step 8: Save Your TDAC
After submitting, download your Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
I’d keep a copy somewhere easily accessible on your phone rather than assuming you’ll have perfect mobile data immediately after landing.
You can also keep the email containing the TDAC and print a copy if you prefer travelling with physical paperwork.
Thailand Immigration specifically recommends downloading or printing a copy for your stay.
Official Thailand TDAC Website
This is worth highlighting because travelers searching for TDAC online may encounter commercial services.
You do not need to pay to submit the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
Use the official Thai Immigration Bureau website:
Official Thailand Digital Arrival Card website
I’d recommend bookmarking the official page rather than relying on a search result when the time comes to complete your application.
When Should You Complete the TDAC?
This is probably the most common source of confusion.
You don’t need to complete it weeks before your holiday.
Thailand Immigration states that travelers should submit the TDAC within three days before arriving in Thailand, including the date of arrival.
For example, if you’re arriving in Thailand on 20 December, you don’t need to worry about completing the form months beforehand while you’re booking your flights.
Wait until you’re inside the permitted submission window.
That makes this a good item to put on your final pre-departure checklist alongside checking your passport, travel insurance, hotel booking and onward travel arrangements.
Essential Travel Tips for Arrival Day
Save to Camera Roll: Save a screenshot of your QR code directly to your phone’s camera roll or offline files in case airport Wi-Fi is spotty upon arrival.
Group Submissions: Keep digital copies of all QR codes on the primary organizer’s phone if traveling as a family unit or group.
Transit Travelers Exempt: If you are connecting through Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK) on a single ticket without clearing immigration, you do not need to submit a TDAC.
Don’t know your Thailand hotel yet?
This is one reason we recommend sorting out at least your first accommodation in Thailand before completing the TDAC.
If you’re still deciding where to stay, you can compare Thailand hotels before your arrival.
Affiliate disclosure: Big Event Travel may earn a commission if you book through selected links, at no additional cost to you.
Do Children Need a TDAC?
Yes.
Thailand Immigration states that all travelers, including children and infants, require a TDAC.
Families don’t necessarily have to make completely separate submissions one by one, however.
The TDAC system allows a group application containing up to 10 travelers in one submission. Where travelers have the same travel and accommodation information, the system can reuse the previous traveler’s relevant details.
That’s useful for families travelling together.
Do Transit Passengers Need a Thailand TDAC?
Not necessarily.
If you’re simply transiting through Thailand without passing through Thai immigration, the official guidance says you do not need to submit a TDAC.
If you leave the airport and therefore pass through immigration, you do need one.
That distinction is important for passengers connecting through Bangkok.
Do You Need a TDAC When Entering Thailand by Land?
Yes.
TDAC isn’t just an airport requirement.
Foreign travelers entering Thailand by land, air or sea must submit the arrival card.
That’s particularly relevant if you’re travelling around Southeast Asia and entering Thailand from a neighboring country.
What If You Make a Mistake on Your TDAC?
Don’t immediately assume your holiday is ruined because you’ve spotted a mistake.
Thailand Immigration provides an Update Arrival Card function.
Certain details can be corrected through the system before travel. However, the current guidance states that some core identity information cannot be changed through the normal update process, including your full name, nationality/citizenship and date of birth.
Where information cannot be corrected, the Immigration Bureau FAQ advises submitting a new form containing the correct information; the latest valid submission will be used.
What If Your Flight or Hotel Changes?
Another very useful question.
Your TDAC information should be accurate before you enter Thailand.
If your flight or accommodation changes after you’ve submitted the TDAC, Thailand Immigration says you can update the information or submit a new form before entry.
So a last-minute airline schedule change doesn’t automatically mean you’re stuck with incorrect information.
Do You Need a New TDAC Every Time You Enter Thailand?
Yes.
A TDAC is for a single entry associated with the expected arrival date.
If you leave Thailand and later return, you’ll need to submit another TDAC for the new entry.
This is particularly important for longer Southeast Asia trips where someone might travel:
Thailand → Laos → Thailand
or:
Thailand → Cambodia → Thailand.
The second arrival in Thailand requires a new TDAC.
Our upcoming Thailand Border Runs & Land Crossings 2026 guide will explain the separate immigration considerations surrounding repeated entries.
Is the Thailand TDAC a Visa?
No.
This distinction needs to be absolutely clear.
Completing a TDAC does not give you permission to stay in Thailand for a particular length of time and does not replace whatever visa or visa-exemption rules apply to you.
The TDAC is an arrival card.
Your immigration status is a separate matter.
For that, read our next guide:
Thailand 30-Day Visa Exemption & Extension Rules – 2026 Update
What Happens When You Arrive in Thailand?
Keep your TDAC information accessible when you travel.
You will still go through the normal immigration process on arrival. The TDAC does not guarantee entry into Thailand; entry remains subject to Thailand’s immigration requirements and the decision of immigration authorities.
Thailand Immigration describes completing the TDAC beforehand as helping facilitate a faster and more efficient arrival process.
Once you’ve cleared immigration, you’re onto the considerably more enjoyable part of the trip.
Getting From the Airport to Your Hotel
If you prefer arranging your transport before arriving, you can compare airport transfers and other transport options here:
Thailand Arrival Checklist for 2026
Before heading to the airport, it’s worth doing one final check:
- Passport and required validity
- Correct visa or eligibility under the applicable visa-exemption scheme
- TDAC submitted within the permitted period
- TDAC confirmation saved
- Flight information accessible
- Thailand accommodation confirmed
- Travel insurance arranged
- Onward/return travel documentation where applicable
- Airport transfer or onward transport considered
- Access to money/cards for your trip
Need somewhere to stay?
Search Available Hotels
Still comparing flights?
Search Available Flights
Need transport after arriving?
Search Airport Transfers
Frequently Asked Questions About the Thailand TDAC
Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card free?
Yes. Submission through the official Thailand Immigration Bureau TDAC system is free.
How early can I complete my TDAC?
You can submit it within three days before your arrival in Thailand, including your arrival date.
Can I complete the TDAC at the airport?
Thailand Immigration’s current FAQ says TDAC kiosks are installed at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai airports. However, completing it online before travelling is the much safer and simpler approach.
Do babies and children need a TDAC?
Yes. The requirement includes infants and children.
Can my family complete the TDAC together?
Yes. Group submission supports up to 10 travelers per application.
Do I need to print the TDAC?
The system provides the TDAC electronically and Thailand Immigration says you can download or print the document received by email. Keeping an accessible copy on your phone is sensible.
What happens if I don’t receive the QR code?
The official FAQ advises contacting an immigration officer at the entry checkpoint if the QR code has not arrived by email.
Do I need another TDAC if I leave Thailand and return?
Yes. A new TDAC must be submitted for each entry into Thailand.
Does completing the TDAC mean I don’t need a visa?
No. The TDAC is not a visa. Your visa or visa-exemption requirements must be considered separately.
Final Thoughts
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card sounds more complicated than it actually is.
For most travelers, the important things are simple:
Wait until you’re within three days of arrival. Have your passport, travel and accommodation information ready. Use the official Thai Immigration website. Check everything carefully. Save your TDAC once you’ve submitted it.
Most importantly, remember that the official TDAC is free.
Once that’s done, you can get back to planning the better parts of your Thailand trip.
Continue Planning Your Thailand Trip
Thailand 30-Day Visa Exemption & Extension Rules – 2026 Update →