Since 1 May 2025, every foreign visitor entering Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which replaced the paper TM6 card. It is free, is filled in online at tdac.immigration.go.th, and must be submitted within the 3 days before your arrival. Any website that charges a fee is not the official service.
The TDAC asks for your accommodation address in Thailand, so it helps to have your first night booked. Compare hotels in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai with live prices.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or TDAC, is an online arrival form run by Thailand's Immigration Bureau. It collects the same basic information that travellers used to write on the small paper TM6 arrival card handed out on planes and at border posts: who you are, how you are arriving, where you will stay and when you plan to leave.
The TDAC became mandatory on 1 May 2025, and the TM6 paper card was discontinued at the same time. The idea is simple: immigration officers receive your details in advance, and you no longer have to fill in a form in the queue.
The TDAC is not a visa and not a travel permit. It does not change whether you need a visa or how long you may stay. It is purely an arrival registration. Visa rules are explained separately in our Thailand visa guide.
The TDAC applies to all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand, whatever their passport and whatever their route:
You generally do not need a TDAC if you are:
Every entry counts separately. If you fly to Bangkok, pop over to Laos and come back, you need a new TDAC for the second entry too.
You can submit the TDAC from three days before your arrival date, up to and including the day you arrive. The system will not accept it earlier than that. For example, if you land in Bangkok on 10 March, you can submit from 7 March.
The best moment is usually the day before you fly, when your flight number and first hotel are confirmed. If you have a long journey with several connections, submit before you leave home, so you are not trying to do it on airport wifi.
Arriving at immigration without a TDAC is not a disaster: major airports have had kiosks, QR-code posters and staff to help people complete it on the spot. But lines for those kiosks can be long after big flights land, and it is an unnecessary stress at the end of a long journey. Do it in advance.
The official form takes about 5-10 minutes if you have everything ready. Here is the process:
After submitting, you receive a confirmation with a TDAC number and a QR code, shown on screen and sent by email, usually with a downloadable PDF. There is no payment step at any point.
The TDAC asks for your accommodation address in Thailand, so it helps to have your first night booked. Compare hotels in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai with live prices.
| Information | Where to find it | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Passport details | Your passport | Name exactly as in the passport, including middle names |
| Arrival flight or vehicle number | Booking confirmation | For land crossings, enter the vehicle or bus details if asked |
| Arrival date | Your ticket | Use local Thai arrival date, not departure date |
| Address of first accommodation | Hotel booking | Full address, province and district |
| Onward or return flight | Booking confirmation | Optional if not yet booked, but helpful |
| Countries visited in last 14 days | Your own trip history | Include transit stops where you left the airport |
| Email address and phone | - | Use an email you can open on your phone |
Remember the arrival date is the date you land in Thailand. On overnight flights from Europe, that is often the day after departure, which also affects when your 3-day window opens.
Since the TDAC launched, many third-party websites have appeared that look official, use Thai flags and government-style designs, and charge fees for submitting the form for you. Some rank high in search results or run paid search ads.
If you already paid an agency, check that you received a genuine TDAC confirmation with a number and QR code. If not, submit the form yourself on the official site. Our Thailand safety guide covers other common scams to watch for.
Some airlines, travel agents and trusted apps link to the official form or help you fill it in. That is fine, as long as the final submission goes to tdac.immigration.go.th and you are not charged for the TDAC itself.
Plans change. If your flight is delayed or you switch hotels before arrival, you can log back in with your TDAC number and update your details on the official site. If you made a mistake in key passport details, such as your name or passport number, it is usually simplest to submit a new TDAC.
At the immigration counter, have your passport ready and your TDAC confirmation on your phone, either as a screenshot, the email or the PDF. A printed copy is a sensible backup in case your battery dies. Officers can usually find your record from your passport, but they may ask to see the QR code. Fingerprints and a photo are taken as before.
A working phone makes arrival easier, so it is worth setting up a data plan before you land; see our eSIM guide for Thailand. Once you are through, our getting around Thailand guide explains airport transfers, trains and domestic flights.
Overland travellers need a TDAC too, for example on the bus from Vientiane to Nong Khai, at the Aranyaprathet crossing from Cambodia, or at the Padang Besar and Sadao crossings from Malaysia. Island hoppers arriving from Langkawi at Koh Lipe must also submit one. Border posts can be slower than airports and mobile coverage can be patchy, so submit before you set off rather than at the checkpoint.
Arriving in the capital first? Our guide to Bangkok and the best areas to stay in Bangkok will help you plan your first night, which is also the address you enter on the form. Flying straight to the beach instead? See our Phuket guide.
Yes. The official TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th is free. Websites that charge a fee are third-party agencies, not the Thai government.
Within the 3 days before your arrival date, up to the day you arrive. The official system does not accept submissions earlier than that.
Yes. The TDAC became mandatory on 1 May 2025 and replaced the paper TM6 arrival card that used to be handed out on flights and at borders.
Yes. All non-Thai nationals entering Thailand need a TDAC, whether they are visa-exempt or hold a visa. The TDAC itself is not a visa.
No, not if you stay airside and do not pass through Thai immigration. If you leave the airport, even for a short stopover, you need one.
Yes. Every traveller needs a separate TDAC, but a parent can add children to a group submission and complete the details for them.