Most non-Thai travelers entering Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before arrival. The online form replaces the former paper arrival card and applies to entry by air, land, or sea.
You can submit the TDAC during the three days before your arrival, including your arrival date. Before starting, have your passport, arrival details, accommodation address in Thailand, recent travel information, and an email address ready. Complete the form through the official Thai Immigration Bureau TDAC system.
TDAC is an arrival registration form, not a visa. Completing it does not replace any visa, passport, or other immigration requirements that apply to your nationality or trip.
What Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card, commonly called TDAC, is Thailand’s online arrival form for international travelers. It replaced the traditional paper arrival card and provides arrival information to Thai immigration authorities before a traveler reaches the border.
The form applies whether you enter Thailand by:
- Air
- Land
- Sea
TDAC therefore covers more than international airport arrivals. Travelers crossing into Thailand overland or arriving through a seaport generally need to complete it as well.
The official form is available through the Thailand Immigration Bureau TDAC website.
Who Needs to Submit a TDAC?
All non-Thai nationals entering Thailand are generally required to submit a TDAC before entry. This includes travelers arriving under different visa arrangements, including visa-exempt entry and visa on arrival.
The requirement also applies to:
- Adults
- Infants and children
- Non-Thai diplomatic passport holders
- Travelers arriving by air
- Travelers crossing a land border
- Travelers arriving by sea
Children do not receive a general exemption because of their age. A parent or another traveler can complete the form on their behalf.
Who does not normally need a TDAC?
There are limited situations where TDAC is not required.
Thai nationals do not submit TDAC.
Non-Thai travelers who are only transiting through a Thai airport and do not pass through immigration do not need to submit one. If you leave the international transit area and pass through immigration, the TDAC requirement applies.
Crew members are also listed by Thai Immigration as exempt from TDAC submission.
When Should You Submit the TDAC?
Submit your Thailand Digital Arrival Card within three days before arriving in Thailand, including the day you arrive.
For example, if you arrive in Thailand on August 20, the three-day submission window covers August 18, August 19, and August 20.
There is no need to attempt the form weeks before departure. A practical time to complete it is once your:
- Flight or transport details are confirmed
- Arrival date is unlikely to change
- First accommodation in Thailand is booked
- Passport is available
TDAC does not send travelers a reminder before their flight, so adding the submission to your pre-departure checklist can help prevent a last-minute airport task.
What Information Do You Need for the TDAC?
Prepare your details before opening the TDAC form. The system does not currently allow you to save an unfinished application and return later, so having the information ready makes the process easier.
You may need:
- Passport information
- Personal information
- Arrival date
- Flight number or other arrival vehicle details
- Country or territory where you boarded
- Travel purpose
- Accommodation information in Thailand
- Recent travel information for the health declaration
- Email address for receiving your TDAC
Thai Immigration states that submission usually takes around three to five minutes per traveler when the necessary information is ready.
Details entered into the TDAC should be provided in English.
Have your first Thailand accommodation ready
Your accommodation information is part of the submission, so have your first confirmed address available before starting.
Copying the address directly from your hotel or accommodation confirmation can also reduce avoidable typing errors.
Check passport details carefully
The TDAC system can retrieve passport information by scanning the machine-readable zone, or MRZ, or by uploading an MRZ image.
Even when information is retrieved automatically, Thai Immigration advises travelers to check the imported details before submitting.
Check these details against your passport:
- Full name
- Passport number
- Nationality or citizenship
- Date of birth
This check matters because these core identity details cannot simply be corrected later through the normal Update Arrival Card function.
How to Fill In and Submit the TDAC
Complete the TDAC through the official Thai Immigration system rather than relying on an unofficial form that appears in search results.
The official submission process follows a straightforward sequence.
Enter your personal and passport information
Choose Arrival Card and enter the requested personal information.
You can type the passport details manually or use the passport retrieval function where available.
Make sure names, passport number, nationality, and date of birth match your passport before continuing.
Add your trip information
Enter the information requested for your arrival in Thailand, including your arrival date and relevant flight or vehicle details.
The exact fields may vary according to your mode of transportation and travel circumstances.
Add your accommodation in Thailand
Provide the requested accommodation details for your stay.
Having the booking address ready before beginning the form can save time and reduce mistakes.
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Complete the health declaration
The TDAC includes health-related travel information required by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health.
Depending on factors such as where you have recently traveled, the country from which you boarded, your nationality, or your flight, the system may request additional health information.
Preview everything before submitting
Use the preview screen to check the information carefully.
Pay particular attention to:
- Passport details
- Arrival date
- Flight or vehicle information
- Accommodation
- Recent travel details
Correct any mistake you notice before continuing.
Enter your email and submit
Enter the email address where you want to receive the Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
Accept the applicable terms and conditions and submit the form.
Save your TDAC and QR code
After submission, download the TDAC document. The confirmation can also be received through the email address provided during submission.
You do not normally need to print the TDAC. Thai Immigration says the document containing the QR code can be shown from a phone or another device. Travelers without reliable device access may still prefer to carry a printed backup.
What Happens After You Submit?
After submitting, make sure you can retrieve your TDAC and that your travel information remains correct.
Save the QR code where you can reach it offline
Download the TDAC document or save the QR code rather than relying only on opening the confirmation email after landing.
This can be useful if airport Wi-Fi is congested or your phone does not yet have a local data connection.
If the QR code does not arrive by email, Thai Immigration advises contacting an immigration officer at the entry checkpoint.
Update changed travel details before entry
If your flight, accommodation, or another editable detail changes, update the TDAC before entering Thailand.
The official system provides an Update Arrival Card function for information that can still be changed.
Full name, passport number, nationality or citizenship, and date of birth cannot be changed through the Update Arrival Card function. If one of these details is wrong, Thai Immigration advises submitting a new form with the correct information. The latest valid submission will be used.
This is why checking the identity information against your passport before the original submission is particularly important.
Submit a new TDAC for every new entry
A TDAC is for one entry into Thailand.
If you leave Thailand and later return, you need to submit another TDAC for the new arrival. You cannot keep reusing the original form for multiple entries.
This matters for itineraries such as Bangkok to Cambodia and back to Thailand, or Thailand to Malaysia and back. Returning to Thailand counts as another entry and therefore requires another TDAC.
Common TDAC Situations
A few travel situations can change how you approach the TDAC.
Traveling with children
Every traveler, including infants and children, needs a TDAC.
Parents or guardians can submit information on a child’s behalf. The system also supports group submissions for up to 10 travelers.
This can be more practical for families traveling together because shared trip and accommodation information can be reused during the group submission process.
Transiting through a Thai airport
You do not need TDAC if you remain in international transit and do not pass through Thai immigration.
If your connection requires you to pass through immigration and enter Thailand, the TDAC requirement applies.
The key question is therefore not simply whether Thailand is a connecting point. It is whether your transit requires you to enter Thailand through immigration.
Entering Thailand by land or sea
TDAC is not limited to flying into Bangkok, Phuket, or another international airport.
Non-Thai travelers entering Thailand through a land border or seaport also fall under the TDAC requirement.
Have the relevant vehicle or transportation information ready instead of assuming the form only accepts flight details.
Traveling without a smartphone
You do not need to own a smartphone to satisfy the TDAC requirement.
Thai Immigration states that kiosks and Wi-Fi are provided for travelers without internet access. TDAC kiosks are currently listed at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Hat Yai airports.
Completing the form during the permitted window before departure is still more practical when possible because it avoids turning a pre-arrival task into another job at the airport.
The TDAC website is not working
If the official website produces an error, first check your internet connection and try again.
Thai Immigration recommends keeping a screenshot if the website remains unavailable and contacting airport or immigration staff when necessary.
Use only the official Immigration Bureau domain for the actual TDAC submission.
TDAC vs Thailand Visa and Entry Requirements
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card and a Thai visa serve different purposes.
TDAC records your arrival information. It is not a visa and does not determine whether you qualify to enter Thailand. (Thailand Digital Arrival Card)
Visa and other entry requirements can depend on factors such as your nationality, travel purpose, and intended length of stay. Some travelers may qualify for visa-exempt entry, some may use visa on arrival, and others may need a visa arranged before traveling.
TDAC still applies across those different entry arrangements for non-Thai travelers unless a specific exemption applies.
Do not use a completed TDAC as evidence that every other Thailand entry requirement has been satisfied. Check the immigration requirements that apply specifically to your passport and trip separately.
If your trip dates overlap with festivals or government closures, Eskimo’s Thailand Public Holidays 2026 calendar can help you plan around public holidays.
Mobile Data for Your Arrival in Thailand
Mobile data can be useful as soon as you land in Thailand for retrieving your TDAC QR code, checking airport transport, opening hotel confirmations, using ride-hailing or navigation apps, and contacting your accommodation. Coverage is generally stronger in cities and along major transport routes, while reception can vary in underground areas, islands, rural roads, mountains, and other less populated locations.
An Eskimo Thailand eSIM plan is the most relevant option for a Thailand-only trip. Eskimo coverage extends across 175 countries and regions, which can also be useful if Thailand is one stop in a longer journey or you continue to another eligible destination later. Eskimo fixed data plans do not expire, so unused fixed data can remain available rather than being tied to the end of a short Thailand stay.
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FAQs:
FAQs
Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card mandatory?
Yes. TDAC is generally mandatory for non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land, or sea. Travelers who remain in international transit without passing through immigration and crew members are among the stated exceptions.
Where should I submit the TDAC?
Submit it through the official Thailand Immigration Bureau TDAC website. Using the official government system also helps you avoid confusing the TDAC with third-party arrival-form services.
Can I complete TDAC for another person?
Yes. You can submit TDAC information for family members, children, or other travelers. Group submissions support up to 10 travelers per application. (Thailand Digital Arrival Card FAQ)
Can I submit the TDAC at the airport?
Thai Immigration provides kiosks and internet access at several airports for travelers who cannot complete the process online beforehand. However, completing TDAC during the permitted three-day window before travel is more practical when possible.
Do I need another TDAC if I leave Thailand and come back?
Yes. Each TDAC is for a single entry. If you leave Thailand and return later, you need a new Thailand Digital Arrival Card for the new arrival.
