In May 2025, Thailand introduced the new Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which replaces the paper TM6 form. All visitors must now complete this online form before arrival, regardless of their mode of travel (plane, land, or boat). Initially, we were nervous about completing the Thailand arrival card online. But it’s actually quite simple! In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process step by step, share what you’ll need, and offer practical tips from our experience.
What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)?
The new Thailand Arrival Card is an online form that all foreign travelers must complete upon arrival in the country. While most people fly to Thailand, you’ll also need to complete this if you’re arriving by boat or crossing a land border.
Please note that this isn’t a visa (depending on your country of origin, you may need to apply for a visa separately); it’s simply an additional requirement that helps Thai immigration expedite entry and track recent travel history.
Important note: The new Thai Arrival Card (TDAC) is completely free, and you can apply via the official immigration website. Be careful not to fall for scam sites that try to charge you.
When to Fill in the Arrival Card
You must submit your Thailand immigration arrival card within 72 hours (3 days) before your arrival. We recommend doing it the day before you fly, so all your details (like your flight number and hotel in Thailand) are accurate.
It’s not possible to submit it more than 3 days before, and we wouldn’t recommend doing it right before your flight, in case you can’t access Wi-Fi to fill out the form on your phone.
How We Filled Out the New Thailand Arrival Card
This trip was our first time applying for the Thailand Arrival Card online, and the process went very smoothly. Follow the instructions below, and you should receive confirmation of your TDAC within minutes.
Tip: Be sure to have your passport on hand, as well as your flight number and the address of your hotel in Thailand.
- Open the official TDAC portal, and you’ll see several clear sections that you need to fill out.
- Input your personal details: Full name, passport number, nationality, DOB. Double-check everything matches your passport exactly.
- Share your travel information: Arrival date, mode of transport (plane, land, or sea), and your flight number. (Book your flight here)
- Accommodation details: Select the province where you will be staying, then the district and area. Finally, you add the address of your accommodation in Thailand.
- Health declaration: In this section, they ask where you’ve been in the past two weeks and if you’ve had any symptoms of illness.
- Submit your application: Review all your information carefully, then click ‘Submit’ and wait a few seconds for the confirmation page to appear.
- Final confirmation: Within a minute, we received a confirmation email. It included our digital Thai Arrival card (sometimes with a QR code).
- Save your Thai Arrival Card: We saved it to our phones and also took a quick screenshot, just in case.
Note: If you’re traveling as a group, the portal allows you to add up to 10 travelers in the same submission. Each person still needs their own details entered, but it’s easier than filling out separate forms individually. Very useful for families!
Prepare for your trip with our Thailand travel guides!
Arriving in Thailand with the TDAC
When we landed in Bangkok, immigration staff simply asked to see the confirmation of our Thailand Arrival Card on our phones. We showed it, and they waved us right through. It was very smooth and easy; no paper forms, and no fussing to find a pen, unlike in the past.
Helpful Information for the Thailand Arrival Card
- Exemptions: If you’re only transiting in Thailand and don’t have to pass through immigration, you won’t need a TDAC. The same applies to short “border pass” entries from neighboring countries.
- Validity: The Thai arrival card is only valid for your date of arrival. If, for any reason, your flight arrival changes to another date, you’ll need to submit a new one.
- Multiple entries: You must complete a new TDAC every time you enter Thailand. That means if you’re planning to re-enter Thailand, even on the same trip, you need to fill out a new form.
- What can’t be changed: Once you’ve submitted your Thailand Arrival Card online, you can’t change your passport details (name, passport number, date of birth, nationality). This is why we recommend carefully double-checking all your information, as if you make a mistake, you’ll need to redo the form. Other details, like your accommodation or flight number, can usually be updated.
Read: Our ultimate 2-week Thailand itinerary!
FAQ: Thailand Arrival Card
On the official TDAC website. Enter your passport details, flight information, and hotel address.
Please submit it within 72 hours before arrival. We recommend doing it the day before you leave, when your flight details and hotel bookings are unlikely to change. Don’t leave it until you’re at the airport — it’s not worth the pre-flight stress!
No. You still need a visa or visa exemption, depending on your nationality. Check whether you need a visa here.
No, it’s free. If a website asks for money, it’s not the official one.
If it’s a small detail (like your hotel), you can usually update your Thailand immigration arrival card. If you typed your passport number wrong, you’ll need to submit a new card.
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