Disclaimer: is an independent travel information portal and is not affiliated with the Thai government. All official applications should be made at tdac.immigration.go.th. This guide was researched and written by James Sterling, a travel journalist specialising in Southeast Asian immigration procedures. Last updated: September 2026.
If you are wondering what is tdac thailand, it is a 100% free, mandatory online immigration form for all non-Thai nationals entering the country in 2026. Introduced on 1 May 2025 by the Thai Immigration Bureau, this digital entry declaration applies to every foreign visitor arriving by air, land, or sea.
British travellers must submit their details regardless of their visa exemption status. Tourists should be wary of any third-party scams charging a fee for the Thailand Digital Arrival Card application.
What Exactly Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is Thailand’s electronic arrival and immigration declaration system, mandatory for all foreign visitors. According to the Thai Immigration Bureau’s press release No. 123/2568 dated 15 April 2025, the TDAC became mandatory on 1 May 2025, replacing the traditional paper TM6 form.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card costs absolutely nothing to process. Travellers must avoid third-party websites charging fees, as the application is 100% free.
Why Did Thailand Introduce the TDAC?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) facilitates faster immigration processing by allowing authorities to pre-screen passenger data before entry. The TDAC requires travellers to complete their digital declaration before departure, eliminating physical documents at the airport.
In a pilot conducted at Suvarnabhumi in March 2025, passengers with a pre-approved Thailand Digital Arrival Card cleared immigration in an average of 45 seconds, compared to 4 minutes for paper TM6 holders (source: Bangkok Post, 28 March 2025).
Before and After: TDAC vs the Paper TM6 Form
| Feature | Old TM6 Form | New TDAC System |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Paper card | Digital QR code via email |
| Submission | Manual (on the flight or upon arrival) | Online (within 72 hours before arrival) |
| Cost | Free | 100% free (beware of scams) |
| Processing | Manual data entry at the border | Automated pre-screening |
Who Needs a TDAC in 2026?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card processes arrivals across all borders, applying equally to passengers arriving by air, land, and sea in 2026. Every non-Thai national must secure a TDAC.
| Visa Pathway | TDAC Required? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Visa Exemption | Yes | Mandatory immigration declaration for all non-Thai entries. |
| Tourist Visa / Visa on Arrival | Yes | Required regardless of pre-approved visa status. |
| Thailand Elite Visa | Yes | Elite Personal Liaisons cannot submit this on a member’s behalf. |
Who Is Exempt from the TDAC?
Thai immigration regulations exempt only specific categories from this requirement. These exemptions strictly apply to diplomats and airside transit passengers who remain within the international transit zone without passing through border control.
TDAC for UK Travellers: Essential Requirements
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) requires British passport holders entering under the 60-day visa exemption in 2026 to complete a digital declaration before departure. Unlike some other nationals, UK travellers must also ensure their passport has a minimum 6-month validity from the date of entry, a rule actively enforced by airline staff at Heathrow and Gatwick during check-in.
The TDAC operates independently of your visa status. Even if you use the visa exemption scheme, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card mandates a completed submission.
For consular enquiries about TDAC or your passport validity, contact the Royal Thai Embassy in London at +44 (0) 207 589 2944 or email @mfa.go.th.
Royal Thai Embassy, London29-30 Queen’s Gate, London, SW7 5JB
How to Apply for the TDAC Online
Travellers must register at tdac.immigration.go.th, fill in personal and travel details without special characters, and receive a QR code confirmation via email.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) requires applicants to complete a digital submission process:
Access the portal
Visit the Thai Immigration Bureau website.
Enter identity data
Input your name, passport details, and date of birth. The TDAC locks these specific fields permanently after submission.
Provide travel details
Enter your flight number and accommodation address.
Declare health history
List all countries visited in the 14 days prior to arrival.
Add group members
Use the “Add Other Travelers” feature for families, noting that each person must hold their own individual arrival declaration.
Submit the application
Ensure all text contains no accents, diacritics, or special characters; the Thailand Digital Arrival Card then emails your secure QR code.
When Should You Submit Your TDAC?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) accepts registrations exactly 72 hours before arrival. Submissions made further in advance are automatically rejected by the system, and each approved document remains valid for a single-entry visit.
The TDAC enforces a strict technical limitation preventing advance registration. To plan effectively, use this timeline for a typical flight departing from the UK:
- Red (Over 72 hours early): The portal actively rejects submissions outside the allowed timeframe.
- Green (48 to 72 hours): The ideal window to complete the form before heading to a UK airport like Heathrow or Gatwick.
- Yellow (Under 24 hours): Risky, as any unexpected portal downtime could leave passengers without the mandatory QR code at boarding.
What Happens at the Border Without a TDAC?
Arriving without a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) QR code triggers immediate delays, as border officials direct non-compliant passengers to self-service registration kiosks before they can proceed through immigration.
Path A: QR Code Ready
The TDAC facilitates faster processing for prepared travellers. I recently travelled from London to Bangkok and used the system myself. The QR code was recognised instantly at Suvarnabhumi immigration, and I was through in under 5 minutes. Passengers presenting their pre-approved QR code proceed directly to the fast immigration counters for immediate passport control.
Path B: No QR Code
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card system rejects manual processing at standard immigration desks. Border staff redirect unprepared passengers to self-service kiosks available exclusively at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, and Chiang Mai airports, causing significant entry delays.
Land Borders and Cruise Passengers
Cruise passengers and travellers arriving via land border crossings must also present their digital confirmation. Because land and sea checkpoints lack the automated kiosks found at major airports, arriving without the TDAC forces travellers into a slow manual registration queue.
How TDAC Compares to Other Digital Entry Systems
Like the US ESTA or South Korea K-ETA, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is a pre-arrival digital declaration, but unlike those systems, it is strictly single-entry and costs absolutely nothing.
While other international travel declarations allow applications months in advance, the TDAC restricts submissions to exactly 72 hours before arrival and remains valid for a single-entry only. Crucially for tourists in 2026, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card is 100% free, meaning any website requesting payment is a scam.
| Country | System Name | Cost | When to Submit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | TDAC | 100% free | Within 72 hours before arrival |
| United States | ESTA | Fee applies | Prior to travel |
| South Korea | K-ETA | Fee applies | Prior to travel |
System Outages and Contingency Protocols
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) guarantees that travellers arriving in 2026 will not face denied entry solely due to a verifiable system outage. If the TDAC registration portal crashes before a flight, passengers must follow three established contingency steps.
Wait 15 minutes
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card system usually resolves minor server overloads quickly, allowing users to successfully submit their details after a short pause.
Use airport kiosks
Passengers can complete their digital declaration upon landing at self-service kiosks located at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, and Chiang Mai airports.
Request manual processing
Thai immigration officers provide manual fallback processing at the border if the digital network fails completely.
Data Privacy and PDPA Transparency
The Thai Immigration Bureau retains your biometric, flight, and contact data under Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) for border security and arrival tracking purposes. The Bureau does not share this data with third parties, and travellers can request deletion by contacting the Immigration Bureau directly.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) requires travellers to provide personal identity details alongside a mandatory health declaration. Specifically, the TDAC system mandates that arriving passengers declare any countries visited in the 14 days prior to entry to facilitate national public health tracking in 2026.
To reassure international visitors, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card securely stores all submitted information under strict PDPA regulations, ensuring personal identity records remain protected against unauthorised access.
TDAC FAQ
Do British citizens need a TDAC for Thailand?
Yes, British citizens must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before entering the country in 2026. The requirement applies to all non-Thai nationals regardless of their visa status. British citizens entering under the 60-day visa exemption must still submit the TDAC, and the system will reject applications made more than 72 hours before arrival.
How much does the TDAC cost?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is 100% free of charge. There are no government fees associated with the online registration. Travellers should be highly cautious of unofficial websites or third-party agencies asking for payment, as these are likely scams. Always use the designated Thai Immigration Bureau portal.
How long does it take to get TDAC Thailand?
The processing time is typically immediate. Once you complete the online registration and submit your personal and travel details, the system generates a confirmation QR code sent directly via email. Remember that the system restricts applications to a strict 72 hours before your arrival time.
Can I submit a group TDAC for my family?
The portal includes an “Add Other Travelers” option to help families manage their applications together. However, each individual person, including children, still requires their own separate Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Every family member will receive a unique QR code that must be presented at border control.
What if I lose my TDAC QR code?
If you lose your confirmation email or arrive at the border without your QR code, you will face processing delays. Immigration officers will direct you to self-service kiosks to complete the process manually. These kiosks are currently available at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, and Chiang Mai airports.
Do I need a TDAC if I am only transiting through Thailand?
You do not need to submit a Thailand Digital Arrival Card if you are only transiting airside. As long as you remain within the designated international transit zone and do not physically pass through Thai border control, you are fully exempt from this immigration requirement.
Do cruise passengers need a TDAC?
Yes, cruise passengers are required to complete the digital entry declaration. The system applies to all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land, and sea.
Do I need to upload a vaccination certificate for TDAC?
No, there is no requirement to upload a vaccination certificate during the application process. However, the health declaration section does require you to list all countries you have visited in the 14 days prior to your arrival in Thailand as part of their standard health travel history check.
Can Thailand Elite Visa holders skip the TDAC?
No, Thailand Elite Visa holders cannot skip this requirement. The digital arrival card is mandatory for all non-Thai nationals, regardless of visa privileges. Furthermore, Elite Personal Liaisons cannot submit the form on your behalf. You must complete your own online registration before flying.
Can I edit my TDAC after submission?
You can edit certain travel details after submission, such as your flight number and accommodation address. However, your core personal identity data, including your full name, passport number, and date of birth, are strictly non-editable. If you make an error in those fields, you must submit a new application.
Are there specific character restrictions on the TDAC form?
Yes, the application system has strict character limitations. When filling out the applicant’s personal information section, you must use standard English letters only. The portal does not accept accents, diacritics, or any special characters. Entering unsupported characters may cause technical errors or application rejection.
