Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
Fill the free arrival card, correct a mistake and keep the QR code ready for your trip.
Before you open the form
Keep your passport, itinerary and accommodation address beside you. This website does not collect your passport details or submit the card.
- Check the arrival date
Use the official filing window; see who needs a card and when.
- Have each traveller's details ready
Check names and passport numbers against the documents, including for children.
- Use your actual trip details
Keep the transport details and accommodation address available.
- Keep a copy after submitting
Use an email address you can access while travelling.
Step 1: Check the filing window
Most non-Thai travellers entering by air, land or sea need a TDAC. The Immigration FAQ specifies filing within 3 days before arrival, including the arrival date. Follow the dates the official portal accepts; do not submit through a paid lookalike website.
Exceptions: crew, transit without passing through Thai immigration, and entry using a Border Pass. The FAQ explicitly exempts crew; the Hong Kong consulate notice confirms the transit and Border Pass cases.
Step 2: Personal information
- Passport details: copy them carefully from the travel document.
- MRZ retrieval: the manual allows a scan or uploaded MRZ image to retrieve data. Recheck the result against your passport.
- English entries: the manual asks for details in English.
Passport validity and visa eligibility are separate admission requirements. Completing the card does not confirm either.
Step 3: Travel details
Use the itinerary and arrival date for this journey, not a previous visit. Follow the fields shown for your mode of travel. A TDAC is for one entry; another entry requires a new card unless an exemption applies.
Step 4: Accommodation in Thailand
Use the address provided by your hotel or host and match the location options in the portal. Pattaya addresses span different administrative areas: do not use a generic district preset.
Children and the occupation field
Children and infants also need a card unless an exemption applies. A parent or guardian can submit their details. Groups can include up to 10 travellers; the manual's “Same as Previous Traveler” shortcut copies matching travel and accommodation information.
The manual and FAQ reviewed do not prescribe a universal child-occupation placeholder. Use a truthful description that fits the live form; ask Immigration if unsure. Do not copy an adult occupation using a group shortcut.
Step 5: Health declaration
Answer the health prompts displayed for your journey. The manual says they can depend on places visited in the previous two weeks, boarding country, nationality or flight. Use the live questions rather than a saved third-party checklist.
Step 6: Submit — or correct a mistake
Review the preview, provide your email, accept the terms and submit. For an existing card, start with Update Arrival Card; the manual describes retrieval using the TDAC number, date of birth and nationality.
Fixing passport details
If the necessary field cannot be changed, the FAQ directs you to submit a new correct form; it says the latest valid submission is used. Recheck the downloaded card before travelling.
Why passport edits are not guaranteed
The FAQ excludes passport number, full name, nationality and birth date from editing. The manual's exclusion list omits passport number, and older release notes describe passport editing. Do not assume an edit will be available.
Step 7: Save the QR code
Save the downloaded card and email copy. A phone copy is accepted; printing is optional.
What happens at the airport
Keep the TDAC available for the carrier and entry checkpoint. Completing it does not guarantee admission or a particular inspection time.
Common TDAC mistakes
- Using a paid lookalike: the Immigration Bureau portal is free.
- Skipping children: include every traveller who needs a card.
- Reusing a previous card: check the journey recorded on the submission.
- Trusting the scan: compare retrieved data with the passport before sending.
TDAC is not a visa, TM30 or TM47
TDAC is an arrival declaration, not permission to enter, stay longer or work. It is separate from the accommodation provider's TM30 notification and a long-stay visitor's TM47 address report.
The 11 June 2026 THIM notice describes an optional pilot that did not replace TDAC. That historical notice is not confirmation of the application's September launch status.
What if you forget or the portal fails?
If the portal fails, save the error message and ask airport or Immigration staff for help. The FAQ lists kiosks at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. It describes arrival Wi-Fi and saving the QR by email or photographing the kiosk screen. This is a fallback, not a reason to postpone filing.
TDAC FAQ
Is TDAC the same as a visa?
No. TDAC is an arrival-card submission. It does not grant admission, extend a stay or authorise work.
Who does not need to submit TDAC?
The official guidance exempts crew, travellers transiting without passing through Thai immigration, and people entering using a Border Pass.
Do infants and children need a TDAC?
Yes, unless an exemption applies. A parent or guardian may submit for a child. Group submissions support up to 10 travellers.
What occupation should I enter for a child or minor on TDAC?
The manual and FAQ reviewed do not specify a universal placeholder. Use a truthful description that fits the live form and ask Immigration if unsure; do not copy an adult occupation.
Can I correct a submitted TDAC?
Use Update Arrival Card for editable details. Official instructions disagree about passport-number editing. If the required field cannot be changed, the FAQ directs a new correct submission and says the latest valid submission is used.
Must I print the TDAC?
No. The official FAQ says it may be shown on a phone or other device. Keep the downloaded document or email available during the journey.
Official sources
Guidance checked 13 September 2026: Immigration manual v1.18 / application 2026.08.00 · Immigration FAQ · Hong Kong consulate TDAC notice.
The FAQ's inclusive-date filing window is used above; some official copy also describes it as 72 hours. Follow the live portal, especially near the filing boundary. This review checked published instructions, not a submitted application. The passport-editing discrepancy is kept visible above.