TDAC Thailand Digital Arrival Card: Complete 2026 Guide
The TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) is the free online form every foreign visitor must complete before entering Thailand. It replaced the old paper TM6 arrival card on May 1, 2025, and it applies whether you land at Suvarnabhumi, cross a land border from Malaysia or arrive by boat. You file it on the Immigration Bureau’s website within three days of arrival, and you get a QR code back by email.
The form itself takes about ten minutes. The trouble usually comes from three places: filing too early, paying a lookalike website, or showing up without the onward ticket and accommodation details the Thailand arrival card asks for. This guide covers all three, plus the September 2026 change that cut visa-free stays for Americans from 60 days to 30.
Key Takeaways
- Every non-Thai national entering Thailand by air, land or sea must submit a TDAC. It is not a visa.
- File within 3 days (72 hours) before arrival, counting the arrival date. The system will not take it earlier.
- The official TDAC is free. The only official site is tdac.immigration.go.th.
- You need your passport, arrival flight or vehicle number, accommodation address and, if you have them, your departure travel details.
- Since September 15, 2026, US citizens get 30 days visa-free for tourism, not 60.
- Airlines and immigration officers may ask for an onward or return ticket and proof of funds.
What Is the TDAC Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
The TDAC is Thailand’s digital entry registration, run by the Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau. Royal Thai embassies describe it plainly as “not a visa but a digital entry card.” It collects the same information the paper TM6 card used to collect at the immigration counter, only now you hand it over before you travel.
Filing a TDAC does not give you permission to enter. You still need a valid visa or a visa exemption, a passport that meets Thailand’s rules and whatever onward travel or funds the officer asks to see. Think of the Thailand arrival card as the registration step, not the approval step.
Who Must Submit a TDAC
According to the Royal Thai Embassy guidance, the TDAC applies to “all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand via land, air, or sea.” That covers tourists, business travelers, digital nomads on a DTV and long-term residents returning from a trip abroad.
The exceptions are narrow:
- Thai citizens. The government’s travel portal also lists permanent residents as excluded.
- Transit passengers who do not pass through immigration. If you stay airside and connect onward, you do not file.
- Border Pass holders entering through the designated border points.
If you are connecting in Bangkok but collecting bags, changing airports or leaving the airport for a night, you are entering Thailand and need a TDAC.
| Question | Answer (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Start date | Mandatory since May 1, 2025 |
| Who files | All non-Thai nationals entering by air, land or sea |
| When to file | Within 3 days (72 hours) before arrival, including the arrival date |
| Cost | Free |
| Official website | tdac.immigration.go.th |
| Group filing | Up to 10 travelers per submission |
| Language | All answers in English |
| Transit passengers | Exempt only if they do not clear immigration |
| What you receive | Email with TDAC number, QR code and PDF |
When to File the Thailand Arrival Card
The window opens three days before your arrival date, and the arrival date counts as one of those days. If you land on Friday, you can file from Wednesday onward. The system does not accept earlier submissions, so there is no benefit to filing the week before you fly.
The New York embassy notes that the card can be completed right up until you reach immigration. In practice, file before you leave for the airport. Filing on airport Wi-Fi after a long-haul flight is nobody’s idea of fun. The Bucharest embassy says kiosks are available on arrival for anyone who missed it, but warns to expect extra delay and queues.
Information You Need for the TDAC
Gather these before you open the form. Royal Thai embassies list passport, personal, travel, accommodation and health declaration details, all entered in English.
| Section | What it asks for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Personal details | Name exactly as in passport, passport number, nationality, date of birth, gender, occupation, country and city of residence, phone number | Middle name and visa number can be left blank if not applicable |
| Arrival details | Arrival date, country where you boarded, purpose of travel, mode of travel (air, land or sea), flight or vehicle number | Use the flight number of the leg that lands in Thailand |
| Departure details | Departure date, mode of travel, flight or vehicle number | Enter your onward or return booking if you have one |
| Accommodation | Type of accommodation, province, district, sub-district and address | Your first night’s hotel is enough |
| Health declaration | Countries or regions visited in the 14 days before arrival | Extra questions apply only to certain high-risk areas |
| Contact | Email address for your confirmation | Use an address you can open on your phone abroad |
The departure section is where many travelers pause. Travelers report that only fields marked with a red asterisk are compulsory, and long-stay visa holders often leave departure blank. For a tourist on a 30-day exemption, though, an empty departure section lines up badly with the questions you may face at the check-in desk and the immigration booth.
How to Submit the TDAC Step by Step
- Open the official site. Type tdac.immigration.go.th directly into your browser rather than clicking an ad.
- Choose to submit a new arrival card. Add travelers if you are filing for a group of up to 10. Children under 12 can be included in a parent’s group; travelers 12 and older are commonly filed individually.
- Enter passport details. You can type them or scan the machine-readable zone on your passport photo page. Check the spelling of your name against the passport.
- Fill in arrival and departure details. Pick air, land or sea, then enter your flight or vehicle number and dates.
- Add your accommodation. Select the province and district from the menus and type the hotel name and address.
- Complete the health declaration. List the countries you visited in the previous 14 days.
- Review, enter your email and submit. Use the Edit button to fix anything before you confirm.
- Save your confirmation. Download the PDF and keep the email with your TDAC number and QR code. A screenshot or printout is fine at immigration.
Editing or Correcting Your TDAC
Some mistakes are easy to fix and some are not. The Bucharest embassy states that full name, passport number, nationality and date of birth cannot be edited. If any of those are wrong, you submit a new registration.
Trip details such as flight number, arrival date and accommodation can be updated through the portal before you enter Thailand. If your flight is delayed past midnight or you switch hotels, update the card rather than hoping the officer will not notice. If you renew your passport between filing and flying, file a fresh TDAC with the new number.
Land and Sea Arrivals
The TDAC is not just for flights. Embassies confirm it covers arrivals via land and sea, so travelers crossing from Malaysia at Padang Besar, from Laos over the Friendship Bridge or from Cambodia at Aranyaprathet all need one. Choose “LAND” or “SEA” as your mode of travel and enter the bus, train, car or vessel number where the form asks for a vehicle number.
Overland travelers should also know that visa-exempt entries by land are reported to be limited to twice per calendar year under the September 2026 rules. If you are doing a long Southeast Asia loop, check this with the nearest Thai embassy before you plan multiple land crossings.
Thailand Visa Exemption for US Citizens in 2026
This is the biggest change since the TDAC launched. Thailand’s Ministry of Interior published new regulations in the Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026, and they took effect on September 15, 2026. The 60-day visa exemption was revoked, and US passport holders now receive 30 days visa-free for tourism. The US, UK, Canada and Australia are all on the list of 60 countries and territories in the 30-day scheme.
Travelers who entered on or before September 14, 2026 keep the stay stamped in their passport. Thai embassies, including Washington, say visitors may apply for one extension of up to 30 more days at a Thai immigration office. The fee is reported at 1,900 baht and approval is at the officer’s discretion.
You may still see “60 days” on older pages, including the US State Department’s Thailand page at the time of writing. Treat that as the pre-September rule. The State Department page remains the best source for passport rules: six months of validity from entry and one blank page per entry stamp.
Planning to stay longer and work remotely? The 30-day cut makes the Thailand digital nomad visa (DTV) worth a serious look.
Onward Ticket and Proof of Funds
The State Department warns that Thai immigration officials or airline staff may ask for your onward or return ticket or proof of your financial ability to stay in Thailand. Airlines enforce this most often, because they pay for returning a passenger who is refused entry. With a 30-day stay, your departure date should fall inside that window.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand reminded visitors in July 2026 that a proof-of-funds rule already exists and may be checked. Amounts depend on the entry category, from 10,000 baht per person for some visa-exempt and visa-on-arrival cases to 20,000 baht per person for tourist visas, with some official guidance quoting 20,000 baht for the visa exemption scheme. Children under 12 are exempt. For a full breakdown, read our guide on whether you need proof of onward travel for Thailand.
Is There a Thailand Entry Fee in 2026?
Not yet. Thailand has discussed a tourist entry fee for years. The original 300 baht plan was replaced in August 2026 by a proposed flat fee of 450 baht, which went to public consultation. As of early October 2026, the fee had not received Cabinet approval and was not being collected. Officials are targeting the first quarter of 2027 for air arrivals, with land and sea later. It is not part of the TDAC, and the TDAC itself remains free.
TDAC Scams: Use Only the Official Site
Search “TDAC” or “Thailand arrival card” and you will find many sites that look official, charge a service fee and then file the same free form on your behalf. Some even use “TDAC” in their domain name. The Thai embassy in Vienna states the card is “completely free of charge” and can only be completed through the official website.
- The only official domain is tdac.immigration.go.th, a .go.th government address.
- The official form never asks for a credit card.
- Be wary of any site offering “fast track,” “guaranteed approval” or early filing outside the 3-day window.
- If you already paid a third party, check your inbox for a genuine TDAC email with a QR code. If you cannot find one, file again on the official site.
TDAC Frequently Asked Questions
Is the TDAC free?
Yes. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card costs nothing on the official Immigration Bureau site. Any site charging a fee is a private agent, not the government.
How early can I fill out the TDAC?
No earlier than three days before arrival, with the arrival date counting as day one. Earlier submissions are not accepted.
Do I need a TDAC if I am transiting through Bangkok?
Not if you stay airside and do not pass through immigration. If you clear immigration for any reason, including a self-transfer or an overnight stop, you need one.
Do children need their own TDAC?
Every traveler needs to be registered. You can file up to 10 people in one group submission, and young children can be added to a parent’s group.
What if I made a mistake on my TDAC?
Trip details like flights and hotels can be updated. Errors in your name, passport number, nationality or date of birth require a new submission.
Can I stay 60 days in Thailand without a visa?
Not anymore if you arrive on or after September 15, 2026. US citizens now get 30 days for tourism, with a possible 30-day extension at immigration.
Other Arrival Cards You May Need
Combining Thailand with other trips? These destinations also run their own online entry forms:
- eTravel Philippines, the Philippines’ free arrival registration.
- Check-MIG Colombia, Colombia’s migration form.
- Mexico Tourist Card (FMM), the multiple migration form for Mexico.
- Dominican Republic E-Ticket, required for entry and exit.
Final Word
The TDAC is simple once you know the rules: file it on the official site, within three days of arrival, with your flight, hotel and departure details ready. The harder part in 2026 is the shorter 30-day stay and the onward travel check that comes with it. If your exit plans are still open, you can get an onward ticket for your TDAC and your check-in desk in a few minutes.