If you last visited Thailand before 2024, you probably remember the TM.6 arrival card — the small paper form flight attendants handed out on the plane. That form no longer exists. Thailand replaced it with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), a fully digital system. Here is what changed and what it means for your next trip.
What Was the TM.6?
The TM.6 (also called the TM6 or Thailand arrival/departure card) was a two-part paper form. You filled it out on the plane with a pen, handed one half to the immigration officer on arrival, and kept the other half stapled in your passport until departure. If you lost the departure card, you faced fines and delays when leaving the country.
The form collected: full name, passport number, flight number, Thai address, occupation, and purpose of visit. It was identical in purpose to the current TDAC — the only difference is the medium.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | TM.6 (Old Paper Card) | TDAC (Current Digital Card) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Paper form (pen and ink) | Online form (digital) |
| When to fill out | On the plane or at the airport | Before departure (up to 12 months in advance) |
| How to submit | Hand to immigration officer | QR code scanned at the counter |
| Departure card | Yes — kept stapled in passport | No departure card — fully digital |
| Risk of loss | High (paper easily lost = fines) | None (QR code stored digitally, re-printable) |
| Languages available | English and Thai only | Multiple languages |
| Error correction | Cross out and rewrite (messy) | File a new TDAC (old one superseded) |
| Group filing | Each person fills their own | One adult can file for up to 6 travelers |
| Data collected | Name, passport, flight, address, occupation | Same data plus additional digital fields |
| Mandatory | Yes | Yes |
| Cost | Free | Free (government portal) or $29 (assisted filing) |
What Stayed the Same
- Still mandatory: Every foreign national entering Thailand must complete either the old TM.6 (before the switch) or the TDAC (now). There is no exemption.
- Same data: The TDAC collects the same core information — passport details, flight info, Thai accommodation, and purpose of visit.
- Same presentation: You still show it at the immigration counter. The only difference is showing a QR code instead of handing over paper.
- Not a visa: Neither the TM.6 nor the TDAC grants entry permission. They are data forms. Your visa (or visa exemption) determines whether you can enter.
What Changed for the Better
- No more lost departure cards: The old TM.6 departure card was stapled into your passport and frequently fell out, leading to fines and delays at departure. The TDAC has no physical departure component.
- File in advance: You can complete the TDAC up to 12 months before travel. No more scrambling with a pen on a turbulent flight.
- Error correction is easy: Made a mistake? File a new TDAC. Only the latest submission counts. With the paper TM.6, corrections meant messy cross-outs that sometimes triggered extra scrutiny.
- Family filing: One adult can file for up to 6 travelers at once. The paper TM.6 required each person to fill out their own form individually.
- Digital backup: Your QR code is emailed to you and stored digitally. Print it, screenshot it, or retrieve it later — no single point of failure.
What to Watch Out For
- Do not wait until the airport: Unlike the TM.6 which you could fill out at the immigration counter, the TDAC must be filed digitally. If you arrive without one, you will be sent to a kiosk with airport Wi-Fi (unreliable) and lose 30–60 minutes.
- Passport MRZ accuracy: The digital form validates your passport number against a database. Typos that a human officer might overlook on paper will be flagged digitally.
- One per person: Even infants need their own TDAC filing. With the old TM.6, some officers waived the form for babies — the digital system has no such exception.
I have an old TM.6 departure card stapled in my passport. Do I need to remove it?
When exactly did Thailand switch from TM.6 to TDAC?
Can I still fill out a paper form at the airport?
First Time Filing a TDAC?
If you remember the simplicity of the old paper TM.6, the digital version is even easier — especially with expert review to catch errors. File in 5 minutes, get your QR code by email.
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