Thailand Digital Arrival Card — FAQ

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is the mandatory electronic immigration form that replaces the old paper 'TM6' arrival card. As of 2026, paper forms have been phased out at major airports like Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Phuket (HKT).

The TDAC serves two critical purposes: Immigration Tracking and Health Screening. It links your passport details, flight number, and address in Thailand into a single digital record.

Is it mandatory? Yes. Unlike a visa, the TDAC is required for every single foreign passport holder entering Thailand by air. This applies regardless of whether you have a Tourist Visa, a Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, or are entering under the 60-day Visa Exemption scheme. If you arrive without a QR code, you will be pulled out of the queue and forced to fill it out at a kiosk, delaying your entry.

This is the most common confusion for travelers in 2026. The short answer is: For most travelers, the TDAC is the only form you need.

The 'Electronic Travel Authorization' (ETA) was a separate proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intended to pre-screen travelers. However, the standalone ETA requirement has been largely consolidated into the TDAC system for the 2026 travel season.

Ignore outdated advice telling you to apply months in advance. As of right now, your primary mandatory digital step is filing the TDAC within 72 hours of your arrival. You do not need to file two separate forms. Focus on getting your TDAC Approved QR Code, and you will be clear to pass through immigration.

The official Thai Immigration website is free but designed as a 'self-service' portal. It requires individual filing, has strict photo upload rules that often fail on mobile, and offers no support.

TDAC.info offers Premium Assistance ($29) to save you time:

• Error Review: We manually check data against passport standards (e.g., catching '0' vs 'O' errors) before submission.
• Group Processing: The official site forces a fresh form for every person. We allow you to add up to 6 travelers in one go, auto-copying flight and hotel details.
• Lifetime Backup: We can resend lost QR codes instantly 24/7.

Yes. Do not confuse 'Visa Exemption' with 'Form Exemption.'

The 60-Day Visa Exemption grants you the right to stay without a visa application. However, the Immigration Bureau still requires a record of who you are and where you are staying. This is what the TDAC provides.

Visa-exempt travelers are actually the primary target for the TDAC because the government doesn't have a prior visa record for you. The officer will check your passport (for the exemption) and your TDAC QR code (for the data record). Missing the TDAC will halt your entry process.

No, you are not exempt. Holders of Thailand Privilege (Elite), LTR, or Non-Immigrant O visas must submit a Digital Arrival Card for every entry.

While your visa gives permission to reside, the Immigration Act mandates that every entry is recorded with current flight and accommodation details. For long-term residents, enter your permanent condo or house address rather than a hotel.

Pro Tip: Using our service saves time for frequent travelers as we store your profile, meaning you only need to update flight dates for future trips.

The ideal window is 3 to 7 days before your flight.

• Too Early: Flight schedules change or hotels get cancelled, making your data incorrect.
• Too Late: Applying at the airport is risky due to potential system outages or manual review delays.

Recommendation: Submit with us as soon as your trip is booked. We queue your application and submit it to the immigration system at the optimal time (72 hours prior) to ensure your QR code is valid when you land.

On the official government portal, no. You must start a new blank application for every passenger. This is tedious and prone to errors.

On TDAC.info, YES. We built a 'Group Application' feature:

1. Fill out Trip Details once.
2. Add up to 6 passengers by entering passport details.
3. We process all simultaneously and send all QR codes in one email.

This saves the average family of four about 20-30 minutes of data entry.

A mistake is critical. The system links your TDAC QR Code directly to your Passport Number. If they don't match, you do not exist in the system.

Common Mistakes: Swapping '0' and 'O', or wrong birth year.

The Fix: If you used the government site, you must re-apply. If you use TDAC.info, email support@tdac.info immediately. We can often correct the data and re-issue the QR code instantly if it hasn't been final-filed yet.

This is mandatory under Immigration Law (Section 38) for security and contact tracing.

What to enter:

• Tourists: The name/address of your first hotel.
• Visiting Friends: The full address of their residence.
• Backpackers: You cannot write 'Bangkok'. You must book your first night's stay. Vague addresses trigger manual review.

Our system includes an address validator to prevent these rejections.

We highly recommend printing a physical copy, though screenshots are technically accepted.

Why print?

• Battery: Phones die after long flights.
• Internet: Airport WiFi is spotty; you might not access your email.
• Scanning: Paper scans instantly; screens often struggle with glare.

Keep a printed copy inside your passport as a fail-safe.

This law is enforced strictly in 2026 to crack down on illegal workers.

The Rule: You must prove adequate funds.

• Individual: 20,000 THB (~$600 USD).
• Family: 40,000 THB total.

The Catch: It must be CASH or liquid currency. Banking apps or credit cards are not accepted. Checks are random, but if you cannot produce cash upon request, you can be denied entry.

No. The TDAC is a pre-arrival declaration, not a 'right to enter.'

Final approval rests with the Immigration Officer. Entry can be denied for:

1. Blacklist status.
2. Lack of funds (20k THB rule).
3. No return flight ticket.
4. Excessive 'Visa Exempt' entries.

Think of the TDAC as your 'ticket to get in line.'

Visa-exempt travelers are limited to two (2) land border entries per calendar year.

• Entries 1 & 2: Standard 60-day stamp.
• Entry 3: You will likely be refused and told to fly in.

Important: TDAC is required for land entries too. Apply before you reach the border as signal can be poor.

Indirectly, yes. Immigration officers may check your arrival record when you apply for a 30-day extension.

If your original entry data was incomplete, it causes delays. Having your TDAC copy helps verify your 'Date of Arrival' and flight details for the TM7 Extension Form.

Extension Rule 2026: Visa Exempt travelers get one 30-day extension (Cost: 1,900 THB).

Yes, absolutely. Thai law requires every individual passport holder to have a digital arrival record, including infants (0-2 years).

Parents often mistakenly assume the child is covered by their form. This is false. When using our service, ensure you add every child as a 'Passenger' so they generate a unique QR code.

It depends on how you transit:

• Fly-Through (Int'l Transfer): Bags checked through, staying in transit area. NO TDAC needed.
• Self-Transfer: Collecting bags to re-check for a separate airline. YES, you need a TDAC because you must pass immigration to reach the baggage belt.

On the official portal, no. You must submit a new application.

On TDAC.info, we hold applications in a 'Review State'. If you reply to your confirmation email immediately with corrections, we can fix it before final filing. If already filed, we can help submit a corrected version quickly.

The free government site has no login/retrieval system.

TDAC.info maintains a Secure Cloud Backup. Simply email support@tdac.info with your name and passport number. Our automated system or agents will resend your QR code PDF within minutes.

We use 256-bit SSL encryption.

• Usage: Solely for generating your Digital Arrival Card.
• Retention: Retained only as long as necessary for processing and support.
• Privacy: We never sell or rent data to third parties. Your travel plans remain private between you, us, and Immigration.

Overstaying is a serious offense.

• Short (< 90 Days): Fine of 500 THB/day (max 20,000) and an 'Overstay' stamp.
• Long (> 90 Days): Mandatory ban from re-entering Thailand (1, 3, or 5 years).

The TDAC records your intended departure, giving immigration clear data. Do not risk it.