How to Fill Out TDAC: Step-by-Step Guide With Every Field Explained (2026)

Key Takeaways

Passport Data: Must match the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) exactly.
Address: "Bangkok" is not enough. You need a full hotel or condo address.
Timing: Submit at least 3 days before travel for safety.
Solution: Use our agency service to have an expert verify your data before filing.

The transition from the blue TM6 paper card to the Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) was meant to speed up immigration. However, the digital system is far stricter than a human officer. The computer cannot "guess" what you meant if you make a typo.

This guide breaks down the form field-by-field, highlighting the exact areas where travelers get rejected.

1. Personal Details (The "MRZ" Rule)

The most critical rule of the TDAC is this: Your input must match the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) of your passport.

The MRZ is the two lines of code at the very bottom of your passport photo page. The scanner reads this, not the formatted text above it.

Correct Way

First Name: MICHAEL JAMES

Include middle name if it appears in the MRZ

Passport No: M12345678

Wrong Way

First Name: MIKE

Do not use nicknames

Passport No: M1234567B

Confusing '8' with 'B'

Common Name Errors

Middle Names: If your passport lists "Given Names: John William", you must enter "John William" in the First Name field. Do not drop the middle name.
Special Characters: Hyphens (e.g., Jean-Luc) or accents (e.g., Müller) often cause system errors. Use the MRZ spelling (e.g., MUELLER).

2. Visa Information

This section confuses many travelers because the options do not always match the common name of your visa.

Tourists (No Visa): Select "Visa Exemption" (not "Visa on Arrival").
Paid VOA: Select "Visa on Arrival" only if you plan to pay 2,000 THB at the counter or have an E-VOA.
Long-Term: For Elite, LTR, or Retirement visas, select "Tourist" or "Non-Immigrant" depending on the specific dropdown options available at the time.

3. Address in Thailand (The #1 Rejection Reason)

You cannot simply write "Bangkok" or "Phuket." The system validates the address against a database of provinces and districts.

How to format your address correctly:

Hotel: "Grand Hyatt Erawan, 494 Rajdamri Road, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330"
Condo/Airbnb: "The Base Condo, Unit 88/99, Sai 2 Road, Pattaya City, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri 20150"

Pro Tip: Always have your booking confirmation PDF ready. Copy the postal code first — this often auto-fills the Province and District fields correctly.

4. Arrival Details

Arrival Date: Use the date you land in Thailand. If your flight leaves London on the 1st and lands on the 2nd, enter the 2nd.
Flight Number: Enter your international flight number (e.g., EK372). If you have a connecting domestic flight on the same ticket, use the international flight that brings you into the Kingdom.

5. Occupation Field (What to Select)

The occupation field confuses many travelers, especially parents filing for young children. Here is exactly what to select:

Your Situation	Select This
Child or infant (any age)	Child
University/school student	Student
Retired	Retiree
Working for a company	Employee
Freelancer or business owner	Business Owner
Homemaker, unemployed, or other	Other

For Parents Filing for Children

Select Child for every passenger under 18, including infants. Do not leave this field blank or select Employee. The occupation field is informational only and is not validated against your visa type, but selecting the wrong option can cause processing delays.

6. TDAC Occupation for Children & Infants

What should I put for occupation on TDAC for a child?

Select Child from the occupation dropdown. This applies to all minors under 18, including toddlers and school-age children. Do not select Student or Employee for young children.

What is the TDAC occupation field for infants and babies?

For infants (0–2 years) and babies, select Child. Every infant needs their own separate TDAC application with their own passport details, even if they are on a parent's lap.

Should I select Student for my child on TDAC Thailand?

Only select Student if the child is currently enrolled in a university or school and is 18 or older. For all children under 18, the correct option is Child, regardless of whether they attend school.

What are all the TDAC occupation field options?

The TDAC occupation dropdown includes: Employee, Business Owner, Student, Retiree, Child, and Other. Select the option that best matches the traveler's current situation.

7. Common Questions about Mistakes

I put the wrong flight number. Does it matter?

Usually, no. Immigration cares more about your identity and passport number. If the flight number is slightly off, you will likely still be admitted.

I submitted with the wrong passport number!

This is critical. You must submit a NEW application immediately. The system links the TDAC to your passport number. If they do not match, you do not exist in the system.