Entry Requirements
If you hold a passport from New Zealand, you must submit a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before entering the Kingdom of Thailand. The TDAC replaced the paper-based TM6 form and is now required for all international arrivals — regardless of your visa status or purpose of travel.
As a New Zealand citizen, you are eligible for visa exempt (30 days) entry. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry. The TDAC collects your personal details, travel information, and accommodation address in Thailand.
⚠️ Common Issue for New Zealand Passport Holders
Date format confusion (NZ uses DD/MM/YYYY) — this is the most common reason for TDAC rejections from New Zealand travelers. Our system automatically detects and corrects these issues before submission, ensuring your arrival card is accepted without delays at immigration.
How to Apply
- 1Have your New Zealand passport ready with at least 6 months validity from your planned entry date.
- 2Complete the online form on TDAC.info with your personal details, travel itinerary, and accommodation address in Thailand.
- 3Our team reviews your submission for errors and you receive your approved QR code via email before your departure.
- 4Present your QR code at Thai immigration upon arrival — no paper forms needed, skip the queues.
Visa Status
New Zealand citizens: Visa Exempt (30 Days). No visa application required for tourist stays within the allowed period.
Visa Duration for New Zealand Citizens
New Zealand passport holders can stay in Thailand for 30 days from 15 Sep 2026 (60 days if you enter by 14 Sep 2026) under the current visa exemption. Extensions are available at local Immigration offices.
Flights to Thailand from New Zealand
- Auckland (AKL) → Bangkok (via connection)
Common TDAC Mistakes by New Zealand Travelers
- Date format: NZ uses DD/MM/YYYY — same as TDAC
- NZ passport numbers: 2 letters + 6 digits
- e-Passport chip must be functional
Auto Gates at Suvarnabhumi: New Zealand Is on the Announced List
Thailand's Immigration Bureau approved in principle on 17 August 2026 that New Zealand passports will be added to the automated arrival gates at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, with the change phased in ahead of the November-April high season. It is not fully live yet: until the signage at your terminal says otherwise, treat the manned counter as your default.
What has to be true before a gate will take you
- At least two previous entries to Thailand. The gate matches a live face scan against biometrics already on file, so first-time visitors still clear immigration at a manned counter.
- A renewed passport resets it. New passport, new biometric capture - the first arrival after a renewal goes back through the counter.
- The arrival card is still mandatory. Auto gates do not replace the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. The gate reads your passport chip and looks up the TDAC filed under that passport number.
- Any mismatch sends you to the manual queue. A name spelling, passport number or date of birth that does not match the filed TDAC will not clear the gate.
The fast lane is only as fast as the arrival card behind it: the details on your TDAC have to match the passport in your hand, character for character.
Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington
For visa enquiries beyond the visa exemption period, contact the Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington.
Visit Embassy WebsiteThe 90-Second Version
What Immigration Checks on New Zealand Passports
- Onward ticket. Asked of Kiwis on open-ended trips — by the airline at Auckland as much as by Thai immigration. A flight or bus out within your permitted stay is enough.
- Passport validity. Six months from entry. NZ adult passports are ten-year documents, children's five — check the kids' dates first.
- Funds. Immigration can ask for 10,000 THB per person (20,000 per family); a banking-app balance on your phone is accepted.
- Vapes. Legal and everyday in New Zealand, illegal in Thailand and confiscated with a fine at the airport. Leave them at home.
Your Name on the TDAC
Staying Longer Than 30 days
Practical Notes for New Zealand Travellers
- Money. NZ debit and credit cards work in Thai ATMs, each withdrawal carrying a flat 220 THB machine fee on top of your bank's; take fewer, larger withdrawals. Tell your bank you are travelling.
- Time zone. Thailand is five hours behind New Zealand in NZ winter, six in NZ daylight-saving summer.
- Connections. Via Sydney or Melbourne you clear Australian transit without a visa if you stay airside; via Singapore or Hong Kong the bag is checked through. The TDAC must be filed before you land in Thailand, not before leaving Auckland.
- Help in Thailand. The New Zealand Embassy is in Bangkok's Sathorn district. Register on SafeTravel before you fly.
At the Airport
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