Entry Requirements
If you hold a passport from Portugal, 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 Portuguese 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 Portuguese Passport Holders
Multiple surnames and given names — this is the most common reason for TDAC rejections from Portuguese 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 Portugal 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
Portuguese citizens: Visa Exempt (30 Days). No visa application required for tourist stays within the allowed period.
Visa Duration for Portuguese Citizens
Portuguese passport holders can stay in Thailand for 30 days from 15 Sep 2026 under the current visa exemption. Extensions are available at local Immigration offices.
Flights to Thailand from Portugal
- Lisbon (LIS) → Bangkok (via connection)
Common TDAC Mistakes by Portuguese Travelers
- Multiple middle names must all appear as in passport
- Portuguese passport numbers: 1 letter + 6 digits
- Cartão de Cidadão is NOT valid for Thailand
Auto Gates at Suvarnabhumi: Portugal Is on the Announced List
Thailand's Immigration Bureau approved in principle on 17 August 2026 that Portugal 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 Lisbon
For visa enquiries beyond the visa exemption period, contact the Royal Thai Embassy in Lisbon.
Visit Embassy WebsiteThe 90-Second Version
What Immigration Checks on Portuguese Passports
- Passport, not Cartão de Cidadão. The citizen card is valid only in Europe; Thailand needs the passport with six months' validity from entry.
- Onward ticket. Checked by the airline on one-way tickets.
- First-night address. Required on the TDAC.
Your Name on the TDAC
Staying Longer Than 30 days
Practical Notes for Portuguese Travellers
- Cards. Portuguese Visa and Mastercard cards work widely; Multibanco-only cards do not. Every Thai ATM charges a flat 220 THB per withdrawal.
- Time zone. Thailand is seven hours ahead of Portugal in winter, six in summer.
- Help in Thailand. The Portuguese Embassy is by the river in Bangkok's Charoen Krung district.
Sources
The facts on this page were checked against these primary sources. Each link opens the publisher's own website.
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) portal, Immigration Bureau — tdac.immigration.go.th
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand — mfa.go.th
- Royal Thai Government Gazette (Ratchakitcha) — ratchakitcha.soc.go.th
- Thai Customs Department — customs.go.th
- World Health Organization (WHO): international travel advice — who.int
Links checked on 8 October 2026.
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