The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is the online arrival form used by foreign travellers entering Thailand. It replaces the old paper arrival card, but it does not replace a visa and it does not extend your permitted stay.

Essential timing: submit the TDAC no more than three days before arrival, including the arrival date. It is required for non-Thai nationals entering by air, land or sea, with limited exceptions such as travellers who remain in airport transit and do not pass through immigration.

Who needs a TDAC?

Foreign nationals entering Thailand generally need a TDAC, including children and infants. A separate arrival record is required for each journey. If you leave and later re-enter Thailand, submit a new TDAC for the new arrival.

A traveller who stays entirely airside and does not pass through Thai immigration normally does not need one. If your itinerary involves collecting baggage, changing airports or entering Thailand before a connecting flight, your position may be different.

What you should prepare

Passport information

Use the names, passport number, nationality and date details exactly as they appear in the passport used for travel.

Arrival details

Have the expected arrival date, country of boarding and flight, vessel or vehicle number available.

Thailand address

Prepare the name and address of your first accommodation in Thailand. Incomplete or inconsistent address details are a common source of confusion.

Contact and health details

You will need an email address for the confirmation and may be asked for travel and health-declaration information.

Common TDAC mistakes

  • Submitting through an unofficial website that charges unnecessary fees.
  • Completing the form too early rather than within the permitted three-day window.
  • Entering a nickname or shortened name that does not match the passport.
  • Using the wrong arrival date after a late-night flight or schedule change.
  • Confusing the TDAC confirmation with visa approval or permission to remain in Thailand.
  • Reusing an old TDAC for a later entry.
Avoid unofficial payment sites. The official TDAC submission itself is free. The official portal is tdac.immigration.go.th. Check the domain carefully before entering passport information.

TDAC, visa and entry permission are different

The TDAC records your arrival information. Your visa or visa-exemption status determines the route under which you seek entry, while the permission recorded at entry determines how long you may remain. Completing a TDAC does not guarantee entry and does not correct a visa problem.

If you are unsure which visa fits your plans, start with our Thailand visa comparison. For longer stays, review the retirement visa, marriage visa or DTV visa guides and ask us to assess your circumstances.

Can a TDAC be corrected?

The official system provides an update function for eligible details. If a key fact has changed, do not assume the original confirmation remains suitable. Check the updated record carefully and keep the latest confirmation available during travel.

How Next Step Hua Hin can help

The TDAC is only one part of a smooth arrival. Next Step can help you check that your planned entry, visa, accommodation reporting and longer-term immigration arrangements make sense together. We do not present the TDAC as a paid visa or make unrealistic promises about entry decisions.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the TDAC cost?

The official Thailand Digital Arrival Card submission is free. Be cautious of lookalike commercial sites.

Can I submit it a week before travelling?

No. The official window is no more than three days before arrival, including the arrival date.

Does every child need one?

Yes. Children and infants are included in the requirement, though family or group submission features may make preparation easier.

Do I need to print it?

Keep the confirmation accessible on your phone and consider carrying a printed copy as a practical backup.

Does a TDAC replace TM30 reporting?

No. They serve different purposes. Accommodation reporting obligations remain separate; see our TM30 guide.

Planning more than a short visit?

Tell Next Step Hua Hin how long you plan to stay and what you want to do in Thailand. We can help identify the appropriate visa route and organise the next steps around your arrival.

Ask Next Step Hua Hin

Checked against the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card guidance in August 2026. Rules and system behaviour can change; confirm time-sensitive details before travel.

Need a quick answer?

Ask Next Step Hua Hin

Type your question below to search our website and receive an immediate answer.