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.
TDAC: official 2026 checklist and correction rules
- Submit free of charge only at tdac.immigration.go.th, within the three-day window that includes your arrival date.
- One form per entry: every non-Thai traveller, including children, needs a record. A family/group submission can include up to 10 travellers.
- Transit: no TDAC is needed if you remain in international transit and do not pass Immigration; it is required if you enter Thailand.
- Correcting mistakes: use Update Arrival Card for editable fields. If name, passport number, nationality or date of birth is wrong, submit a new form; the most recent valid submission is used.
- No device: kiosks are available at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai, but completing the form before travel is safer.
Since the October 2026 system release, the confirmation process can also display a decision on eligibility to use the automated passport-control channel. That indication helps route the traveller; it is not a visa, does not guarantee admission and does not replace the immigration officer’s decision. Read our Thailand airport e-gates guide, TM30 guide and visa guides.
Official TDAC FAQ and release notes checked 30 October 2026.
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.
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.
How TDAC affects Auto Border Control
After you submit or update your TDAC, check the confirmation email for the Immigration Bureau’s Auto Border Control result. “AUTOMATED BORDER CONTROL – ELIGIBLE” means the system has marked you eligible to use an automated gate; “IMMIGRATION COUNTER – MANUAL PROCESSING” means you should proceed to a staffed counter. This result is separate from visa approval and does not guarantee admission.
For the airport-by-airport rules, passport groups, visa-holder guidance and what to do when the gate rejects you, read our complete Thailand airport e-gates guide.
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.
Checked against the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card guidance on 26 October 2026. Rules and system behaviour can change; confirm time-sensitive details before travel.
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