Thailand TDAC
Everything you need for your Thailand TDAC: requirements, processing times and answers to the most common questions.
Official Thailand government portalOverview
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card, known as the TDAC, is Thailand's mandatory online arrival registration for foreign nationals arriving by air. It is not a visa and it does not by itself permit entry: it is a digital declaration that every traveller must submit before reaching the border, recording who you are, the flight you arrive on, where you will stay and a short health declaration. The TDAC became compulsory on 1 May 2025, replacing the paper TM6 card that crew used to hand out on flights, and it applies to everyone, including nationalities that enter Thailand without a visa.
You submit it within three days before your arrival date, and within that window it is free at the official source. Submitting earlier than the three-day window can attract a small official charge, which is one of the most common ways travellers end up paying when they did not need to. Once accepted, the declaration generates a confirmation with a QR code, normally sent to your email within minutes, that you present to the immigration officer if asked.
The TDAC does not set how long you may stay, which is governed by your nationality's visa exemption or your Thai visa. Your arrival card is completed and reviewed for accuracy and submitted in the correct window so your arrival in Thailand goes smoothly.
Thailand TDAC questions
What is the TDAC?
The TDAC is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, a mandatory online arrival registration for foreign nationals arriving by air. It became compulsory on 1 May 2025 and replaced the paper TM6 card. It is a declaration of who you are and your trip, not a visa, and everyone arriving must submit it.
When should I submit the TDAC?
Submit the TDAC within three days before your arrival date in Thailand, once your flight and accommodation are confirmed. Within that window the declaration is free at the official source. We prepare and review your card and submit it inside the correct window, with a short buffer before you fly.
Is the TDAC free?
Yes, the TDAC is free to submit within the three-day window at the official source. Submitting earlier than that window can attract a small official charge. Our service fee covers completing the arrival card with you, reviewing every entry and submitting it correctly in the right window.
Do I still need a visa for Thailand?
The TDAC does not replace a visa. Many nationalities enter Thailand without a visa for short tourist visits, but the arrival card is still mandatory for everyone. If your nationality requires a Thai visa, you obtain it separately through a visa on arrival or an e-visa, and you complete the TDAC as well.
What information do I need to complete it?
You need your passport details, your travel details and a short health declaration. That means your name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and passport expiry, your arrival flight and date, the purpose of your visit and your Thai accommodation address, plus the countries you visited in the recent days before travel.
What do I receive after submitting?
Once your declaration is accepted you receive a confirmation with a QR code by email, normally within minutes. Save it on your phone or print a copy. The immigration officer may ask to see it on arrival, so keep it where you can open it quickly without internet access.
Who has to complete the Thailand arrival card?
All foreign nationals arriving in Thailand by air must complete the TDAC, including nationalities that enter without a visa. Each traveller files their own declaration, and you can complete the cards for children and family members travelling with you. The card replaced the paper TM6 form for everyone.
Can I complete the TDAC for my family?
Yes. You can prepare and submit a TDAC for travelling companions and family members, including children, in the same booking. Each person needs their own declaration tied to their own passport, and we review every card for accuracy before it is submitted in the correct window.
Do I need to print the TDAC QR code?
You do not have to print it, but it is wise to have it ready offline. Save the QR code confirmation on your phone and, as a backup, print a copy. If the immigration officer asks for it on arrival you can present it from your device or on paper without depending on an airport connection.
How long can I stay in Thailand?
The TDAC does not set your length of stay. How long you may remain depends on your nationality's visa exemption or your Thai visa, commonly up to a set number of days for visa-exempt tourist visits. The arrival card simply registers your entry; the admitted period is decided by your visa status and the officer.
Which website is the official one?
The TDAC is issued through the official Thai immigration portal at tdac.immigration.go.th. Many look-alike sites bid for attention and charge a fee for a free declaration. Our value is the trámite done for you: we complete and review your arrival card and submit it in the correct window so you are not caught out by a copycat site.
Is VisitPass an official government website?
No. VisitPass is an independent service, not a government site and not affiliated with Thai immigration. The arrival card itself is free within the window at the official source; our service fee covers completing the declaration with you, reviewing it for accuracy and submitting it correctly so your arrival goes smoothly.
Can the TDAC be rejected, and how do I avoid mistakes?
The TDAC is a declaration, not an approval that gets refused, but a mismatch can cause questions or a rejected submission. The usual causes are a mistyped passport number, a name that does not match the passport or a wrong arrival date. We review every field against your passport and travel details before it is submitted, so the most common avoidable errors are caught early rather than at the border.
Why do some sites charge a fee for the TDAC?
Many look-alike sites bid to appear first in search results and charge for a card that is free at the official source within the submission window. They are not the government portal. Our service fee is separate and honest: it covers completing the declaration with you, reviewing each entry and submitting it in the correct window, in your language, so you are not caught out by a copycat charge.
Do I need the TDAC for a transit or connecting flight in Thailand?
If you pass through Thai immigration, even on a layover where you leave the international transit area, you must submit the TDAC before you travel. Passengers who stay airside on a connecting flight and never clear immigration generally do not. When you are unsure, complete it anyway: the TDAC is free from the government, submitting it when it was not strictly required causes no problem, and arriving without one when you needed it can hold you up at the checkpoint.
How is the TDAC QR code delivered to me?
After your declaration is accepted, the confirmation with a QR code is sent to the email address on the form, usually within minutes. Save it on your phone and keep a printed backup in case the immigration officer asks for it. If it does not arrive, check your spam folder and confirm the email address was entered correctly; we verify that address before submitting so the confirmation reaches you.
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