Thailand mandates TDAC arrival registration for all non-Thai travelers

A second front door for Thai immigration

Thailand's Immigration Bureau now runs arrival registration through two channels: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) web form that became mandatory on May 1, 2025 and a newer mobile app called THIM that handles the same workflow from a phone.

The TDAC replaced the paper arrival card for foreign nationals entering by air, land or sea. It must be submitted within 3 days before arrival, costs nothing and covers passport, travel, accommodation and health-declaration details. Group submissions of up to 10 travelers are allowed.

THIM, listed in the Google Play Store as the official digital immigration platform and updated April 24, 2026, packages the same arrival registration into an app the bureau says cuts processing to under 3 minutes. Broader rollout and additional languages are planned later this year.

Who has to file

Every non-Thai national entering the country has to complete the TDAC, including tourists, business travelers, expats, digital nomads and long-term residents. The only carve-outs are transit passengers who don't pass immigration control and people entering on a border pass.

Thai nationals are exempt.

For nomads and expats running visa runs or regional trips, the practical shift is simple: every entry and re-entry triggers a fresh digital submission. Passport data, flight details and a first-night address in Thailand need to be ready before each arrival.

Filing the form before you fly

The TDAC portal accepts submissions in English and can pull passport data by scanning the MRZ strip. Travelers need:

• Passport and personal details
• Travel information (flight, entry point, date)
• Accommodation address for the first night
• Health-declaration responses

Submitted forms can be edited before travel, though full name, nationality and date of birth lock at submission. Save or print the confirmation, the bureau says and keep it accessible during the stay.

Travelers choosing THIM get the same data fields plus trip management and reminder features inside the app. Both routes remain free and there's no third-party agent that needs paying to file on a traveler's behalf.

Read our full Thailand guide for the complete picture.