Thailand requires 3 day filing window for the new TDAC arrival card

Headline: Thailand requires foreign travelers to file TDAC within 3 days

Foreign travelers entering Thailand must present a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) confirmation after completing the free online form before reaching immigration.

The 3-day filing window

The TDAC can be submitted during the 3 days before arrival, including the arrival date. Travelers provide passport and trip details, a Thai accommodation address, health declaration information and an email address through the Thai Immigration Bureau’s official portal.

A confirmation and QR code arrive by email after submission. Travelers should file before departure and keep that confirmation accessible for immigration, rather than relying on airport connectivity.

The form is free. Unofficial websites may charge processing fees, so travelers should use only the Immigration Bureau portal.

Every non-Thai traveler needs one

The requirement covers all non-Thai nationals entering by air, land or sea, including tourists, digital nomads, business travelers, long-term residents, children and infants. It applies regardless of the visa or residency rules covered in the Thailand guide.

Crew members don’t need a TDAC. Transit passengers can skip it only when they remain in the international transit area and don’t pass through immigration control.

TDAC doesn’t replace a visa

The digital card replaces Thailand’s former paper arrival card, not a visa. Travelers must still meet any separate visa, visa-exemption or entry requirements that apply to their passports.

Submissions can cover an individual or a group of up to 10 travelers. Some details can be corrected before arrival, while kiosks and Wi-Fi are available at some airports for travelers who couldn’t complete the form online.