Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): 2026 Guide

By NaJade · DJ in Bangkok · Published October 20, 2026

Every foreign visitor to Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arriving. It’s free, it replaced the paper TM6 card on 1 May 2025, and you submit it at tdac.immigration.go.th within the three days before you land. It is not a visa. Any website that charges a fee for it is not the official one.

I fly in and out of Bangkok for gigs, and the TDAC has become part of my pre-flight routine — like checking in and charging my headphones. It takes about ten minutes if you have your details ready. The only real ways to get it wrong are leaving it too late or using a fake website, and both are easy to avoid.

Fill in the TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th, free, within 3 days before arrival. You’ll need your passport, flight number and where you’re staying. Save the confirmation email or screenshot the QR code. It isn’t a visa — check separately how many visa-free days your passport gets.

Who Needs a TDAC

According to Thailand’s embassies and the Immigration Bureau, all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea must submit one — tourists, business travellers and long-term residents alike.

Traveller	Need a TDAC?
Tourist or business visitor	Yes
Visa holder or long-stay resident (non-Thai)	Yes
Transit passenger leaving the airport	Yes — you pass through immigration
Transit/transfer passenger staying airside	No
Thai nationals	No
Border Pass holders	No

How to Fill In the TDAC, Step by Step

Go to the official site: tdac.immigration.go.th. Type it in yourself rather than clicking an ad.
Wait until you’re inside the 3-day window. The system only accepts arrivals within the next three days.
Enter passport details. You can scan the machine-readable strip at the bottom of your passport photo page to fill these in automatically.
Add personal details — occupation, phone, email, country of residence.
Add travel details — arrival date, flight number, where you boarded, and how you’ll leave if known.
Add accommodation — the hotel or address of your first night in Thailand.
Complete the health declaration if prompted. It only applies if your recent travel or nationality is on the Ministry of Public Health’s list.
Review and submit. Everything must be in English. You’ll get a confirmation by email; screenshot or print the QR code as a backup.

Families and groups can submit together — the official TDAC manual allows up to 10 people in one submission. You can edit most details after submitting, but not your name, nationality or date of birth, so check those carefully.

What You’ll Need Ready

Your passport, valid for at least six months.
Your flight number and arrival date.
The address of your first accommodation — see where to stay in Bangkok if you haven’t booked yet.
An email address you can access on arrival.
Your phone, charged, with the confirmation saved offline — or arrange a SIM or eSIM in advance.

Avoid Fake TDAC Websites

This is the part that catches people. Copycat sites appear high in search results and charge a “processing fee” for something that’s free. In March 2026, Thailand’s Immigration Bureau said at least 10% of foreign arrivals had used fake TDAC sites, as reported by Khaosod English. Data entered on those sites isn’t linked to the real system, so you may still have to fill in the real form — and you’ve handed your passport details to strangers.

The real address ends in .go.th — tdac.immigration.go.th.
The official TDAC is always free. Any payment page means you’re on the wrong site.
Ignore “e-visa” or “fast-track” bundles that include the TDAC.
Don’t use agents unless your airline or a trusted tour operator does it for you.

More traps to dodge once you’ve landed: Bangkok scams to avoid.

TDAC vs Visa: Don’t Confuse Them

The TDAC is an arrival registration, not permission to stay. Your visa status is separate. As of 15 September 2026, Thailand cut its visa-exemption period from 60 days to 30 days for passport holders of eligible countries, with 15 days for a few nationalities, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Check your own nationality on that page before you book a long trip.

Once you’ve landed, the next question is getting into town: see Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok city or Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok city.

A Note From NaJade

The first time I filled in the TDAC I did it at the gate, on airport Wi-Fi, with my passport in the overhead locker. Don’t be me. Do it the evening before you fly, with your booking confirmation open. It really is ten minutes. What worries me more is how many visitors I meet who paid a fake site for it — and then had to fill in the real form at the airport anyway. Bookmark the official address, take a screenshot of the QR code, and you’ll walk through arrivals with one less thing on your mind. Then the only thing left to sort out is a taxi and a bowl of noodles.

Video: Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) 2026 – Complete Step by Step Guide (YouTube)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card free?

Yes. The official TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th is completely free. Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has repeatedly warned about copycat websites that charge fees, sometimes bundled as e-visa or fast-track services. If a site asks for payment, close it and type the official address directly into your browser instead of clicking a search ad.

When should I submit the TDAC?

Within the three days before you arrive in Thailand. The system won’t accept a submission earlier than that. The evening before your flight is ideal: you’ll have your flight number and accommodation confirmed, and time to fix any mistakes. You can also submit it on the day of travel if needed.

Do I need a TDAC if I’m transiting through Bangkok?

Only if you pass through immigration. Passengers transferring between flights who stay in the international transit area are exempt. If you’re leaving the airport during a layover, even for a few hours, you go through immigration like any arrival and need to complete the TDAC.

Is the TDAC a visa?

No. The TDAC is a digital arrival registration that replaced the paper TM6 form. It doesn’t give you permission to stay. Your entry still depends on your visa or visa-exemption status, which since 15 September 2026 is generally 30 days for eligible nationalities. Check the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s announcement for your passport.

What information do I need for the TDAC?

Your passport details, contact information, flight number, arrival date, country of boarding and the address where you’ll stay first in Thailand. A health declaration is required only for certain travel histories. All answers must be in English. You can scan your passport’s machine-readable strip to fill in some fields automatically.

Can I change my TDAC after submitting?

Yes, you can update most details such as flight or accommodation before you travel, using the official site. Your full name, nationality and date of birth can’t be edited, so double-check them before submitting. If those are wrong, you’ll need to submit a new arrival card with the correct information.

About the Author

NaJade is a Bangkok-based DJ playing progressive house, melodic EDM, pop, and Thai music across clubs, rooftops, and weddings in Thailand — and has lived in the city long enough to have made every one of these mistakes at least once. Find him on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): How to Fill It In