What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
The TDAC is the electronic arrival form that every foreign traveller files before entering Thailand - whether arriving by air, by land or by sea. It replaced the paper arrival card that cabin crew and border posts once handed out, and it is checked by Thai immigration at the counter.
What the card records
| Field group | What you provide |
|---|---|
| Identity | Passport details exactly as printed in the document - number, nationality, dates |
| Travel | Flight number or border crossing, arrival date, mode of entry |
| Stay | First night's address in Thailand, accommodation type, contact details |
| Health | A short set of health questions carried over from the paper era |
Because everything is tied to your passport, a single mistyped character - one wrong passport digit or a flight number that does not match your booking - is the most common reason travellers are held up at the immigration desk.
From paper card to digital form
| When | What changed |
|---|---|
| Before 2025 | Foreign arrivals filled in a paper arrival card (the TM.6 form) on the plane or at the border. |
| January 2025 | The official Thai e-Visa system goes worldwide, unifying online visa applications. |
| May 1, 2025 | The Thailand Digital Arrival Card became mandatory for foreign arrivals, replacing the paper TM.6 card. |
| September 2026 | Visa-exempt stays move from 60 to 30 days for many nationalities - the TDAC requirement is unchanged. |
| Since then | The paper card was retired for arrivals; every foreign traveller files digitally - one card per traveller, per entry. |
You will see the same document called many names - TDAC, Thailand arrival card online, Thai digital arrival card, Thailand entry form - they all point to one electronic form filed at the official portal.
Three things it improves
Speed at the counter
Immigration officers read your details before you reach the desk, instead of typing them from a paper card while you wait.
Accuracy
Digital checks catch mismatches between your card and your passport or booking before you fly, not at the border.
One channel
Air, land and sea arrivals all use the same form, so the rules do not change depending on how you arrive.
Where to go from here
- Not sure whether you need one? Start with Who Needs It.
- Ready to file? Follow How to File - the window opens 72 hours before arrival.
- Want the full picture? Read the complete guide or the pre-flight checklist.