Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): The Mandatory Form Every Traveller Needs

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is the online arrival declaration that the Thai Immigration Bureau made mandatory on 1 May 2025. It replaced the paper TM6 card that travellers used to fill out on the plane for decades. Unlike the Thailand eVisa — which only certain nationalities need — the TDAC is required of every foreign traveller, regardless of nationality, visa type, or reason for travel. If you enter Thailand and pass through immigration, you need a TDAC.

The card is not a visa and grants no permission to enter on its own. It is an arrival declaration: your identity, passport, flight or border-crossing details, where you will stay in Thailand, and a short health declaration. You submit it online within the 72 hours before your arrival date and receive a confirmation with a QR code by email. At the immigration counter, the officer scans that QR code alongside your passport (and your eVisa or visa-exemption stamp, if applicable).

Good to know: the official TDAC is free if you file it yourself on the government portal tdac.immigration.go.th — that option is always open to you. If you'd rather not risk a mistake, Evisa Rocket offers an optional assisted-filing service ($20 per traveller): we check every entry against your passport, complete the form for your whole group, and remind you the moment your 72-hour window opens. Either way, this page explains who needs the TDAC, what to prepare, and how to complete it correctly the first time so you are not turned away at check-in or held up at the border.

Available Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) Types

TDAC — Digital Arrival Card (per traveller)

SINGLE ENTRYAll foreign travellers

Validity

One arrival; submit within 72 hours before the arrival date

Max Stay

Not applicable — arrival declaration only

Processing

Instant — confirmation by email with QR code

What Is the TDAC and Why It Replaced the TM6

For decades, arriving in Thailand meant filling out a small white-and-blue paper card — the TM6 — handed out by cabin crew or stacked on counters before immigration. On 1 May 2025, Thailand retired the paper form for a fully digital system: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). The goals are faster immigration lines, better border security, and public-health screening built into the same form. The TDAC collects the same core information the TM6 did — who you are, where you're coming from, where you're staying — plus a short health declaration, but you complete it online before you travel instead of by hand on arrival.

Key point: the TDAC and the Thailand eVisa are two completely separate things. The eVisa is your authorisation to enter Thailand (needed only by nationalities that are not visa-exempt, or for long/non-tourist stays). The TDAC is the arrival card that everyone fills out — including the 90+ nationalities that enter visa-free for 60 days. Having one does not exempt you from the other.

Who Needs a TDAC?

Almost everyone. The rule is simple: if you are a foreign national and you will pass through Thai immigration, you need a TDAC. There is no nationality exemption and no visa-type exemption.

You are a visa-exempt traveller (US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, etc.) entering for up to 60 days of tourism — yes, you still need it.
You hold a Thailand eVisa (Single Entry or METV), a Non-Immigrant visa, a DTV, an Education visa, or any other visa.
You are entering by air, land or sea — the TDAC covers every border, not just airports.
You are a child or infant — every traveller needs their own TDAC, regardless of age.
You are a returning long-stay resident or re-entering on a re-entry permit.

You are a Thai national (Thai passport holders are exempt).
You are a transit passenger who stays airside and does not pass through immigration (you never officially 'enter' Thailand).
You are only departing Thailand — the TDAC is an arrival card; there is no departure card to file.

When to Submit: the 72-Hour Window

The TDAC can be submitted up to 72 hours (3 days) before your arrival date, including the day of arrival. The system will not accept a submission earlier than that window. The safest approach is to file it as soon as the 72-hour window opens — typically the evening before a morning flight, or 2–3 days out — so a small error or a website outage doesn't become an airport emergency. Many airlines now ask to see the TDAC confirmation at check-in, so do not leave it until you land.

Window: 72 hours before arrival, up to and including the arrival day.
Each traveller needs their own submission — a family of four needs four TDACs.
One per arrival: if you leave and re-enter Thailand (e.g. a side-trip to Laos), you file a new TDAC for each entry.
Keep the QR code on your phone and, ideally, a printed copy as backup.

What You Need Before You Start

Passport — valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date; you'll enter the number, issuing country and expiry date. (You can scan the passport's machine-readable zone to auto-fill.)
Travel details — arrival date, mode of travel (air/land/sea), and your flight number or vehicle/vessel reference.
Country you're boarding from — where your journey to Thailand departs.
Accommodation in Thailand — hotel name and address, or the address where you'll stay (province + district).
Email address — your TDAC confirmation and QR code are delivered here.
Health information — only triggered if you've recently been in a country flagged by the Ministry of Public Health (e.g. yellow-fever zones).

Everything must be entered in English, exactly as it appears in your passport. There are no document uploads, no photo, and no payment on the official form.

How to Fill the TDAC — Step by Step

Enter your personal & passport details: full name as on the passport, date of birth, nationality, occupation, passport number, issuing country and expiry. You can scan the passport MRZ to auto-fill and reduce typos.
Enter your trip information: arrival date, mode of travel, flight number (or land/sea reference), and the country you're departing from. Then add your accommodation — type, province, and address in Thailand.
Complete the health declaration: if your recent travel history, boarding country, nationality or flight is on the Ministry of Public Health's list, the form prompts for extra health details. Most travellers simply confirm and move on.
Preview and submit: enter the email address where you want the card delivered, tick the terms and conditions, and submit.
Save your confirmation: you'll receive the TDAC with a QR code by email. Download it, screenshot it, and keep a printed copy as backup for check-in and the immigration counter.

TDAC Cost: Free to Self-File, or $20 Assisted — and How to Avoid Scams

If you file it yourself on the official government portal — tdac.immigration.go.th — the TDAC is free, and that option is always available to you. What Evisa Rocket offers instead is a paid convenience: an optional assisted-filing service at $20 per traveller that pre-checks your data against your passport, handles your whole group in one go, and tracks the 72-hour deadline for you. What you should genuinely avoid are scam sites — look-alikes with government-style logos that overcharge heavily and sometimes deliver nothing or a fake QR code. Whichever route you choose, make sure the actual submission goes through the real .immigration.go.th system.

Self-file for free: the official URL is tdac.immigration.go.th — reach it directly, not through a random ad or search result.
Or use our assisted service ($20 per traveller): we validate every field against your passport, file for the whole group at once, and send a reminder when your 72-hour window opens.
Official manual: a free step-by-step guide exists at tdac.immigration.go.th/manual/en/ in several languages.
Avoid scams: sites that charge €40–60+, hide who they are, or hand you a fake QR code. A legitimate service is upfront about its fee and delivers a valid card.

TDAC vs eVisa vs Visa Exemption — How They Fit Together

These three are easy to confuse, so here's the clean breakdown for a traveller arriving in Thailand:

Visa exemption (free, 60 days): 90+ nationalities get a free 60-day stamp on arrival — no visa needed. Still need the TDAC.
Thailand eVisa (Single $50 / METV $170): for non-exempt nationalities, longer stays, or multiple entries — applied for online before travel. Still need the TDAC.
TDAC (free to self-file): the arrival card everyone files within 72h of arrival — yourself for free, or via our $20 assisted service. It is not a visa and does not replace one; it sits on top of whichever entry route applies to you.

Rule of thumb: first work out your entry route (visa-exempt or eVisa), then — separately and regardless — file your TDAC in the 72 hours before you arrive. If you're not sure whether you need a Thailand eVisa, use the country selector on our Thailand eVisa page to check your nationality.

At the Border: What Happens With Your TDAC

When you reach immigration at Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Don Mueang (DMK), Phuket (HKT), Chiang Mai (CNX) or any land/sea border, have your TDAC QR code ready on your phone (or printed). The officer scans it, checks your passport and — if relevant — your eVisa printout or applies your 60-day visa-exemption stamp, takes your photo and fingerprints, and admits you. With the TDAC done in advance, the counter process is quick. If you did not file a TDAC, you'll be sent to fill one at a kiosk, which can mean long queues during peak hours — and some airlines may not let you board without it in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

No — they are two separate things. The eVisa is your authorisation to enter Thailand, needed only by certain nationalities or for long/non-tourist stays. The TDAC is the arrival declaration that every foreign traveller must file, including visa-exempt visitors. Having a visa does not exempt you from the TDAC, and the TDAC does not grant you entry on its own.

Yes. Visa exemption removes the need for a visa for stays up to 60 days — it does NOT remove the need for the TDAC. Every foreign traveller passing through Thai immigration must complete the TDAC, whether or not they need a visa.

Within the 72 hours (3 days) before your arrival date, including the arrival day. The system won't accept earlier submissions. File it as soon as the window opens — many airlines now check the TDAC at check-in, so don't wait until you land.

Filing it yourself on the official government site, tdac.immigration.go.th, is free. Evisa Rocket also offers an optional assisted-filing service at $20 per traveller — we check your entries against your passport, complete it for your whole group, and track the 72-hour deadline so you don't miss it. Either route works; just avoid scam look-alike sites that overcharge or deliver a fake card.

The only official site is tdac.immigration.go.th, run by the Thai Immigration Bureau. There's an official multilingual manual at tdac.immigration.go.th/manual/en/. Any site with a different domain that asks for a fee is unofficial.

Yes. Every traveller needs their own TDAC, regardless of age — including newborns and infants. A family of four must submit four separate cards.

Yes. The TDAC replaced the paper TM6 arrival/departure card on 1 May 2025. You no longer fill out a paper card on the plane — you complete the TDAC online before you travel.

Your passport details (number, issuing country, expiry — passport valid 6+ months), travel details (arrival date, mode of travel, flight number or border-crossing reference, country you boarded from), your accommodation in Thailand (hotel/address, province), an email address for the QR-code confirmation, and a short health declaration. Everything must be entered in English.

Only if they pass through immigration. If you stay in the international transit area and never officially enter Thailand, you don't need a TDAC. If you leave the airport — even for a short layover stay — you do.

You may be refused boarding by your airline at departure, or sent to complete the TDAC at an airport kiosk on arrival — which can mean long queues at peak times. To avoid stress, file it in the 72 hours before you fly and keep the QR code on your phone.

Yes. The eVisa and the TDAC are separate requirements. The eVisa is checked as your entry authorisation; the TDAC is your arrival declaration. Complete both: apply for the eVisa before travel, then file the TDAC within 72 hours of arrival.

The QR code on your phone is generally accepted, but a printed copy is a smart backup in case your battery dies or there's no signal at the counter. Save the email, screenshot the QR code, and print one copy if you can.

Get Your TDAC Done — Free or Fully Assisted

The TDAC is mandatory for every traveller. File it yourself for free on the official portal, or let Evisa Rocket handle it for $20 per traveller — error-checked, your whole group at once, with a reminder when your 72-hour window opens. Not sure whether you also need a Thailand eVisa? Check your nationality first.

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Jump to:

Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): The Mandatory Form Every Traveller Needs

Available Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) Types

TDAC — Digital Arrival Card (per traveller)

What Is the TDAC and Why It Replaced the TM6

Who Needs a TDAC?

When to Submit: the 72-Hour Window

What You Need Before You Start

How to Fill the TDAC — Step by Step

TDAC Cost: Free to Self-File, or $20 Assisted — and How to Avoid Scams

TDAC vs eVisa vs Visa Exemption — How They Fit Together

At the Border: What Happens With Your TDAC

Frequently Asked Questions about the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

Is the TDAC the same as the Thailand eVisa?

Do I need a TDAC if I'm from the US, UK, EU, or another visa-exempt country?

When can I submit the TDAC?

How much does the TDAC cost?

What is the official TDAC website?

Do children and infants need their own TDAC?

Does the TDAC replace the TM6 paper card?

What information do I need to fill out the TDAC?

Do transit passengers need a TDAC?

What happens if I arrive without a TDAC?

I have a Thailand eVisa already — do I still need the TDAC?

Do I need to print the TDAC, or is the QR code on my phone enough?

Get Your TDAC Done — Free or Fully Assisted