Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): Complete 2026 Guide

Every non-Thai traveler entering Thailand now needs a Thailand Digital Arrival Card, no exceptions for age or visa type. It’s free, but get the timing wrong and you’ll be filling it out at an airport kiosk while everyone else walks through immigration.

What the TDAC actually is

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is an online form every foreign national completes before entering Thailand, replacing the old paper arrival card. Submit it, and you receive a QR code by email to show at immigration. It applies to everyone, including children and infants, with no exemptions based on nationality, age, or visa type.

When to submit it

Submit the TDAC within 72 hours (3 days) before your arrival date — not earlier. Submitting too early isn’t allowed, and submitting it the moment you land defeats the purpose, since the whole point is to speed up the immigration queue.

What you’ll need

•          Passport details, either typed manually or scanned from your passport’s machine-readable code.

•          Flight number and arrival date.

•          Accommodation name and address in Thailand for at least your first night.

•          Answers to basic health screening questions.

•          An email address, this is where your QR code confirmation arrives.

Groups of up to 10 travelers can be submitted together by one person, and children under 12 can be included in a parent or guardian’s submission. Travelers 12 and older need their own individual entry, even within a family group.

Where to submit it (and where not to)

The only official site is tdac.immigration.go.th, and it’s completely free. A number of third-party sites and apps have popped up charging a “service fee” to fill it out for you, you don’t need to pay anyone for this. If you book through a travel agent, some agencies will handle it on your behalf as part of a package, which is the one legitimate case where someone else might submit it for you.

What happens if you forget

You won’t be turned away at the border for missing it, but expect delays, you’ll need to complete the form at an airport kiosk or device before immigration can process you, which adds time exactly when you’re trying to get through the airport fastest.

Making corrections after submission

Flight details, accommodation, and arrival date can be updated after you submit. Your name, passport number, nationality, and date of birth cannot be changed, if any of those are wrong, you’ll need to submit an entirely new form. Make any necessary updates at least 24–48 hours before your flight to avoid last-minute issues.

Our take

Set a reminder for 2–3 days before your flight rather than trying to remember on travel day itself, that’s the window where you can actually submit it. Screenshot your QR code confirmation in addition to relying on the email, in case you don’t have signal the moment you land.

Frequently asked questions

• Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card the same as a visa? No, it’s a separate arrival registration required in addition to whatever visa or visa-exemption category you’re entering under.

• Do infants need their own TDAC? They need to be included in the form, but can be part of a parent or guardian’s group submission rather than needing a separate one, unlike travelers 12 and older.

• Can I fill out the TDAC on my phone at the airport if I forgot? Yes, in most cases, via a kiosk or device at the airport, but budget extra time, since it adds a step before you reach the immigration desk.