Heads up: From 1st May 2025, all travellers arriving in Thailand must complete a Digital Arrival Card within 3 days of their trip.
If you’re heading to Thailand from Thursday this week, you’ll need to complete a new mandatory Digital Arrival Card (DAC) before entering the country, replacing the traditional paper-based Arrival Card (TM6 form) for international arrivals.
The first thing you may wonder is, “what TM6 form?” – and you’d be right to ask. Thailand scrapped its paper arrival card back in July 2022, in an effort to ease airport congestion during the post-COVID recovery period.
However, authorities always intended for the form to return in digital format – and that’s exactly what’s happening now. From 1st May 2025, the new Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) will become mandatory for all foreign nationals arriving by air, land or sea, with only a few limited exceptions.
Here’s a detailed look at what you need to know.
Thailand Digital Arrival Card
From 1st May 2025, all foreign visitors to Thailand must complete the TDAC prior to entry.
Thailand’s move to the TDAC mirrors initiatives by other countries such as Singapore (with its SGAC) and Malaysia (with its MDAC), where digital entry cards have already replaced physical forms.
You can submit your TDAC up to three full days before your scheduled arrival date. For example, if you are touching down in Thailand on 6th May 2025, submission is available from 3rd May 2025 onwards.
The system opened for submissions on 28th April 2025, to accommodate those arriving on the launch date (1st May 2025).
The TDAC captures information previously requested via the (now obsolete) paper TM6 Arrival Card, comprising:
- Full name, date of birth, nationality and passport details
- Occupation and contact details
- Date of arrival, flight number, and purpose of trip
- Date of departure and flight number
- Accommodation address in Thailand
- List of countries you have visited in the last two weeks
Once completed, you’ll receive a QR code to present at immigration clearance upon arrival.
Important: Thai citizens are not required to complete a TDAC. This requirement applies only to foreign nationals.
How to complete the TDAC
You should complete the TDAC before arriving in Thailand via the official portal:
Click on “Arrival Card” to launch the submission form.
While it remains unclear whether airlines will verify TDAC completion at check-in, you are strongly advised to submit your Digital Arrival Card before departure, to avoid potential issues at the origin airport or on arrival in Thailand.
The TDAC is split into three sections; Personal Information, Trip & Accommodation Information, and Health Declaration.
As mentioned above, the requirements for the TDAC are basically the same as those for the former paper arrival card.
Upon successful submission, a confirmation email with the QR code will be sent to you.
In my case, TDAC approval was instant, with a downloadable PDF containing a QR code available immediately, alongside an email confirmation including the same QR code and the full PDF as an attachment just a few minutes later.
That’s reassuring, because if you forget and your airline insists on seeing the TDAC at the check-in desk, you can actually get one quite quickly.
Pro Tip: Save the QR code on your phone and/or print a copy, to ensure smooth processing at check-in and arrival immigration.
Updating your TDAC
Once your TDAC is approved, you can make updates by clicking the “Update Arrival Card” button via the same portal. You’ll need your TDAC number, passport number, date of birth and nationality to log in.
Changes such as your arrival date, flight details, or accommodation information can then be made as required.
Who needs to complete the TDAC?
The following groups must complete the Digital Arrival Card before entering Thailand:
- All foreign nationals arriving by air, land or sea
- Foreign residents of Thailand re-entering on a Thai re-entry permit, including permanent residents
- Transit passengers entering Thailand through immigration control (e.g. those with an unprotected connection, or a stopover exceeding 24 hours)
The following groups are exempt:
- Thai citizens
- Foreigners transiting in Thailand, without going through immigration control (typically you should be through-checked to your final destination in this case)
- Diplomatic and consular staff with diplomatic passports
What happens if you don’t complete the TDAC?
Failure to complete the TDAC in advance may result in longer processing times at immigration, or even denied boarding at your departure airport, depending on airline enforcement.
Some airlines could implement checks at the point of origin, requiring all non-Thai passengers to show a valid TDAC QR code at check-in, so it’s best to have one before you head to the airport.
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has also set up kiosks at arrival halls to allow last-minute TDAC submissions, but this may involve long queues and delays – especially in the first few weeks while the system is in its infancy.
(Photo: Richard Barrow via X)
Further details on the TDAC are available at the following links:
From 1st May 2025, all foreign visitors entering Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card – ideally before their journey but certainly before immigration clearance on arrival.
The process is straightforward but essential, and travellers are advised to submit their details up to three days prior to travel, to avoid inconvenience at the departure airport and on arrival.
Key points to remember:
- Complete the TDAC before you fly, if you can. Airlines may or may not enforce completion to allow check-in, though this remains unclear.
- Save your QR code electronically and/or print a copy, to readily show the airline or immigration official.
As with any new system, there may well be teething issues during the early weeks of implementation, so apply well in advance (up to three days out) and allow extra time and patience at immigration in the coming weeks.
(Cover Photo: AFP)
