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Thailand TDAC Arrival Card: Free, File Within 3 Days

The TDAC is free, and you fill it in online at tdac.immigration.go.th within 3 days before arrival. Every non-Thai national entering by air, land or sea needs one, for every entry. Sites that ask for payment are not official Thai government sites.

On this page
  1. Who files, and when
  2. How to file
  3. At immigration
  4. Fake TDAC sites
  5. Step by step
  6. Common questions

Fill in the TDAC on the official site, tdac.immigration.go.th, before you fly: it costs nothing and replaces the paper TM.6 card.

Who files, and when

If you are not a Thai national and you enter by air, land or sea, you complete the TDAC online within 3 days before you arrive. You file again for every entry. Your visa type does not matter, so visa-exempt travellers file too. Children and infants are included, and a parent or guardian completes the form.

Three groups skip it: Thai nationals returning home, transit passengers who do not pass immigration, and people entering with a Border Pass.

Do you file a TDAC? Three groups skip it; every other foreign traveller files before arrival Are you a Thai national returning to Thailand? No TDAC YES NO Are you only transferring, without passing immigration control? No TDAC YES NO Do you enter with a Border Pass? No TDAC YES NO EVERYONE ELSE File the TDAC online Within 3 days before arrival. Free. A new card for every entry. ThailandBuddy.com · Source: Royal Thai embassy pages in Colombo, Buenos Aires and London; official TDAC site Verified 17 Oct 2026 · Re-checked every 6 months Do you file a TDAC? Three groups skip it; every other foreign traveller files before arrival Are you a Thai national returning to Thailand? YES No TDAC NO Are you only transferring, without passing immigration control? YES No TDAC NO Do you enter with a Border Pass? YES No TDAC NO EVERYONE ELSE File the TDAC online Within 3 days before arrival. Free. A new card for every entry. ThailandBuddy.com · Source: Royal Thai embassy pages in Colombo, Buenos Aires and London; official TDAC site Verified 17 Oct 2026 · Re-checked every 6 months
Who files a TDAC: Thai nationals returning, transit passengers who do not pass immigration, and Border Pass holders skip it; everyone else files within 3 days before arrival. Checked 17 Oct 2026 against Thai embassy pages.
Tap to enlarge diagram

How to file

Have your full name, date of birth and nationality ready, plus your flight, arrival date and accommodation.

  1. Go to tdac.immigration.go.th and click the Arrival Card button.
  2. Upload a clear photo of your passport, or type your details in English.
  3. Add your flight details and where you will stay.
  4. Answer the health declaration if the system asks for it.
  5. Add anyone travelling with you using the Add button.
  6. Enter your email, accept the terms and click Submit.
  7. Download the confirmation or keep the email.
Official Thailand Digital Arrival Card home page with an important notice and the Arrival Card and Update Arrival Card buttons.
The Immigration Bureau home page of the arrival card, with its notice and the two buttons. Source: Thailand Digital Arrival Card official site (Immigration Bureau) (opens in a new tab), captured 17 October 2026

If your flight or hotel changes, the home page has an Update Arrival Card button.

At immigration

The confirmation email carries your TDAC as a QR code, which you can print or show on your phone. If it never arrives, tell the immigration officer.

If you forgot to file, you can still complete it right up until you go through immigration. Airports such as Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang have kiosks.

The TDAC is not a visa, and visa-exempt entry is up to 30 days for tourism. The visa exemption guide and the Visa on Arrival guide cover the visa side.

Fake TDAC sites

Because the card is free, any site that asks for payment is a scam, not an official government site. Submit only through the official Immigration Bureau site.

Ministry of Tourism and Sports news page with the headline about fake arrival card websites charging fees.
The Tourism Ministry notice on lookalike sites that charge for the arrival card. Source: Ministry of Tourism and Sports: fake TDAC websites warning (opens in a new tab), captured 17 October 2026

If you meet a fake site, keep the URL, screenshots or messages, then report it to the Cyber Police Hotline 1441 or the Online Complaint Center 1212 OCC.

↑ Contents

Step by step

  1. Open the official siteType tdac.immigration.go.th in your browser and click Arrival Card, or scan the QR code on an official embassy page.
  2. Enter passport detailsUpload a clear photo of the passport or type your personal information in English.
  3. Add the tripGive your flight details and where you will stay in Thailand.
  4. Answer the health questions if promptedPeople with specific nationalities, or recent travel to high-risk areas, get an extra health declaration step.
  5. Add companions and submitUse the Add button for each person travelling with you, enter an email address, accept the terms and submit.
  6. Keep the confirmationDownload the evidence or keep the email, ready to present on arrival.

Not confirmed: The site offers an Update Arrival Card button, and the fields it lets you change are unclear. File with final flight and hotel details, and carry the newest confirmation.

Next step

Have a Thai document you cannot read? Our paid paperwork check explains it in plain English before you sign or pay.

Get a paperwork check

Common questions

Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card free?

Yes. The TDAC is free of charge, and it is not a visa. The official site is titled "No Fees Required".

When do I fill in the TDAC?

Within 3 days before arrival. Completion can run right up until you go through immigration.

Do I file a new TDAC for every trip?

Yes. The TDAC must be submitted for every entry into Thailand. It is valid for a single entry.

Do children and babies need a TDAC?

Yes. Children and infants are included, and a parent or guardian completes the form for the child.

Do I need a TDAC if I only change planes in Bangkok?

No, when you do not pass immigration control or leave the airport.

Do I still need a TDAC if my passport is visa-exempt?

Yes. All travellers must complete it regardless of visa type, including those entering under the visa exemption scheme.

What do I show at the immigration counter?

The confirmation email carries the TDAC as a QR code, and the PDF can be printed or shown on a device at the checkpoint.

What if the confirmation email never arrives?

Notify the immigration officer at the checkpoint.

Is there a TDAC fee at the airport or on a TDAC agent site?

No. The TDAC can be completed free of charge, and travellers are warned to be wary of any website charging administrative fees.

Where do I report a fake TDAC site?

Record the website URL, screenshots or messages, and report to the Cyber Police Hotline 1441 or the Online Complaint Center 1212 OCC.

Sources and reader comments

Official sources:

Show 2 more sources

Comments (1)

  1. Few-Homework7039

    You need an itinerary. I saw officers questioning where they want to go and going with the flow is not a good answer. Just get ai to give you some itinerary, I know don’t have to follow it anyway. And make sure you have at least 20k Thb CASH on hand. Money in the bank or cc doesn’t count

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