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Thailand Digital Arrival Card guide

The card is free.
Get it right before you land.

Who needs a TDAC, when to file and what to have ready, in plain English. We're an independent guide and don't handle applications. You file directly with Thai Immigration.

Go to the official portal (opens tdac.immigration.go.th in a new tab)See how to file

The official address is tdac.immigration.go.th. This website isn't it.

Cost
FreeNo fee to file Tourism Ministry
Who
All non-Thai nationalsIncluding babies FAQ
When
Within 3 days of arrivalSee the details
Lasts
One entryNew card each trip FAQ
Visa?
NoIt doesn't replace one User guide

Before you type anything

Look at the address bar first.

Search results for this form are crowded with lookalike sites, and some of them charge money. Thailand's tourism ministry says registration is "completely free of charge" and that sites asking for payment are not official. Tourism Ministry

Immigration officials were reported in March 2026 as saying at least one in ten foreign arrivals had used a fraudulent site, and that data sent to those sites doesn't reach the official system. Khaosod English

What to do if you've already paid

The .go.th ending is reserved for Thai government bodies. A padlock on its own proves nothing, since scam sites have padlocks too.

The official portal

  • Ends in .go.th
  • No fee at any step
  • Emails you a card with a QR code

Signs of a lookalike

  • Asks for card payment
  • Calls a fee "processing" or "service"
  • Uses a different domain ending
A traveller checking a phone beside an airport window

What it is

An online form that replaced the paper arrival card.

Since 1 May 2025, travellers have filled in this form online instead of completing a paper card on the plane. Embassy, London

  • It covers every route in

    Air, land and sea all count, so a border crossing or a cruise call needs one as much as a flight does. FAQ

  • It sits alongside your visa

    Visa-exempt, visa-on-arrival and pre-arranged visa holders all file. If you need a visa, you still have to get it separately. FAQ

  • It takes a few minutes

    The official estimate is 3 to 5 minutes per person with everything ready. You can't save and return, so prepare first. FAQ

Who needs it

Most people entering Thailand must file.

Check your situation
File a card

Tourists and visitors

Visa-exempt, visa-on-arrival and visa holders all file.

File a card

Children and infants

Every traveller counts, whatever their age.

File a card

Foreign residents

A new card for every return to Thailand.

File a card

Land and sea arrivals

The form covers every route into the country.

No card

Airside transit

No card if you never pass through immigration.

No card

Working crew

The official FAQ says crew don't need one.

How to file

Eight steps, all on the official form.

Allow 3 to 5 minutes per person if you have everything ready.

See the full walkthrough

  1. Open the portal

    Check the address, then choose "Arrival Card".

  2. Add passport details

    Type them, or scan the coded lines on your passport.

  3. Add your trip

    Arrival date, flight, purpose and Thai address.

  4. Declare your health

    Extra questions appear only if your travel is listed.

  5. Preview and correct

    Compare every name and number with your passport.

  6. Enter your email

    Your card and QR code are sent here.

  7. Accept and submit

    There is no payment step on the official form.

  8. Download your card

    Keep a copy on your phone for your stay.

When to file

A short window, counted back from landing.

Official wording varies slightly, so here's a plan that holds up under all of it.

Work out your dates
EarlierToo earlyOutside every official wording.
3 days beforeStart tryingIf the form refuses the date, try again tomorrow.
2 days beforeGoodInside the window.
1 day beforeGoodInside the window.
Arrival dayLast resortAllowed, but you may queue for a kiosk.

The six guide pages

GUIDE 01Who needs it Children, transit passengers, crew, diplomats and everyone else, with a quick checker.GUIDE 02How to file Each screen of the official form, group filing, and how to change a card you already sent.GUIDE 03Checklist A printable list of what to have open before you start, because the form can't save your progress.GUIDE 04Timing Enter your arrival date to see which days work, plus what the official wording leaves unclear.GUIDE 05Mistakes Lookalike sites, repeat cards, passport mismatches, and what to do if you already paid.GUIDE 06FAQ Short answers to the questions travellers ask most, each tied to its source.

How this guide works

We explain the form. Thai Immigration runs it.

We don't sell anything here, and no form on this site takes your passport details. Every rule links to the source it came from. Where official pages disagree or stay silent, we say so rather than guess.

Go to the official portal (opens tdac.immigration.go.th in a new tab)See the sources and open questions