Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) — Step by Step

Since May 2025, every foreign traveller arriving in Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 72 hours of arrival. It replaces the old TM6 paper card. It's free, takes about 5 minutes, and is only done on the official government site.

Where to fill it in

Use only the official site: tdac.immigration.go.th. Third-party sites that charge a fee are scams.

When to do it

Earliest: 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in Thailand. Latest: at immigration when you land — but expect long queues if you wait. Do it the day before your flight.

What you need ready

Passport (number, expiry date, nationality)
Flight number and arrival date
First night's accommodation address in Thailand
An email address (your QR confirmation is sent there)

How to fill out the TDAC, field by field

The form is one page split into three parts. Allow 5 minutes. You cannot save a half-finished form, so gather your passport and flight details before you start.

Step 1 — Open tdac.immigration.go.th and choose 'Arrival Card'. Select English at the top right if the page loads in Thai.
Step 2 — Personal information: family name and first name exactly as printed in the machine-readable strip at the bottom of your passport photo page. Middle names go in the first-name field. No accents, no punctuation.
Step 3 — Passport number: type it with no spaces and no dashes. Then nationality, date of birth, sex, occupation, city and country of residence, and the phone number you can be reached on in Thailand.
Step 4 — Trip information: mode of travel (Air), flight number exactly as on your ticket (for example TG961, no space), date of arrival, and the country you boarded in — not your home country if you had a stopover.
Step 5 — Purpose of visit: 'Holiday' for normal tourism. 'Business' only if you are working or attending meetings; it invites extra questions at the desk.
Step 6 — Accommodation: pick the type (Hotel, Hostel, Private residence, Apartment), then write the actual property name and full address of your first night only. Later hotels are not needed.
Step 7 — Health declaration: list every country you visited in the 14 days before arrival. If you flew straight from home, list only your home country.
Step 8 — Enter your email, tick the declaration box, complete the captcha and submit. The QR code appears on screen and is emailed within a few minutes.
Step 9 — Download the PDF and take a screenshot as backup. Airport wifi is unreliable and immigration will not look it up for you.

Not sure of your first hotel's exact address? Use the address on your booking confirmation, character for character. Immigration checks that a real property exists, not that you actually stay there.

How long the TDAC takes

About 5 minutes per person if your details are ready. A family of four takes roughly 10 minutes using the group-submit option, because arrival and accommodation details are entered once. At the airport, travellers with a TDAC QR code typically clear the arrival hall considerably faster than those filling the form in the queue.

Common mistakes

Typing the passport number with spaces — remove them.
Listing 'hotel' as accommodation type but no name — write the actual hotel name.
Submitting more than 72 hours early — the system rejects it.
Not saving the QR PDF — screenshot it, you'll show it on arrival.

Family or group?

Each person needs their own TDAC, including children. There is a group-submit option on the official site if you all have the same arrival details.

Next steps

Thailand eSIM — Install before you fly and land already connected. Prices, coverage and compatibility.
Thailand trip planner — Build a day-by-day itinerary in minutes — ready-made 7, 10 and 14-day routes to copy.
Practical guide to Bangkok — SIM and eSIM, cash and ATM fees, pharmacies and a day-one checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to fill in a TDAC for Thailand?

Yes. Since May 2025, every foreign traveller arriving in Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). It is free and replaces the old TM6 paper card.

What is the official TDAC website for Thailand?

The only official site is tdac.immigration.go.th. It is free. Any third-party site that charges a fee is not official and should be avoided.

When should I submit the Thailand TDAC?

Submit it within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival. Submitting earlier than 72 hours is rejected by the system. You can still submit on arrival, but you may face longer queues.

Is the TDAC the same as a Thailand visa?

No. The TDAC is an arrival declaration, not a visa. Most Western passport holders receive 60 days visa-exempt on arrival. Visa rules are separate from the TDAC.

Do children need a TDAC for Thailand?

Yes. Every traveller, including infants and children, needs an individual TDAC. The official site has a group-submit option for families who all have the same arrival details.

What do I need to fill in the TDAC?

Have your passport number, expiry date and nationality ready, plus your flight number, arrival date, the address of your first night's accommodation in Thailand, and a working email address where the QR code is sent.

What happens if I make a mistake after submitting the TDAC?

Submit a new TDAC with the corrected information. Immigration sees the latest submission, so a corrected form replaces the earlier one.

Do I need internet on arrival to show the TDAC?

No. The QR code is sent to your email as a PDF. Save a screenshot or download the PDF before you board; it works offline at immigration.

Can I submit the TDAC for my family as a group?

Yes. The official site offers a group-submit option if everyone in the group has the same arrival details. Each person still gets their own TDAC, but the form is filled once.

What are the most common TDAC mistakes?

Common mistakes include entering the passport number with spaces, selecting 'hotel' without writing the actual hotel name, submitting more than 72 hours early, and not saving the QR PDF before boarding.

How do I fill out the Thailand digital arrival card?

Go to tdac.immigration.go.th, choose 'Arrival Card' and complete three parts: personal information (name exactly as in your passport, passport number with no spaces), trip information (flight number, arrival date, the country you boarded in) and accommodation (name and address of your first night only). Enter your email, submit, then download the QR PDF. It takes about 5 minutes.

How long does the TDAC take to fill out?

About 5 minutes per person if you have your passport, flight number and first night's hotel address ready. A family of four takes roughly 10 minutes using the group-submit option.

What address do I put on the TDAC?

Only the address of your first night in Thailand. Use the property name and address exactly as they appear on your booking confirmation. Later hotels do not need to be listed.

Does the TDAC cost anything?

No. The TDAC is completely free on the official site tdac.immigration.go.th. Sites charging 20-50 USD are third-party services, not government.