Complete Guide to the Thailand Digital Arrival Card

Entering Thailand has evolved. The days of scrambling for a pen on the plane to fill out the blue "TM6" paper card are over. Thailand has transitioned to the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), a mandatory electronic system designed to streamline immigration and enhance border security.

1. What is the TDAC?

The TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card, often misspelled as TDCA) is an electronic declaration of your arrival in the Kingdom of Thailand. It collects essential data — your passport details, flight information, Thai accommodation address, and purpose of visit — so that the Immigration Bureau can pre-screen arrivals before you even touch down.

It replaces the traditional TM6 Paper Card. If you visited Thailand before 2020, you likely remember the blue slip stapled into your passport. That paper form was in use for decades, and every arriving passenger had to fill it out by hand on the plane or at the immigration counter.

The TM6-to-Digital Timeline

Thailand's Immigration Bureau began phasing out the paper TM6 in stages. A pilot program started in late 2022 at select airports, followed by a broader rollout through 2023. By mid-2024, the paper form was fully retired for air arrivals at all major international airports. The digital system — officially called the Thailand Digital Arrival Card — is now the sole method of entry declaration for foreign nationals arriving by air.

What Data Does the TDAC Collect?

• Personal identity: Full name (as per passport MRZ), date of birth, nationality, gender, passport number, and passport expiry date.
• Travel details: Flight number, airline, arrival date, and port of entry.
• Accommodation in Thailand: Hotel name and city, or full address for private accommodation.
• Purpose of visit: Tourism, business, medical, transit, etc.
• Contact information: Email address and phone number for digital delivery of your QR confirmation.

How It Connects to Thailand's e-Gate System

When you file your TDAC, your data is matched against your passport's machine-readable zone (MRZ). At the airport, the automated e-Gates read the MRZ chip in your passport and cross-reference it with your TDAC submission. If everything matches, you walk through in seconds. If there is a mismatch — even a single character — the gate rejects you and you are directed to a manual counter, which can add 30 minutes or more to your wait.

2. Who Must File a TDAC?

Every foreign national entering Thailand by air via a major international airport is required to have a TDAC record. This applies regardless of your visa status — whether you are a first-time tourist on visa exemption or a long-term resident returning on a retirement visa.

Visa-Exempt vs. Visa on Arrival vs. Pre-Approved Visa

Travelers often confuse these three categories. Here is the difference:

• Visa Exemption: Citizens of 93 countries (including the US, UK, EU, Australia, Japan, South Korea) can enter Thailand for up to 60 days without a visa. You still need a TDAC.
• Visa on Arrival (VOA): Citizens of 19 countries (including India, China, Saudi Arabia) can get a visa stamp at the airport for 15 days. The TDAC is required in addition to the VOA application. You pay the VOA fee (2,000 THB) separately at the airport.
• Pre-Approved Visa: If you applied at a Thai consulate and have a visa sticker in your passport, the TDAC is still required — the visa and the arrival card are separate systems.

Air Entry vs. Land Border

The digital TDAC system currently applies to air arrivals at major international airports (Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Hat Yai, U-Tapao, and others). Land border crossings and some smaller regional airports may still use paper forms or have separate digital processes. However, the government is actively expanding the digital system to all entry points — check the latest requirements if you are crossing by land from Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, or Myanmar.

3. When to File (Timing Matters)

One of the most common questions we receive is: "When should I fill out the TDAC?" The answer depends on how much risk you are comfortable with.

There is no penalty for filing early. Your TDAC is linked to your specific flight and arrival date, so it will be valid when you land regardless of when you submitted it. The only thing that matters is that it is completed before you reach immigration.

4. What You Need Before Starting

Before you sit down to fill out the TDAC, gather these items. Having everything ready will let you complete the form in under 10 minutes without errors.

5. Step-by-Step Filing Guide

Filling out the form accurately is critical. A mismatch between your passport's Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) and your TDAC data can cause the automated e-Gates to reject you, sending you to the manual counter where wait times are significantly longer. Below is a detailed walkthrough of each section.

Phase 1: Personal Information

This is where most errors occur. The golden rule: every field must match your passport exactly — not your driver's license, not your credit card, and not your preferred name.

• First Name: Enter your given name exactly as it appears on the passport information page. If your passport shows "JOHN MICHAEL" as the given name, enter both names in the first name field.
• Last Name (Surname): Your family name as shown on the passport. Compound surnames (e.g., "DE LA CRUZ") must include the full surname with spaces.
• Middle Name: Check the MRZ (the two lines of code at the bottom of your passport photo page). If a middle name appears there, include it. If not, leave it blank.
• Passport Number: Copy this character by character. The most common error is confusing the letter 'O' with the digit '0'. When in doubt, the letter is more rounded while the number is narrower.
• Date of Birth: Use the format requested by the system (typically DD/MM/YYYY). This must match the date printed in your passport.
• Nationality: This is the nationality stated in your passport, which may differ from your country of residence. Dual citizens should use the passport they are traveling on.

Understanding Your Passport MRZ

The MRZ (Machine Readable Zone) is the two lines of characters at the bottom of your passport's photo page. This is what the e-Gates read, and your TDAC data must match it exactly. Here is what a typical MRZ looks like:

If your passport MRZ shows a middle name, you must include it in your TDAC application. If the MRZ omits your middle name (some countries do this), leave it out of the TDAC as well. The rule is simple: match the MRZ, not your birth certificate.

Phase 2: Travel Details

This section captures your flight information and arrival date. Pay close attention to the details — confusion between departure and arrival data is extremely common.

• Flight Number: Enter the flight number that arrives in Thailand. If you have a connecting itinerary (e.g., London → Dubai → Bangkok), use the Dubai → Bangkok leg. The format is the airline code plus numbers (e.g., TG670, EK384, SQ972).
• Airline: Select or type the operating airline, not the codeshare. If your ticket says "operated by Thai Airways" but was booked through Lufthansa, use Thai Airways.
• Arrival Date: This is the date your plane lands in Thailand, not the date it departs your origin. Many overnight flights cross time zones — a flight departing London at 9 PM on January 15 arrives in Bangkok on January 16. Use January 16.
• Port of Entry: Select the airport where you will clear immigration. The most common are Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Don Mueang (DMK), Phuket (HKT), and Chiang Mai (CNX).
• Transportation Type: Select "Air" for flights. Other options exist for land and sea crossings.

Phase 3: Accommodation in Thailand

This is the #1 reason applications get flagged for manual review. Immigration wants to know where you are staying, and vague answers trigger extra scrutiny.

• Hotel: Use the full hotel name and city exactly as it appears on your booking. Example: "Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok" or "Centara Grand Beach Resort, Phuket". Do not abbreviate.
• Airbnb / Vacation Rental: Use the full street address including building name or unit number, street, sub-district, and city. Example: "123/45 Sukhumvit Soi 11, Klongtoey Nua, Watthana, Bangkok 10110".
• Hostel: Same as hotel — use the full registered name and city.
• Staying with friends/family: Use the full residential address of where you will stay. Include the building name, floor, and unit number if it is a condo.
• Multiple destinations: Enter the address of your first accommodation in Thailand. You do not need to list every hotel for a multi-city trip.

Phase 4: Review & Submit

Before you hit submit, go through every field one more time. Compare each entry against your physical passport. Once submitted, corrections on the government portal require starting a new application from scratch.

• Verify your name spelling matches the passport MRZ character for character.
• Confirm the arrival date is correct (the day you land, accounting for time zones).
• Confirm the flight number is for the arriving leg, not the departing leg.
• Ensure the passport number has no letter/digit confusion (O vs 0, I vs 1).
• Double-check the accommodation name is specific and verifiable.

After submission, you will receive a confirmation with a QR code via email. This QR code is what you present at immigration. Save it to your phone's photo gallery and print a backup copy. Do not rely solely on opening the email at the airport — WiFi may not be available.

6. Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Our agency reviews thousands of TDAC applications every month. Below are the most common errors we encounter — and fix — before they become problems at the border.

7. After Filing: What to Expect

You have submitted your TDAC. Now what? Here is the timeline and what to expect at each stage.

Confirmation & QR Code Delivery

After successful submission, you will receive an email containing your TDAC confirmation and QR code. On the government portal, this typically arrives within a few minutes, though it can take up to several hours during peak periods. If you file through TDAC.info, we deliver the QR code to your email within the timeframe shown at checkout — often within minutes for express orders.

How to Save Your QR Code

1. Screenshot it — Open the QR code image on your phone and take a screenshot. Save it to your phone's main photo gallery, not buried in a folder.
2. Print a copy — This is our #1 recommendation. Airport WiFi can be unreliable, roaming data may not activate immediately, and phone batteries die. A printed QR code eliminates all of these risks.
3. Save the email offline — If your email app supports it, mark the confirmation email for offline access so you can open it without internet.
4. Share with a travel companion — Send a copy of the QR code to someone traveling with you as a backup.

What If You Need to Make Changes?

On the government portal, there is no edit function after submission. If you discover an error, you must file a new TDAC from scratch. The system will use the most recent submission linked to your passport number.

If you filed through TDAC.info and your flight hasn't departed yet, contact our support team at support@tdac.info. We can make corrections and resubmit on your behalf at no additional cost.

What If You Don't Receive the Email?

• Check Spam/Junk: This is the #1 reason people think they didn't receive their confirmation. Check all spam and junk folders, including Gmail's "Promotions" tab.
• Check the email address: Did you mistype your email when filing? A typo like "gmial.com" instead of "gmail.com" is surprisingly common.
• Wait 30 minutes: During peak travel season, the government system can be slow. Give it at least 30 minutes before taking action.
• Government portal users: There is no support channel for the free government system. You may need to refile from scratch.
• TDAC.info users: Email support@tdac.info or use our live chat. We keep a secure backup of every QR code we generate and can resend immediately.

8. At the Airport: Immigration Walkthrough

You have landed in Thailand. Here is exactly what to expect as you make your way through immigration at each major airport.

Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) — Bangkok

Thailand's largest international airport handles over 60 million passengers per year. After your plane arrives, follow these steps:

1. Follow "Immigration / Passport Control" signs — After exiting the jet bridge and walking through the terminal corridors, follow the overhead signs. The walk to immigration can take 10-15 minutes depending on your gate.
2. Prepare your documents while walking — Passport (open to photo page), boarding pass, and TDAC QR code (on phone screen or printed).
3. Choose your lane: Automated e-Gates (faster, if available for your nationality) or manual immigration counters. The e-Gates read your passport chip and match it against your TDAC data.
4. e-Gate process: Scan your passport, look at the camera for facial recognition, scan your QR code if prompted. Takes 15-30 seconds if data matches.
5. Manual counter process: Hand your passport and QR code to the officer. They will stamp your passport with your permitted stay duration. Takes 1-3 minutes.
6. Collect your baggage at the carousel, then proceed through customs (green lane for nothing to declare).

Phuket International Airport (HKT)

Phuket's international terminal is smaller and the walk to immigration is shorter (5 minutes). However, the immigration hall has fewer counters, so queues can build quickly when multiple flights land close together. The process is the same: passport + QR code at the e-Gate or manual counter. Phuket is a popular VOA destination — if you need a Visa on Arrival, the VOA counter is before the main immigration line.

Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)

Chiang Mai is the smallest of the three major international airports. Immigration is quick and rarely has long queues except during high season (November–February). The terminal has both e-Gates and manual counters. The same TDAC QR code applies — there is no separate process for regional airports.

e-Gate vs. Manual Counter

The automated e-Gates are faster but not available for all nationalities. As of 2026, e-Gates at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket are open to passport holders from most countries with biometric (chipped) passports. If the e-Gate rejects you — usually due to a data mismatch — you will be directed to a manual counter. This is not a penalty; the officer will simply process you manually.

Documents to Have Ready (In Order)

1. Passport — Open to the photo page. Ensure it's easily accessible, not buried in your bag.
2. TDAC QR Code — Displayed on your phone screen (brightness turned up) or on a printed sheet.
3. Boarding pass — Some officers ask for it, some don't. Have it ready.
4. Proof of onward travel — A return ticket or ticket to a third country. Not always checked, but requested in random spot checks.
5. Proof of accommodation — Hotel booking confirmation. Again, spot-checked rather than universally required.
6. Proof of funds — 20,000 THB cash or equivalent per person (40,000 THB per family). See below.

What If Your QR Code Doesn't Scan?

If the e-Gate cannot read your QR code (due to screen glare, a cracked screen, or a corrupted image), don't panic. Simply proceed to a manual immigration counter. The officer can look up your TDAC record using your passport number. Having a printed backup copy eliminates this risk entirely.

9. Special Cases

Not every traveler fits the standard profile. Here are the most common special situations and how they affect your TDAC filing.

Families with Children

Every person entering Thailand needs their own TDAC — including children and infants. There is no "family" filing on the government portal. Each child with their own passport requires a separate application with their own passport details. On TDAC.info, you can add up to 6 passengers (including children) in a single form, and we handle the individual filings for you.

What to Put for Occupation for Children & Infants

The occupation field on TDAC is the most common question for parents. Here is exactly what to select for each age group:

Infants with Their Own Passport

If your infant has their own passport (required by most countries for international travel), they need their own TDAC. Use the infant's passport number, not the parent's. For the occupation field, select Child. For the accommodation field, use the same hotel or address as the parent.

Transit Passengers

If you are transiting through a Thai airport without clearing immigration (i.e., you remain airside and your luggage is checked through to your final destination), you do not need a TDAC. However, if you need to exit the transit area to change terminals, collect and recheck luggage, or pass through immigration for any reason, you do need a TDAC.

Land Border Crossings

The digital TDAC system is primarily designed for air arrivals. Land borders between Thailand and Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar may have different processes. Some land crossings have adopted the digital system, while others still use paper forms. Check the specific border crossing requirements before you travel. The Thai Immigration Bureau website lists which crossings support digital filing.

Re-Entry After a Day Trip

If you leave Thailand for a day trip (e.g., to Penang, Malaysia or Siem Reap, Cambodia) and return the same day or next day, you need a new TDAC for your re-entry. Each entry into Thailand requires its own TDAC, even if you filed one just days ago. The previous QR code is no longer valid once you exit the country.

Group & Tour Applications

Tour operators and travel agencies can file TDACs on behalf of their clients. If you are part of an organized tour, check with your tour operator — they may handle the TDAC as part of the package. If not, each group member must file individually or use a service like TDAC.info where one person can submit for up to 6 travelers at once.

Business Travelers

Business travelers on Non-Immigrant B visas file the TDAC the same way as tourists. The key difference is in the "Purpose of Visit" field — select "Business" instead of "Tourism". Your accommodation should be a hotel or serviced apartment (not your company's office address). If attending a conference, use your hotel information.

Digital Nomads (DTV Visa Holders)

Holders of Thailand's Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) — the "digital nomad visa" — are required to file a TDAC like all other foreign nationals. Select the appropriate visa type when filing. Your accommodation should be wherever you are staying first — a hotel, co-living space, or rental apartment. Read more about Thailand visa types →

10. DIY vs Professional Filing

You have two options for filing your TDAC: do it yourself on the government portal for free, or use a professional service like TDAC.info. Here is an honest comparison.

When DIY Makes Sense

• You are a solo traveler comfortable with English-language forms.
• You have experience with the TDAC or similar immigration systems (e.g., US ESTA, Australia ETA).
• You are detail-oriented and willing to triple-check every field against your passport MRZ.
• You have plenty of time before departure and are not worried about system downtime.

When Professional Filing Saves Headaches

• You are traveling with family (especially with children — each person needs their own TDAC).
• You are not confident about the date format, passport number, or MRZ matching rules.
• English is not your first language and you want to file in your native language.
• You want peace of mind that an expert has verified your data before you fly.
• You are on a tight schedule and cannot risk system downtime or refiling from scratch.
• You have had issues at immigration before due to form errors.

11. Frequently Asked Questions