Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): How to Fill It In — And Why It's Free

Before you land in Thailand, you have to file an arrival card online. The paper form is gone, replaced by the Thailand Digital Arrival Card — TDAC.

Start with the part most people get wrong: it is free. Any site asking for a fee is a private agency, not Thai Immigration.



Who has to submit it

Every non-Thai national. That includes infants, children, and diplomatic passport holders. Only aircrew are exempt.

It applies to all points of entry — air, land, and sea. Crossing overland from Laos, Cambodia, or Malaysia counts.

Transiting without clearing immigration? You don't need it. Leaving the airport? You do.

When to submit

You can file up to three days before arrival, counting your arrival day. That's roughly 72 hours.

Try earlier than that and the system will reject it. The evening before you fly is a safe window.


Where to submit — and where not to

File on the official Thai Immigration site. Search and you'll find several similar-looking pages; the official one sits on the immigration.go.th domain.

If a site asks for payment, it isn't the official one. That's the cleanest test. Agency sites often outrank the real one in paid search results, and they charge for something that costs nothing.

What you'll need

FieldHave ready
PassportNumber, issue and expiry dates
FlightFlight number and arrival date
Address in ThailandHotel name and street address
PurposeTourism, business, etc.
Health declarationFollow the on-screen prompts
EmailWhere your confirmation goes

Sort your accommodation address first. Copy it from your booking confirmation. This is the field that stops most people mid-form.


After you submit

Once you land, the next two things you need are a SIM card and a way into the city. Before you queue for a taxi, it is worth knowing the common airport scams.

You'll receive a confirmation with a QR code. Screenshot it and save it to your camera roll. Print it if you can.

Immigration may ask to see it, and airport wifi is not something to rely on. An offline copy takes ten seconds and saves a bad moment.

Travelling as a family

One submission per person. Children need their own. The system lets you complete several in sequence from one session.

FAQ

Is it really free? Yes. The official portal charges nothing. A fee means you're on an agency site.

What if I skip it? Expect problems at the immigration desk. File it before you fly.

I made a mistake on the form. Corrections are possible in some cases. Check the guidance on the official portal.

Do I file it every time I enter? Yes — each arrival needs a new submission.


In short

  • Every non-Thai national must file, including children
  • Submit up to three days before arrival
  • It's free. A fee means it's not the official site
  • Have your accommodation address ready
  • Save the QR confirmation offline

Rules and procedures change. Check the official Thai Immigration guidance before you travel.


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