Do I need to fill out the TDAC to enter Thailand?
Yes. Every non-Thai national entering Thailand, whatever their nationality, must submit the TDAC online before arriving, whether by air, land or sea.
The rule applies whatever your passport or visa: visa-exempt visitors, Visa on Arrival travelers, e-Visa holders and diplomatic passport holders all need one. Children and infants need their own card. You also need a new one for every entry, because each card covers a single arrival. The main exceptions are airline crew, and transit passengers who stay airside without passing through immigration. If you leave the airport, you need one. The TDAC is an arrival registration, not a visa, so check separately whether your passport needs a visa. PassportsAndVisas.com can complete it for you if you'd like help.
When should I fill out the TDAC for Thailand?
Fill in Thailand's TDAC online in the few days just before you arrive (your arrival day counts); it won't accept earlier submissions, and each entry needs a new one.
Thailand's Immigration Bureau opens the form only shortly before your arrival date, so you can't file weeks ahead. The best time is just before you fly, once your flight and first night's accommodation are confirmed. You can update details such as your flight or address any time before you enter. Your name, nationality and date of birth can't be edited, so if one of those is wrong, submit a fresh form; the latest one counts. A TDAC is used once, so you need a new one for every trip into Thailand. PassportsAndVisas.com can file it for you at the right time.
What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)?
The TDAC is Thailand's free online arrival card that every non-Thai traveler completes before entering; it is not a visa.
Run by Thailand's Immigration Bureau, the TDAC replaced the old paper arrival form. Every non-Thai traveler, including children and babies, fills one in before each entry, whether arriving by air, land or sea. It records your passport, trip and accommodation details plus a short health declaration, and you receive a QR code by email to show at immigration. It does not give you permission to enter. Whether you also need a visa is a separate question: your passport needs an eVisa for most passports. Filing on the official government site is free; PassportsAndVisas.com can also complete and check it for you.
Can I fill in the TDAC at the airport when I arrive in Thailand?
Yes, Thailand has TDAC kiosks and Wi-Fi on arrival at five airports, but completing it online before you fly is quicker and avoids queues.
Kiosks are at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai airports. A kiosk can't print your card: the QR code is sent only by email, so photograph the screen and keep the email. You'll need an email address either way. If you're transiting and stay airside without passing immigration, no TDAC is needed, but if you leave the airport you must have one. Arriving by land or sea? There are no airport kiosks to fall back on, so file online beforehand. PassportsAndVisas.com can submit it before your trip so you can go straight to immigration.
Do I have to print my TDAC for Thailand?
No, you don't have to print your Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). Showing its QR code on your phone or another device at immigration is enough.
Once you submit, you can download the TDAC straight away, and a copy with a QR code is emailed to you. Keep it saved on your phone, tablet or laptop so you can show it at the immigration counter. The Immigration Bureau suggests a printed copy only if you won't have a device with you. A printout or screenshot is still a handy backup in case your battery or connection fails. If you submit at an airport kiosk, the machine doesn't print: take a photo of the QR code, and it will also arrive by email.
What happens if I don't fill out the TDAC before arriving in Thailand?
The TDAC isn't optional. Thailand requires every non-Thai traveler to submit one before entering, so if you haven't, you'll need to complete it before passing immigration.
The Immigration Bureau treats the TDAC as mandatory for all foreign nationals, including children and visa-exempt visitors. Travelers without a smartphone or internet access will find kiosks and Wi-Fi on arrival. Kiosks are at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai airports. Accuracy matters too: a traveler who gives incorrect information can be refused entry at the immigration officer's discretion. The easiest option is to submit it online shortly before your trip and keep the QR code on your phone.
