They've been wanting to bring in this tourism tax of 300THB but didn't know how to apply it. Paying by cash or card upon arrival will be a lengthy process and cause longer waits. Applying it onto the price of the airfare will mean Thais cop it too. So this TDAC solves that problem. And that's why no Thailand on the country of residence list. Everyone filling this in (free for the time being) will before the year is over also have to pay a 300THB foreigner tax at the same time or else the application will be rejected and you won't get the QR code. In all likelihood airlines won't allow you to board without checking the QR code.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), replacing the TM6 form, is free to submit, but foreign tourists arriving by air will be charged a 300 baht tourism tax, while those entering by land or water will also be charged 300 baht but can enter multiple times within 30-60 days.
Here's a breakdown of the TDAC and the tourism tax:
TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card):
Purpose: To streamline the immigration process by allowing travelers to pre-register and submit their personal details online before arriving in Thailand.
Mandatory: The TDAC is mandatory for all foreign visitors starting May 1, 2025.
Free: The TDAC itself is free to submit.
How to Apply: Travelers need to visit the TDAC official website, fill out the required information, and save or print the confirmation receipt to present at immigration.
Benefits: Faster immigration processing, less paperwork, and a more efficient entry process.
Tourism Tax:
Fee: 300 baht per person.
Who Pays: Foreign tourists arriving by air or land/water.
Multiple Entries: Those entering by land or water will be charged 300 baht but will be allowed multiple entries within a 30- to 60-day period.
Purpose: To fund visitor insurance and infrastructure.
Implementation: The tourism tax is expected to be implemented later in 2025.
Payment Method: The tourism tax is expected to be linked to the TDAC and paid through the e-visa system.
Key Takeaways:
TDAC is free, but the tourism tax is not.
The TDAC is mandatory starting May 1, 2025.
The tourism tax is expected to be implemented later in 2025.
Foreign tourists arriving by air will be charged 300 baht per trip, while those entering by land or water will be charged 300 baht but can enter multiple times within a 30-60 day period.