Thailand's Digital Card Chaos: Say Goodbye to TM6, Hello to Confusion!

[BusyB]

9 hours ago, redwood1 said:

 

There seem to be quite a few sheep herders in this thread.....Making sure all the wayward sheep get in line with the new proposed TM6.....Or offering door A or door B which both lead to the TM6 room.....New Phone or old Phone....Phone or No phone...etc..

 

Things work fantastic WITHOUT a TM6 and should stay that way.....

 

That the TM6 is a useless waste of time goes without saying.

 

But that has nothing to do with the rest of what you say about posters on this thread.

 

The system is here to stay. Some of us are adult enough to recognize that. I can't change the system. But after a tiny bit of investigation I can help and encourage those who are having problems with it and find it daunting, so they don't have problems when they finally do have to deal with it. Because deal with it they must regardless of what you say.

 

You aren't helping them at all. 

 

Just a humble sheeplethought. 

 

 

[Maestro]

On 3/29/2025 at 8:25 AM, hkblademan said:

And what happens when you can’t input country of residence if you’re living here? thailand option isn’t available….

 

You put in the name ot the country that issued the passport with which you are travelling.

[AhFarangJa]

15 hours ago, BusyB said:

 

No. I didn't. But you knew that didn't you?

 

And your response bears me out. Bloated, arrogant, loud and lacking in self-awareness like all those who claim to be smarter than the rest they think they're above.

 

But I don't care. I just think us sheeple occasionally need to let people like you know that we're not as dim as you think. To give you a chance at self-improvement.

 

I accept that's wasted on you but couldn't care less.

I thank you for looking out for my best interests, keep it up......

[stoutfella]

On 3/29/2025 at 12:23 PM, Upnotover said:

Why do you need a phone?

Apparently in today's world you need a phone for everything, even to take your first dump of the day!

[BusyB]

3 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

I thank you for looking out for my best interests, keep it up......

 

Wewlkaam ...

[stoutfella]

Let's wait for the first power cut to occur, shutting down all electronic systems, think Heathrow recently. That should be entertaining.

[BusyB]

4 minutes ago, stoutfella said:

Apparently in today's world you need a phone for everything, even to take your first dump of the day!

 

Really? On Face-Time? 

[BusyB]

2 minutes ago, stoutfella said:

Let's wait for the first power cut to occur, shutting down all electronic systems, think Heathrow recently. That should be entertaining.

 

That's interesting ... I wonder what they did at LHR. But I think the UK's ETA system didn't go live till today ...?

[stoutfella]

1 minute ago, BusyB said:

 

Really? On Face-Time? 

Put it on FactBook, Tok Tik, InstantGran, wherever you like.

[BusyB]

Just now, stoutfella said:

Put it on FactBook, Tok Tik, InstantGran, wherever you like.

 

Show your friends the blood smears on the paper eh?

[Patong2021]

The people feigning concern, really are just old farts afraid of progress. They want to hold everyone back because they are frightened of a modernized, improved way of collecting and processing information.

 

2 hours ago, stoutfella said:

Let's wait for the first power cut to occur, shutting down all electronic systems, think Heathrow recently. That should be entertaining.

 

Your fear has already been answered, but you are so intent on lecturing everyone and pushing your ignorant fear that you don't want to  use common sense. What happens now when there is a power disruption? There  are  backup power supplies. And even when they fail, there is a contingency plan in effect. What would you do now if the immigration processing system  is disrupted?

 

The Heathrow electrical shutdown was for the terminals, not critical systems like ATC and security. Those systems continued to operate. Heathrow had electricity to  continue operating, but  it was Heathrow Chief Operating Officer Javier Echave who took the final decision to close the airport at 1.44am, because he wanted to protect the airport infrastructure during a reboot.The airport CEO Thomas Woldbye had chosen to go to bed and leave the final decision with his COO. Beathrow's problem is looking more like human error and poor management than actual structural failure.

 

On 3/31/2025 at 9:47 PM, redwood1 said:

 

There seem to be quite a few sheep herders in this thread.....Making sure all the wayward sheep get in line with the new proposed TM6.....Or offering door A or door B which both lead to the TM6 room.....New Phone or old Phone....Phone or No phone...etc..

 

Things work fantastic WITHOUT a TM6 and should stay that way.....

 

How do you know  things "work fantastic" without a TM6?  When did you take on responsibility for the Thai tourism industry? Who are you to dictate to Thailand what information they should collect? Thailand  wants to know the demographics of its visitors and that is one of the reasons for many of the questions on the TM6. You have the option of not completing the card and not entering Thailand. It's not like you and the other low income, low education complainers contribute anything of significance to the country.

 

2 hours ago, stoutfella said:

Apparently in today's world you need a phone for everything, even to take your first dump of the day!

 

Spoken like a miserable chronic complainer. No you do not need a phone for everything. What you need is a communication capability. A mobile phone is a part of a communication platform. You can obtain the same access using another form of electronic communication. You want the world to remain in an era of snail mail, and where a fax is considered a novel method of sending information.  Get it through your head, that the world is evolving. Adapt, or be left behind and perish. Most people are  using electronic methods of communication. It is more resilient, more efficient and allows catastrophe recovery.

[stoutfella]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

The people feigning concern, really are just old farts afraid of progress. They want to hold everyone back because they are frightened of a modernized, improved way of collecting and processing information.

 

 

Your fear has already been answered, but you are so intent on lecturing everyone and pushing your ignorant fear that you don't want to  use common sense. What happens now when there is a power disruption? There  are  backup power supplies. And even when they fail, there is a contingency plan in effect. What would you do now if the immigration processing system  is disrupted?

 

The Heathrow electrical shutdown was for the terminals, not critical systems like ATC and security. Those systems continued to operate. Heathrow had electricity to  continue operating, but  it was Heathrow Chief Operating Officer Javier Echave who took the final decision to close the airport at 1.44am, because he wanted to protect the airport infrastructure during a reboot.The airport CEO Thomas Woldbye had chosen to go to bed and leave the final decision with his COO. Beathrow's problem is looking more like human error and poor management than actual structural failure.

 

 

How do you know  things "work fantastic" without a TM6?  When did you take on responsibility for the Thai tourism industry? Who are you to dictate to Thailand what information they should collect? Thailand  wants to know the demographics of its visitors and that is one of the reasons for many of the questions on the TM6. You have the option of not completing the card and not entering Thailand. It's not like you and the other low income, low education complainers contribute anything of significance to the country.

 

 

Spoken like a miserable chronic complainer. No you do not need a phone for everything. What you need is a communication capability. A mobile phone is a part of a communication platform. You can obtain the same access using another form of electronic communication. You want the world to remain in an era of snail mail, and where a fax is considered a novel method of sending information.  Get it through your head, that the world is evolving. Adapt, or be left behind and perish. Most people are  using electronic methods of communication. It is more resilient, more efficient and allows catastrophe recovery.

You've obviously got issues so I would recommend you seek help very soon.

[stoutfella]

4 hours ago, BusyB said:

 

Show your friends the blood smears on the paper eh?

You've got piles?

[stevenl]

Start of the system is 01 may. No reason to panic at all.

[Patong2021]

1 hour ago, stoutfella said:

You've obviously got issues so I would recommend you seek help very soon.

Your complaints were shown to be spurious and without merit. Deal with it. And get ready to be treated like a pariah when you disrupt the lines at arrival.

[Patong2021]

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

Start of the system is 01 may. No reason to panic at all.

 

Some people have Chicken Little syndrome. Any change in a procedure, even one that they only encounter infrequently induces wailing and complaining. One finds them in the workplace, always resisting improvements or updates of procedure or workflows.

[stoutfella]

20 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Your complaints were shown to be spurious and without merit. Deal with it. And get ready to be treated like a pariah when you disrupt the lines at arrival.

Shall I call the psychiatrist, or will you?

[Patong2021]

5 minutes ago, stoutfella said:

Shall I call the psychiatrist, or will you?

 

 

I suggest you consider extra strength incontinence undergarments if you are not already using them as you will have a long wait in line for the arrivals who did not complete their forms.

[stoutfella]

9 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

 

I suggest you consider extra strength incontinence undergarments if you are not already using them as you will have a long wait in line for the arrivals who did not complete their forms.

I shall bother with one of low intelligence no longer as you've ceased entertaining me.

[Burma Bill]

25 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

 

I suggest you consider extra strength incontinence undergarments if you are not already using them as you will have a long wait in line for the arrivals who did not complete their forms.

 

Are you psychic ? The system does not start until 1st May so lets wait and see. By then this new system may be abolished. Flip flop Thailand!

[stevenl]

58 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Are you psychic ? The system does not start until 1st May so lets wait and see. By then this new system may be abolished. Flip flop Thailand!

Not a chance in hell.

[Lucky Bones]

On 3/29/2025 at 3:56 PM, Patong2021 said:

Japan has  a paper system for the lazy / stupid / progress resistant people. It is also a backuop system should the Visit Japan system fail. The paper people are directed to lines where they can stand and wait. The evisa pax breeze through customs and immigration. In my case it took 10 minutes including the lines at HND.

 

The days of saying no to a mobile device are over. Consider it a requirement to travel no different than visas and passports. Within the next 5 years, flying will depend upon E boarding passes and e linked  boarding gates.  It is happening now. There are no longer paper airline tickets. It is an eticket. A small group of  technology resistant people  cannot  be allowed to disrupt security and efficiency for others.  These are the same people who delay boarding because they don't have a passport and boarding pass ready to present at the gate, or who demand to board early because they are old, despite  paying for and sitting in zone 5.

And I am stuck behind you in the queue because your card doesn't work. My cash is still cash.🙃🙃

[Patong2021]

44 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

And I am stuck behind you in the queue because your card doesn't work. My cash is still cash.🙃🙃

 

Why would you be using a card to board or to pass the egates? If they are QR reliant you have the option of using any electronic device that displays the code, or a paper printout. Sometimes when I fly, I use a paper BP with a barcode that is scanned at security and at the gate for boarding when they are checking my ID.

[Russel]

On 3/29/2025 at 7:59 AM, Caldera said:

 

Nonsense. Once it becomes a requirement, it's just like with any other requirement, you either comply or you'll miss your flight.

You can do it at most 3 days before departure, my concern, in fact it is almost a certainty, is that in just 3 days they cannot process all the requests, especially in high season. If even one person is not boarded because they did not receive the DTAC in time, there will be an avalanche of cancellations, so the airlines must not be involved in any way if they do not want to be sued for damages by the stranded passengers, if I have a passport and maybe a visa you have to take me on board so let's not joke please

[BrandonJT]

On 3/29/2025 at 8:49 PM, redwood1 said:

I will be the guy in front of you holding up the line....

Because I will not be doing this ever....

So when they had the paper TM6 you just ripped it up in front of the immigration officers and they let you in?

[Johno57]

On 3/29/2025 at 2:43 PM, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Vietnam Investment Review

 

Thailand is scrapping its much-dreaded TM6 arrival form, replacing it with a new digital system—the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)—from May 1.

 

However, travellers should hold off on celebrating as the latest digital venture appears as perplexing as the form it replaces. The TDAC might ease entry formalities eventually, but the system launch is anything but smooth.

 

For years, non-Thai passport holders have filled out blue-and-white cards to enter the country, but the digital transition is meant to streamline this decade-old process.

 

The new system requires entrants to fill in personal, travel, and accommodation data online, promising a seamless experience with a QR code to present at immigration. But alas, the jargon-heavy user manual and an unreliable video tutorial only leave people scratching their heads.

 

As users grapple with a non-functioning tutorial and murky submission procedures, confusion reigns supreme. In fact, there's no word yet on whether travellers must continue carrying a paper form alongside their digital submission.

 

 

 

Screenshots from TDAC website

 

Further complicating matters, the authorities haven't confirmed if the TDAC will double as a customs declaration or whether an exit card is on the horizon.

 

Contrary to visa requirements, the TDAC is a separate consideration. No matter their visa status—whether visa-free for up to 60 days, extended duration, or work permits—foreign nationals must fill out the TDAC. The digital card is part of the grand plan to digitise Thailand's immigration, but right now, users are faced with a tangled web of uncertainty.

 

 

As the May 1 deadline looms, travellers are left wondering if the immigration process will be ready for prime time or if more chaos will ensue. Without clear instructions and user-friendly solutions for tech-challenged visitors, the initiative is in danger of reinforcing red tape, not removing it.

 

How the situation unfolds remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Thailand's digital promise is a work-in-progress. Stay tuned for more updates.

 

Based on a report by The Thaiger

 

-- 2025-03-29

 

 

So with every thing payed for & bags packed to go, you have to sweat on the last 3 days that you can fill out a statement that will be accepted & a code is recieved by you  knowing the reliability & security of past and present activities on the thai internet sites...how wonderful for your stress factors as you face the coming thai immigration scrutiny..

[Ralf001]

11 minutes ago, Johno57 said:

So with every thing payed for & bags packed to go, you have to sweat on the last 3 days that you can fill out a statement that will be accepted & a code is recieved by you  knowing the reliability & security of past and present activities on the thai internet sites...how wonderful for your stress factors as you face the coming thai immigration scrutiny..

 

[NanLaew]

On 3/29/2025 at 1:24 PM, JB300 said:

I thought the TM6 had been scrapped? 
 

is it back now? 

 

Did you read the OP?

(rhetorical)

 

On 3/29/2025 at 1:35 PM, Gabor said:

I just filled it within 10 minutes. Really easy.

 

Yup, a wee bit arcane, but that's no unexpected or surprising to anyone who has actually had to deal with Thai government paperwork. It is certainly not the disaster that the click-baitey OP suggests? 

It hasn't even started, and the usual suspects are bashing away at Thailand already? (you know who you are)

 

You must really hate yourselves a lot to project all this negativity and doom on the country you have chosen to pitch your tent in.

 

[redwood1]

3 hours ago, Johno57 said:

So with every thing payed for & bags packed to go, you have to sweat on the last 3 days that you can fill out a statement that will be accepted & a code is recieved by you  knowing the reliability & security of past and present activities on the thai internet sites...how wonderful for your stress factors as you face the coming thai immigration scrutiny..

 

I could not have said it better myself...

 

The old TM6 was almost zero stress as long as you had a pen....Very easy and non stressful

 

This new disaster is a guaranteed problem maker especially with the Thais VERY VERY poor track record with getting computer interfaces to work properly.....

 

Bloody hell it took 4 or 5 YEARS to get the  online 90 day reports working most of the time.....No Joke.... 

 

Anyone that supports this new TM6 needs psychiatric and mental help....

[Hawaiian]

14 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

 

I could not have said it better myself...

 

The old TM6 was almost zero stress as long as you had a pen....Very easy and non stressful

 

This new disaster is a guaranteed problem maker especially with the Thais VERY VERY poor track record with getting computer interfaces to work properly.....

 

Bloody hell it took 4 or 5 YEARS to get the  online 90 day reports working most of the time.....No Joke.... 

 

Anyone that supports this new TM6 needs psychiatric and mental help....

The Thai government likes to use the latest technology, but always wants to do it the Thai way.  And time after time we have seen the results.