Thailand Requires Digital Arrival Card Submission 3 Days Before Entry starting May 1

[Upnotover]

1 minute ago, XB12X said:

I don't carry a smartphone around with me.

You don't need to.  Print it.

[Travi]

What about expats living in Thailand. I think can't select Thailand as resident country.

[Upnotover]

1 minute ago, Travi said:

What about expats living in Thailand. I think can't select Thailand as resident country.

Use passport country.

[bwanajohn]

I assume if you already have a non o extension and a reentry permit you paid 1000 baht for you will still have to fill this out.

[Peterphuket]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

I wonder what will happen if the visit to Thailand is an emergency and within the three days?

Don't think so far ahead though, you will only confuse the Thai.

[Denim]

Looks like ' Panicans '  entered the lexicon in the nick of time.

[findlay13]

"The aim is to enhance visitor support and ensure a smoother arrival experience in Thailand."   😆Yeah right. I am arriving in July I will be interested to see how this rolls out in May.

[Andrew65]

I suspect that in years to come totally visa free entry could become a thing of the past. Reducing overtourism and denying entry to undesirables being an upshot of it.

[Upnotover]

2 minutes ago, bwanajohn said:

I assume if you already have a non o extension and a reentry permit you paid 1000 baht for you will still have to fill this out.

Yes.

[spidermike007]

Though this might be a reasonable requirement for normal tourists, it is inconvenient and it should not be required for those with long-term visas, at all. 

[norsurin]

I had plan to go from Bangkok to Manila last year When they also demand this s..t i changed my mind.

They make so silly rules that upset tourists.

[hkblademan]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

I wonder what will happen if the visit to Thailand is an emergency and within the three days?

Their headline is wrong. It’s 3 days or less before entry.

[mikeymike100]

Is the online form in English only, or several languages.? I have looked at and it seems to be omly in English

I have a friend who is French, cannot speak English apart from hello and goodbye, when he goes to immigration he always takes someone who can help him, if needed.

I would imagine Russians and Chinese having problems???

[wensiensheng]

“The aim is to enhance visitor support and ensure a smoother arrival experience in Thailand.”  
 

How can going from not needing to do anything (the current position) to having to do something ( the proposed position) ever ensure a smoother arrival experience? Nothing is smoother than nothing.

[Kaopad999]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo courtesy: Matichon

 

Starting 1st May, foreign visitors heading to Thailand must fill in an online arrival card before their trip, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) website, created by the Immigration Bureau, is ready to capture essential traveller details. Smart app versions on Android and iOS will soon be available to make the process even smoother.

 

Diplomatic workers, some international organisation members, and foreign officials in Thailand are exempt. This digital shift replaces the TM6 paper card, which was discontinued last year.

 

The streamlined TDAC is mandatory for all foreign visitors, irrespective of whether they enter Thailand by air, sea, or land.

 

 

 

Visitors can fill in their TDAC forms three days before they arrive, inputting crucial details like passport numbers, accommodation addresses, and health records.

 

Those arriving from high-risk areas might have to provide additional details. Group submissions are allowed and details can be tweaked before sending off.

 

The Ministry highlights that TDAC doesn't substitute a visa and advises travellers that Thai nationals need not fill this out. Access to the TDAC system for those arriving on May 1 opens on April 28.

 

The aim is to enhance visitor support and ensure a smoother arrival experience in Thailand.

 

Based on a story by Bangkok Post

 

-- 2025-04-11

 

 

Very good idea

[FritsSikkink]

16 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

How did your mate try it when it does not start until 28th April?

The website is already available.

[FritsSikkink]

5 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Don't think so far ahead though, you will only confuse the Thai.

It is you 2 who don't understand it, it is 3 days or less.

[wensiensheng]

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Though this might be a reasonable requirement for normal tourists, it is inconvenient and it should not be required for those with long-term visas, at all. 

Yeah, it’s hard to fill in a departure date when you are going home 🙄

[richard_smith237]

Just now, findlay13 said:

"The aim is to enhance visitor support and ensure a smoother arrival experience in Thailand."   😆Yeah right

To be fair - I see the logic.

 

IF all our arrival details are already in the Immigration system, all they have to do is check an ‘approved box’ - if the system works in this manner it cuts down the work load & smoothes arrival & speeds up processing times.

 

The issue is that ‘online’  Immigration systems have been somewhat ‘glitchy’ over recent history… 

[Nickcage49]

I wonder if you need this if you have a retirement visa and live here year round.

[jippytum]

Presently  retirees appling for the retirement extension are required to produce Tm card regardless if entry was many years previous. Will that change? 

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Is the online form in English only, or several languages.? I have looked at and it seems to be omly in English

I have a friend who is French, cannot speak English apart from hello and goodbye, when he goes to immigration he always takes someone who can help him, if needed.

I would imagine Russians and Chinese having problems???

Good point - it needs to be multi-language….

 

 

[Upnotover]

2 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Is the online form in English only, or several languages.? I have looked at and it seems to be omly in English

I have a friend who is French, cannot speak English apart from hello and goodbye, when he goes to immigration he always takes someone who can help him, if needed.

I would imagine Russians and Chinese having problems???

....but in any case the information has to be entered in "English".

[wensiensheng]

5 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

I suspect that in years to come totally visa free entry could become a thing of the past. Reducing overtourism and denying entry to undesirables being an upshot of it.

I doubt that very much. There is no money to be made in reducing over tourism and undesirables are a price that successive governments have been willing to pay

[Peterphuket]

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

It is you 2 who don't understand it, it is 3 days or less.

Pardon? I was just responding toTropicalevo, Frits.

[Nickcage49]

Just now, jippytum said:

Presently  retirees appling for the retirement extension are required to produce Tm card regardless if entry was many years previous. Will that change? 

I haven't been asked for a TM card for 4-5 years now. They no longer pass them out on flights.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Starting 1st May, foreign visitors heading to Thailand must fill in an online arrival card before their trip, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Why not just make it easy... 

[proton]

2 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

I wonder if you need this if you have a retirement visa and live here year round.

 

There are no retirement visas

[DFPhuket]

I fail to understand the angst being expressed here. I travel extensively and this is pretty routine. In Singapore and Malaysia, for example, computers are available just before immigration for anyone who forgot to do it. It's also possible to do it after landing while taxiing to the gate and on the plane. In those countries you can then use the e-Gates. 

Indonesia, Cambodia and South Korea require a digital document to be completed in advance. 

 

If this speeds up immigration I'm all for it. 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

I wonder what will happen if the visit to Thailand is an emergency and within the three days?

Indeed….  I often have travel at less than 12 hours notice… or have to change plans last min..,

…. Kind of makes this 3 day requirement somewhat tricky. 

Mods: my comment needs deleting- I misunderstood the 3 day comment & have made a misleading statement. 
 

The title of the thread needs correction too… “within 3 days”  - which would limit confusions.