The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is a mandatory online form every foreigner must complete before entering Thailand — including visa-free Americans, children, and infants. It is **completely free**, opens 72 hours before arrival (including arrival day), and takes ~5 minutes at the only official site: tdac.immigration.go.th. Thai immigration reports ~10% of arrivals registered through fraudulent paid copycat sites — never pay for a TDAC.
TDAC at a glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Mandatory? | Yes — all non-Thai nationals, air, land & sea, since May 1, 2025 |
| Cost | Free — any site charging is unofficial |
| When to submit | Within 72 hours before arrival, including arrival day |
| Official site | tdac.immigration.go.th (Immigration Bureau) |
| What you get | QR code by email — show on phone or print |
| Validity | One entry — new TDAC for every trip |
| Group filing | Up to 10 travelers in one submission |
How to fill it in — 5 minutes
Timing matters: the window opens 72h before you land in Thailand, not before you leave home. Departing New York on a 20-hour journey means you can often submit before boarding — do it at home, not on airport Wi-Fi after landing. You cannot save a half-finished form, so have your passport, flight number, and hotel address ready.
- Go to tdac.immigration.go.th and choose Arrival Card (scan your passport's MRZ to autofill)
- Enter trip details: flight number, arrival date, purpose, first hotel address
- Answer the health declaration (extra questions appear only for listed countries)
- Add other travelers if filing as a group — 'same as previous' copies shared details
- Enter your email, submit, and download the QR card
The scam sites taking your money
Thai immigration acknowledged in March 2026 that at least 10% of foreign arrivals had filed through fraudulent TDAC websites — copycat pages that rank on Google, charge $20-50 for a free form, and sometimes submit nothing at all. The rule is simple: the only real site ends in .go.th (government of Thailand). Everything else — .com, .org, 'express processing' — is a third party charging for a free service.
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Mistakes, updates, and what it's not
- Wrong details? Use 'Update Arrival Card' before entry — everything is editable except name, passport number, nationality, and DOB (those need a fresh submission)
- TDAC ≠ visa — it's an arrival registration; Americans still enter visa-free for 60 days
- No internet on landing? Kiosks exist at airports but the queue is real — submit before you fly
- eSIM tip — you need data the moment you land for the QR code and Grab; a Saily Thailand eSIM activates on arrival
Get an eSIM before you fly
Saily — by the Nord Security team — sells prepaid travel eSIMs for 150+ countries. Install before departure, land with data working, no roaming bill shock.
Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): Mandatory Form Explained — FAQ
Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card free?
When exactly can I submit the TDAC?
Does the TDAC replace a Thailand visa?
Do children need their own TDAC?
Country entry requirements
Related guides
Entry rules change without notice. Always verify with official government sources (travel.state.gov, embassy websites) before booking. Last reviewed November 2026. This page may contain partner links — see our affiliate disclosure.