Thailand Digital Arrival Card
Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is an arrival card system required for all foreign nationals entering Thailand by land, air, and sea since 1 May 2025.[1][2][3][4] The digital authorization replaces previous use of a TM6 paper arrival card.[3][5][6]
Background
[edit]Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the paper TM6 (Thai: ตม.6) form was used for all foreign arrivals entering Thailand.[7] In June 2022, the usage of the form was suspended to reduce immigration backlogs following Thailand's reopening to foreign travelers.[8] The extension was renewed several times, with the final extension expiring 30 April 2025.[7]
TDAC is a digital version of the TM6 form, but with some new questions added regarding travel plans and health status.[9]
Although there has been some confusion among airlines and across social media, the TDAC system is not in fact an ETA travel authorization program, and is merely to streamline Thai immigration checkpoints.[citation needed]
Online submission
[edit]Preliminary TDAC submissions were accepted on the official website Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) from 28 April 2025,[7] and the online form has been required for all foreign travelers since 1 May 2025.[7][10]
Travelers are required to complete the form no more than 72 hours (3 days) prior to their arrival in Thailand.[7] Mandatory online questions require information about passport details, personal and financial information, travel plans, accommodations in Thailand, recently visited countries, and health status.[9][11]
TDAC scams
[edit]One the same day that the TDAC system launched, 1 May 2025, Thai Immigration police warned travelers on social media to watch out for "fake" TDAC websites that look official, but are charging money for the TDAC arrival card submission and harvesting sensitive data from travelers.[12][13]
In early June 2025, due to ongoing confusion and black hat manipulation of Google search results by scammers, Thai Immigration, with the help of the Thai Tourist Police and various Thailand embassies around the world, once again warned travelers in a large social media campaign to avoid TDAC "scam" websites and only use the official TDAC website.[14][15][16][17]
References
[edit]- ^ Newsroom, T. A. T. (2025-04-04). "Thailand Digital Arrival Card System Set to Launch on 1 May 2025". TAT Newsroom. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "main". tdac.immigration.go.th. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
- ^ a b "Tourism Hot Spot Thailand Launches Digital Arrival Card for Foreign Visitors". Bloomberg News.
- ^ "Online arrival card enforced from today: Immigration Bureau". nationthailand. 2025-05-01. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Thailand to Scrap Paper Arrival Forms for Online System on 1st May 2025". nationthailand. 2025-04-25. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ "Online arrival cards for Thailand take effect May 1". Bangkok Post. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ a b c d e Ngamkham, Wassayos (2025-04-26). "New Thai digital arrival cards 'will help track criminals'". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ Mail, Pattaya (2024-10-18). "Details of 16 land and sea checkpoints suspending TM6 immigration form for travellers entering and exiting Thailand". Pattaya Mail. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ a b "Thailand requires foreign tourists to register online arrival card starting May 1". nationthailand. 2025-04-19. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ Towey, Hannah (2025-05-01). "Visiting Thailand? This New Electronic Entry Form Is Now Required". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Foreign visitors to require Thailand digital arrival card from May 1". nationthailand. 2025-04-14. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ Limited, Bangkok Post Public Company (2025-05-01). "Fake Thailand Digital Arrival Card website alert". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Connor, Joseph O' (2025-05-01). "TM6 goes off well but officials and Tourism Minister warn of industry in 'crisis.' Blame foreign media". Thai Examiner. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
- ^ ผู้ดูแลหลัก (2025-06-18). "The Immigration Bureau would like to inform and encourage everyone to help remind foreign nationals to register TDAC only through our official website to ensure the safety of personal information". Tourist Police TH (in Thai). Retrieved 2025-06-22.
- ^ "Important Notice from Thai Immigration Bureau – 'TDAC Warning' – Register only on the official website – it's free and secure". 6 June 2025.
- ^ https://nakhonphanom.immigration.go.th/index.php/en/news/advertise/1423-2025-06-06-07-02-33.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "📣Press Release📣 The Immigration Bureau would like to inform and encourage everyone to help remind foreign nationals to register TDAC only through our official website to ensure the safety of personal information". สถานกงสุลใหญ่ ณ นครชิคาโก (in Thai). Retrieved 2025-06-22.