Thailand TDAC 2026: Visa-Free Still Needs a Digital Arrival Card

Plenty of travellers assume visa-free entry means nothing to prepare, then get asked for a TDAC at the airport. Since 1 May 2025 Thailand has used a digital arrival card (TDAC) in place of the paper TM6, and every traveller must file it online in advance - visa-free, visa on arrival and e-visa holders alike. This guide covers the steps, the timing limit and what to have ready.

Information checked July 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm on the Thai Immigration Bureau website before you travel.

What is TDAC, and how is it different from the old TM6?

TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) is the Thai Immigration Bureau's digital arrival card. It came into force on 1 May 2025, replacing the paper TM6 form that used to be handed out on the plane.

• ✅ Required for every traveller: visa-free, visa on arrival and e-visa holders included
• ⏰ Can only be filed within 72 hours of arrival
• 💰 Official filing is free, at tdac.immigration.go.th
• 📱 Produces a QR code to present at the border

Many nationalities enter Thailand visa-free, but visa-free is not declaration-free - the TDAC still has to be filed. That has been the single biggest source of confusion since the rule changed.

How to file the Thailand TDAC: steps and documents

The whole thing takes about five minutes. File one to three days before departure - earlier is not accepted.

What to have ready: a valid passport, inbound flight number and arrival date, your first night's address in Thailand, and a working email address.

Worth noting: the Thai Immigration Bureau's new mobile app, THIM, is expected to launch in August 2026. It will let you photograph your passport to auto-fill the details, which should make the process faster still.

You will need data in Thailand more than you expect

The TDAC QR code can be screenshotted and shown offline, but once you are through the border, data is close to essential:

• 🚕 Grab - haggling with airport taxis is a classic way to get overcharged
• 🗺️ Google Maps for your hotel and restaurants
• 🎫 Showing e-tickets and booking confirmations
• 💬 Keeping in touch with the people you are travelling with

Buying a SIM at the airport means queueing and usually paying more. Install a Thailand eSIM before you fly and you have signal from the moment you land.

What to have with you on arrival in Thailand

• 📕 Passport, valid for at least six months
• 📱 TDAC QR code (screenshot or printed)
• 🏨 Accommodation booking confirmation, occasionally checked
• 💵 Under the rules you may be asked to show a certain amount of funds

Keep the TDAC QR code and your booking confirmation in the same album folder so you are not hunting for them in the queue.

Thailand entry FAQ

Do visa-free travellers still need a TDAC?

Yes. TDAC applies to every arriving traveller, including visa-free, visa on arrival and e-visa holders. Visa-free removes the visa requirement, not the arrival declaration.

How early can I file the TDAC?

Only within 72 hours of arrival - the system will not accept it earlier. One to three days before departure is the practical window, and save the QR code as a screenshot.

Is there a fee for TDAC?

Official filing is completely free at tdac.immigration.go.th. Some sites charge a service fee, so check the address before entering any details.

What if I forget and only realise at the airport?

You can usually still file it on your phone at the airport, but it will slow your clearance and may mean queueing. Doing it before you leave is far easier.

Will I have a problem at immigration without mobile data?

The QR code can be screenshotted and shown offline. But Grab, hotel navigation and e-tickets all need a connection afterwards, so arrange a Thailand eSIM before you fly.

Bottom line

Thai entry now comes down to one action: file the TDAC on the official site one to three days before departure and screenshot the QR code. Visa-free does not mean declaration-free, and that is the trap most people fall into this year. Sort out mobile data at the same time and you can walk out of the terminal straight into a Grab.

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