Thailand Reaffirms Mandatory Digital Arrival Card for All Foreign Travelers Including Long-Term Visa Holders
Siam Legal International urges travelers to comply with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card system and cautions against unofficial services amid tougher immigration verification
Thailand’s immigration authorities are enforcing the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) as a compulsory pre-arrival requirement for all foreign nationals entering the kingdom, following its launch in May 2025 and growing scrutiny in 2026. A comprehensive advisory from Siam Legal International highlights that the TDAC must be completed online within seventy-two hours before arrival, regardless of the traveler’s visa classification — including those holding long-term resident (LTR) visas and other extended stay permissions.
This requirement forms part of a broader effort by Thai authorities to streamline entry procedures, enhance border security and modernise immigration processing by replacing the former paper arrival card with a fully digital system.
The TDAC mandates detailed information such as passport and personal data, travel itinerary, accommodation addresses in Thailand and health declarations, after which applicants receive a QR code that may be requested at immigration checkpoints.
Siam Legal International has underscored that the digital arrival card is not a visa and does not supplant visa obligations, emphasising that travelers must still secure appropriate visas through diplomatic posts or authorised channels as applicable.
The legal firm further warns of widespread confusion caused by third-party websites that mimic the official system and charge fees, stressing that the TDAC is freely available only through the government’s Immigration Bureau portal.
As Thailand tightens entry checks with increased documentation verification, incomplete or incorrectly submitted TDACs have contributed to delays at immigration, prompting authorities and advisers to advocate for careful compliance and use of the designated platform.
Officials say the transition to the TDAC system enhances efficiency at ports of entry while supporting Thailand’s broader travel and tourism objectives, but travelers are reminded that registration does not guarantee entry and must be paired with valid visas and travel documentation.
This requirement forms part of a broader effort by Thai authorities to streamline entry procedures, enhance border security and modernise immigration processing by replacing the former paper arrival card with a fully digital system.
The TDAC mandates detailed information such as passport and personal data, travel itinerary, accommodation addresses in Thailand and health declarations, after which applicants receive a QR code that may be requested at immigration checkpoints.
Siam Legal International has underscored that the digital arrival card is not a visa and does not supplant visa obligations, emphasising that travelers must still secure appropriate visas through diplomatic posts or authorised channels as applicable.
The legal firm further warns of widespread confusion caused by third-party websites that mimic the official system and charge fees, stressing that the TDAC is freely available only through the government’s Immigration Bureau portal.
As Thailand tightens entry checks with increased documentation verification, incomplete or incorrectly submitted TDACs have contributed to delays at immigration, prompting authorities and advisers to advocate for careful compliance and use of the designated platform.
Officials say the transition to the TDAC system enhances efficiency at ports of entry while supporting Thailand’s broader travel and tourism objectives, but travelers are reminded that registration does not guarantee entry and must be paired with valid visas and travel documentation.
