How to file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card
Filing takes minutes if your details are ready. The rule that catches most people out is the window: the card can only be filed in the 72 hours before you arrive - not a month ahead, not a week ahead.
Filing in four steps
1. Gather your details
Passport (open beside you), flight or crossing details, arrival date, and the address of your first night in Thailand. Each traveller - children included - needs their own set.
2. Wait for your window
The form opens 72 hours before arrival. Filing earlier in the window is safer than at the airport - especially with long-haul connections, where the window can open mid-flight.
3. File on the official portal
Complete the sections on the official TDAC portal: identity and passport, travel and arrival, stay and health questions. Match every character to your documents.
4. Keep your QR code
The system emails your Thailand Digital Arrival Card with a QR code - the proof immigration reads at the counter. Download it, keep it on your phone, and print or screenshot a backup.
What the form asks for
- Identity: passport number, nationality, name as printed in the passport, dates
- Travel: flight number or land crossing, arrival date, mode of entry
- Stay: first night's address and accommodation type, contact information
- Health: a short set of standard health questions
A single wrong passport character or a flight number that does not match your booking is the most common reason a traveller is held up at the desk. Full detail: the form walkthrough.
Good to know before you file
- MRZ scanning: the official form can scan your passport's machine-readable zone or accept a photo of the page to auto-fill your details - re-check every retrieved character.
- Group submission: one person can file for up to 10 travellers in a single submission, reusing shared trip and accommodation details.
- Updating: the Update Arrival Card function lets you correct travel and accommodation details any time before arrival - name, nationality and date of birth are fixed.
- Language and data: all details must be entered in English, and the system complies with Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).
FAQ
When can I file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
Only within the 72 hours before you arrive in Thailand - not a week or a month ahead.
Is there a fee for the TDAC?
No. The official government portal states "No Fees Required". Third-party services charge service fees for assistance with preparation and filing, not for the card itself - see Official Channels.
Can I file it on my day of travel?
Yes, as long as it is submitted before you arrive. Filing earlier inside the window is recommended.
Is the TDAC a visa?
No. It is the arrival form. If your nationality requires a visa, you must still obtain the correct visa before travelling - see Who Needs It.
What if my plans change after filing?
Use the portal's Update Arrival Card function (search by card number, date of birth and nationality). Travel and accommodation details can be updated any time before arrival; name, nationality and date of birth cannot - those need a fresh card.