Planning to fly to Thailand? The Thai government has implemented a new protocol for you to complete before kick-starting every adventure.
There is so much to see in Thailand, from the pristine beaches of Phuket to the vibrant markets of Bangkok and over 40,000 Buddhist temples throughout the country. And, of course, there’s Koh Samui, which has been drawing an influx of tourists for being the picture-postcard backdrop of HBO’s hit series White Lotus.
Thailand has certainly been a prime spot for leisure travelers, and if you’re one of the 37 million tourists expected to visit the exotic Southeast Asian nation this year, here’s something you need to take note of. Since May 1, Thailand’s immigration bureau has been requiring tourists to complete a new electronic form, called the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), before they land in the country.
Like the Philippines’ eTravel Pass, Thailand’s digital form replaces its paper-based TM6 form, which keeps track of foreign nationals coming in and going out of the country. Under the old system, travelers were required to complete the paper form either during their flight to Thailand or upon arrival at the airport. Travelers then have to present it at immigration and keep it with them throughout their stay to be presented again upon departure.
The protocol’s digitization is part of Thailand’s efforts to modernize its immigration system and offer travelers a fast, more secure, and hassle-free experience. Unlike TM6, the TDAC is a fully electronic system, which eliminates the need for travelers to fill out paper forms and for the immigration to enter the data manually at the border.
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Every non-Thai national is required to complete the form online, regardless of the type of visa, duration of your stay, or whether you’re entering the country via air, land, or sea. “Completion of the TDAC will be mandatory for all foreign passport holders, including tourists, business travelers, and long-term residents,” the US Embassy to Thailand said in a travel alert. “Exceptions apply only to travelers transiting or transferring through Thailand without passing through immigration control and to those entering using a Border Pass.”
To get started, visit the Thailand Bureau of Immigration’s official website at least three days before you arrive in Thailand. Proceed to the online application and provide the following information: your passport details, flight schedule and vehicle number, as well as accommodation details, including the address of your lodging.
Once done, proceed to filling out the health declaration form, including the list of countries you have visited in the last 14 days and questions about your health. For the final step, you must review the details you provided earlier, then submit the form.
You will then receive an electronic confirmation, which must be shown to immigration officers upon arrival in Thailand. The immigration warns that failure to complete the TDAC before arrival could cause delays in your entry, as travelers will not be allowed to enter the country without the digital form.
If you’re traveling with your family, keep in mind that each one in your group must have their own TDAC to be presented to immigration officers. You don’t have to worry about long processing times, too, as the system allows joint applications, which allow family members to register under one submission.
The TDAC aims to help Thailand “strengthen security measures, streamline immigration procedures, and support public health management,” said the Thai Immigration Bureau. The digital upgrade is part of the country’s broader overhaul of its immigration framework, which includes the rollout of its electronic visa (e-Visa) system last Jan. 1.
Other than that, the Thai government is considering shortening visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days for citizens of 93 countries currently exempt from the country’s visa requirements. The change is expected to be implemented soon to curb the use of Thailand’s visa-free program for illegal business and employment, an issue that the Thai government has repeatedly tried to address since 1992.
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