Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): Free Official Filing
Official Portal Only. About 72 Hours. Paper Backup.
I've lived in Thailand for 20 years, and from our office in Ban Lum I tell arriving teachers and travellers the same thing about the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): use the official portal, it is free, file it up to 3 days before you land, and bring a paper copy of the QR. The rules can change, so check the official site before you fly. This is not legal advice.
Before You File: What to Have Ready
A few minutes at the kitchen table saves stress at the airport.
"In 20 years around Sukhothai and the north I've seen the paper arrival slip turn into a QR code on a phone. My habit hasn't changed: get it done before you fly, and keep a paper copy in your carry-on in case the phone dies."Matthew John : Co-Founder & Operations Manager, KET
1. The Card and QR π²
- When: The site says to file up to 3 days before you arrive, including the day of arrival. That is about 72 hours.
- Where: tdac.immigration.go.th. The site says there are no fees.
- Backup: The site says printing is not required. We still print one and keep it in the carry-on.
2. Your Details π
The site lists what the form asks for: passport details, your flight and arrival date, your address in Thailand, your travel purpose, a health declaration, and an email address for the card. Have them ready before you start. There is no save-and-finish-later, so we do it in one go.
3. Money and Onward Travel π΅
The form does not list funds among the details it asks for, and we do not know of a TDAC figure. Whether an officer asks about money or onward travel is up to them, and it can change. Check with the Thai embassy or your airline, and keep your address and plans handy.
Coming to teach? Your school sponsors your visa and work permit, and the TDAC is a separate form. See our Non-B visa guide, our Thai work permit guide and, for later trips out of the country, our Laos visa run guide and 90-day report guide.
β‘ Arrival Readiness Checklist
Tick each one before you go to the airport:
Filing Your TDAC: Four Steps
In order. Check the official site for the current screens.
π οΈ How to Fill In the Thailand Digital Arrival Card
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Use the Official Portal
Go to tdac.immigration.go.th and press the Arrival Card button. The official portal is free. Check the address before you type in any details.
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File Up to 3 Days Before Arrival
The site says to submit up to 3 days before you arrive, including the day of arrival. That is about 72 hours.
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Enter Your Passport and Trip Details
Type your name and passport number as in your passport. You can scan the MRZ (the two lines at the bottom of the photo page), then check every field again. Add your flight, address in Thailand and email.
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Save the QR and Print a Backup
The card and QR code are sent to your email. Save the file on your phone. The site says printing is not required, but a paper copy is a good backup.
The site says you can also add other travellers on one submission (up to 10) and update a card before you travel. The health questions appear if the country you came from, your nationality or your flight is on the Ministry of Public Health list. Check every field again if you scanned your MRZ.
Free Is Free: Skip the Paid Look-Alikes
Type the address yourself, and check it before you pay anything.
Some private websites show up when you search for "Thailand arrival card" and charge a fee to fill in the form. The official site says the TDAC has no fees. If you are unsure whether a site is the right one, do not enter your passport details or pay.
- Free: The official portal is tdac.immigration.go.th, and the site's own title says no fees are required.
- Check the address: The official address ends in .go.th. Type it yourself instead of clicking an advert.
- Helpers: The site says a travel agency can submit for clients who authorise it. That is a choice, and it is not needed. KET does not do this for you.
- If you paid a look-alike: Contact your bank or card provider, then file your card on the official portal.
Four Small Things to Double-Check:
- Zero or O: Look closely at the number 0 and the letter O in your passport number.
- Names: Use your name as in your passport. No nicknames.
- Mistakes: The site says you can update a card, but not your full name, nationality or date of birth. If one of those is wrong, submit a new card. The latest valid one is used.
- Everyone: Every traveller needs a card, including infants and children.
Arrival Table: Who Files and When
What the official site says for each kind of trip.
| Trip | What the Site Says | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flying in | File up to 3 days before, including the day you arrive (about 72 hours). | The site says kiosks and Wi-Fi are provided at arrival if you have no phone. Do not rely on that. Airports with kiosks: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. |
| Airside transit only | The site says a TDAC is not required if you are not passing through immigration. | If you leave the airport, it says a TDAC is required. Ask your airline if you are unsure. |
| Land or sea entry, or coming back from a trip | The site says all non-Thai nationals entering by land, air or sea must submit one. | The site says each card is one entry only, so you need a new one every time you enter. That includes coming back from a short trip to Laos or Cambodia. |
| Teachers arriving for a school job | File like any other foreign traveller. | Your school handles your visa and work permit. Tell your KET contact your flight. KET is a placement agency, not Immigration, and we do not submit your card. |
* This table follows the official site's FAQ as we read it. Rules and screens change, so check the official site before you fly.
Arrival Card Questions
Short answers from what the official site says. Check it before you fly.
Does everyone need a TDAC?
What if I make a mistake?
Do I need a TDAC if I only change planes airside?
Do children need their own TDAC?
Is a QR on my phone enough, or should I print it?
Will Immigration ask about my money or onward ticket?
Written by Matthew John
Co-Founder & Operations Manager : 20 Years in ThailandI'm Matthew, co-founder of Kids English Thailand. I've lived in Thailand for 20 years and work from our office in Ban Lum, Sukhothai. Since 2009 we have placed over 1,500 teachers in Thai schools. I'm not an Immigration officer, so I point you to the official site for the rules.
