Thailand’s Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): What Changes in August 2026

If you’re flying into Bangkok, Phuket, or Chiang Mai this year, you already need to file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before you land. What’s new for August 2026 is how you file it: Thailand’s Immigration Bureau is moving the process onto a dedicated mobile app called THIM, after months of a voluntary pilot. If you’ve traveled to Thailand any time since May 2025, TDAC itself isn’t new — but the way most travelers will complete it is about to change, and a few details trip people up every week in immigration lines.

Here’s exactly what’s required, what THIM does (and doesn’t) change, and how to get through Thai immigration without a hiccup.

What Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)?

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) replaced the old paper TM6 arrival form in May 2025. It’s a free, mandatory online form that collects your passport details, flight or transport information, accommodation address, and health declaration before you enter the country.

Every non-Thai citizen arriving by air, land, or sea must complete it — there are no exemptions for short layovers with an immigration stop, and no paper fallback at most checkpoints anymore.

Key facts:

What’s Changing in August 2026: The THIM App

THIM (Thailand Immigration Management) is the government’s new mobile app for handling the TDAC process. It’s been in public testing throughout 2026, and the Immigration Bureau has set August 2026 as the target for a full, mandatory nationwide rollout.

The biggest practical change is speed. Instead of manually typing passport and flight details into a web form, THIM lets you scan your passport’s photo page with your phone camera, and most fields auto-populate. Early testers report the whole process taking about three minutes, versus ten or more on the web form — especially useful if you’re filling it out for a family or group.

A few important clarifications, since there’s been real confusion online:

• THIM does not replace the TDAC — it’s a mobile front-end for submitting the same declaration. You are not filing two separate forms.
• If you’ve already submitted a TDAC through the website, you do not need to redo it in the app just because THIM exists.
• The web portal stays open. tdac.immigration.go.th remains fully functional as an alternative for travelers who prefer not to use the app, or whose phones don’t support it.
• It’s still free. THIM doesn’t introduce any new fee — treat any app or site asking for payment to “process” your TDAC as a scam. (Source: Zagdim Overseas — TDAC 2026 FAQ)

How to File the TDAC (Web or THIM App)

Whichever route you use, you’ll need the same information ready:

1. Passport details — number, nationality, expiry date
2. Flight or transport info — arrival flight number and date, or vessel/vehicle details for land and sea entry
3. Accommodation address in Thailand — hotel name and address, or your first night’s lodging
4. Purpose of visit and length of stay
5. Health declaration — a short set of yes/no questions

Step by step:

1. Go to tdac.immigration.go.th or open the THIM app within 72 hours of your arrival.
2. Enter or scan your passport details.
3. Add your flight/transport and accommodation information.
4. Complete the health declaration.
5. Submit and save the QR code confirmation — screenshot it, and consider printing a copy as backup in case of a dead phone battery or poor airport wifi.
6. Present the QR code at the immigration checkpoint on arrival.

Common mistakes that cause delays:

• Filing more than 72 hours before arrival (the system will reject it — do it the day before or the morning of departure)
• Entering the wrong arrival date if your flight crosses midnight
• Using an unofficial third-party site that charges a fee and delivers a slower or invalid confirmation
• Not saving an offline copy of the QR code before losing signal at the airport

Why This Matters Beyond Thailand

Thailand isn’t alone here. Digital arrival declarations are becoming the norm across Southeast Asia and beyond — the EU’s Entry/Exit System and the UK’s ETA scheme both rolled out similar digital-first entry processes in 2026. If you’re doing a multi-country Southeast Asia trip, expect to repeat some version of this step at each border — which makes reliable mobile data at the airport, not just at your hotel, increasingly non-negotiable.

FAQs

Do I need to file the TDAC if I’m just transiting through Bangkok?
If you pass through immigration — even for a short layover — yes. If you stay airside and never clear immigration, you don’t.

Can I file the TDAC more than 3 days before I arrive?
No. The system only accepts submissions within 72 hours of your arrival date. Filing early will typically be rejected.

Is THIM available outside Thailand’s app stores?
It’s listed on the Thai iOS and Android app stores under its official name; avoid any app or browser extension claiming to be an unofficial “TDAC helper,” since these are common phishing attempts.

What happens if I don’t complete the TDAC?
Airlines and immigration officers can deny boarding or entry for travelers without a valid TDAC confirmation. It’s treated the same as missing any other required entry document.

Does the TDAC cover visa requirements too?
No — the TDAC is an arrival declaration, not a visa. Check Thailand’s separate visa-exemption and visa-on-arrival rules for your nationality before you travel.

Staying Connected From the Moment You Land

Filling out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card or THIM app requires working mobile data the second you land — airport wifi is unreliable, and you’ll need a signal to load the form, scan your passport, and save your QR code before you even reach the immigration counter. A WoWoSIM eSIM installs before you fly and activates the moment you touch down in Thailand, so you’re not scrambling for airport wifi or an overpriced kiosk SIM just to get through your first checkpoint. It’s also one less roaming bill to worry about if Thailand is just one stop on a longer Southeast Asia itinerary.