Thailand Digital Arrival Card: What Indian Travellers Need to Know

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is the online arrival form that replaced the paper card. Indian travellers should complete it on the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card site within the window before arrival, which Thai embassies currently describe as three days, using accurate flight, hotel and passport details. It is not a visa, and you should never use lookalike sites that ask for payment.

Thailand introduced the TDAC to speed up immigration, but many travellers are unsure when to submit it and which site to use. This guide explains what the card is, what you need, common mistakes and how to avoid scams.

The TDAC at a glance

What the TDAC is

The TDAC collects the information that used to go on the paper arrival card: your passport details, flight, where you are staying, and basic health and travel information. Immigration officers can see it when you arrive, which speeds up the process.

When to submit

Thai embassy guidance says to submit the TDAC within three days before arrival, including the arrival date. Submitting too early may not be accepted. Check the current window on the official site, and submit once your flight and first hotel are confirmed.

Details you need

Have your passport, flight number and arrival date, the address of your first hotel, your departure details if known, and an email address ready. Families can usually submit for several travellers together; check each person's details carefully.

Common mistakes

• Using a lookalike site instead of the official one.
• Submitting too early, outside the window.
• Typing passport numbers or names incorrectly.
• Entering the wrong arrival date because of a red-eye flight that lands after midnight.
• Forgetting to include children or other family members.

Red-eye flights

Many flights from India land in Bangkok or Phuket after midnight. Enter the actual arrival date in Thailand, which may be the day after you depart.

If plans change

If your flight or hotel changes, check the official site for how to update your submission. Keep your confirmation and booking details handy for immigration.

Avoiding scam sites

Lookalike sites copy the design of official pages and appear in search ads. Bookmark the official site, do not click on payment links, and report suspicious sites. Our Thailand scams guide has more.

TDAC and visas

The TDAC does not replace a visa. Check whether Indian passport holders need a visa or qualify for exemption on the Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi page and the Thai e-Visa site, as rules have changed several times.

For families

Parents usually submit for children. Check each passport's details, and keep all confirmations together.

At the airport

At immigration, have your passport, TDAC confirmation, return ticket and hotel booking ready. Officers may ask about your plans and funds. Our Thailand entry checklist covers what to carry.

Why Thailand introduced the TDAC

Thailand replaced the paper arrival card, the TM6 form that travellers used to fill in on the plane, with an online form to speed up immigration and collect information in advance. For travellers, it means less paperwork on arrival, but it also creates opportunities for lookalike websites to mislead people searching online.

Step by step

Open the official site in your browser, choose the option to submit an arrival card, enter passport details exactly as printed, add your flight and first accommodation, review everything carefully, and submit. Save or screenshot the confirmation, and check the email address you entered for a copy.

Groups and agents

If a travel agent or planner is helping you, ask them to submit on the official site or to share the confirmation with you. Each traveller's passport details must be correct. Keep copies of every confirmation on more than one phone.

Transit passengers

If you are only transiting through a Thai airport without entering the country, check the official site and your airline's guidance on whether a TDAC is needed for your situation.

Quick checklist

• Official site only, typed in yourself.
• Submit within the window before arrival.
• Passport details exactly as printed.
• Actual arrival date in Thailand.
• First hotel address ready.
• Confirmation saved for every traveller.

Phones and printouts

Save the confirmation offline, as airport Wi-Fi or roaming may not work on arrival. A printout is a useful backup, especially for older parents.

Paper card to digital

Before the TDAC, travellers filled in a paper arrival and departure card on the plane or at immigration. The digital card collects the same type of information online, which immigration officers can view when you present your passport. Thai embassies around the world have published notices explaining the change and pointing travellers to the official site.

What information is asked

The form asks for personal details from your passport, such as name, nationality, passport number and date of birth, your occupation, travel details including flight number and the country you are boarding from, where you will stay in Thailand, and a short health declaration. Answer honestly and keep it consistent with your bookings.

Children and infants

Every traveller, including infants, usually needs an arrival card. Parents can normally add family members to one submission; check each name and passport number carefully, as a single mistake can slow you down at immigration.

On departure

When you leave Thailand, immigration uses your passport and arrival records. Keep your confirmation until the end of the trip, and make sure your stay does not exceed the permitted period.

Getting help

If the official site is slow or you have questions, check the notices published by Thai embassies, or ask your airline or planner. Avoid paid "helpers" found through social media ads.

Next steps

Read our Thailand entry checklist and flights guide, or see our Bangkok page.

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Your questions, answered

What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?

The TDAC is Thailand's online arrival form, replacing the paper arrival card for most foreign travellers. It records your travel and accommodation details before you arrive.

When should I submit the TDAC?

Official guidance from Thai embassies says to submit it within three days before your arrival. Check the current window on the official TDAC site.

Where do I submit the TDAC?

Only on the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card site run by Thai immigration. Lookalike sites may ask for payment or misuse your data.

Does the TDAC replace a visa?

No. The TDAC is an arrival form, not a visa. Check whether you need a visa or qualify for visa exemption on the official Royal Thai Embassy and Thai e-Visa sites.