A Paperless Border
Thailand’s immigration desks look subtly different this year. The familiar blue TM6 cards are gone, replaced by QR codes scanned from phones. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), required within 72 hours of travel, is now the key to entering the country.
Officials frame it as part of a “Smart Entry” transformation, promising fewer queues and cleaner data collection. But for many frequent visitors, it’s not the technology that matters — it’s whether it actually saves time at the border.
Why the TDAC Exists
The paper TM6 had been under review since 2020. Immigration officers often found handwritten forms illegible, and manual data entry slowed analytics on overstays and tourism patterns.
The TDAC aims to fix that. The online submission syncs directly with Thailand’s immigration database, allowing pre-screening before travelers even board their flights. It also connects with public health and tourism data, part of a larger national digitization push.
How It Works
Travelers must complete the TDAC on tdac.immigration.go.th between 72 hours and the moment of departure. The form requests standard details — passport, arrival flight, accommodation, purpose of visit — and generates a QR confirmation code for inspection on arrival.
Those arriving without it can still complete the form at digital kiosks, but processing takes longer. The advice from officials is simple: submit early and use only the official portal — dozens of fake “TDAC assistance” websites are already charging fees.
Mixed Reviews from the Ground
Digital nomads and long-term expats largely welcome the move. “It’s one less paper to lose,” says Marc, a software engineer who travels monthly between Chiang Mai and Singapore.
Short-stay tourists are less enthusiastic. “I booked last-minute and didn’t even know I needed it,” admits one European visitor. Travel agents echo this frustration, noting that clients often lack confirmed accommodation — a mandatory field in the form.
Beyond the Airport: Data and Diplomacy
Thailand’s shift toward digital immigration is also about analytics and reputation. The TDAC lets authorities track visitor flows in real time and share non-sensitive data with tourism and health ministries.
In the long term, it could support faster visa-free agreements and smarter policy design — assuming data privacy standards are upheld. For now, the experiment is still being tested live, one traveler at a time.
Planning your next stay in Thailand?
The Thailand Advisor connects you with licensed visa and relocation consultants — from DTV and LTR visas to company setup support. https://www.thai-co.com
