Authorities made an announcement on April 1 about the new arrangements
News Steven Smith Network Content Editor 11:37, 19 Apr 2025
In January 2025 alone, more than 120,000 Brits arrived in Thailand, accounting for more than 3% of all tourists who visited the country in the first month of 2025. The Tourism Authority of Thailand announced that all non-Thai nationals entering the country from May 1 will now need a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) to enter.
Online holiday provider Travel Republic has explained exactly what British travellers need to know about the additional requirement ahead of their travels to avoid any disappointment.
What is a Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
The Tourism Authority of Thailand announced on April 1 that there will be an additional entry requirement for travelling to the country, known as TDAC, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. It is part of the Thai government's new strategy to increase the digitalisation of the immigration process. It will replace the previous paper-based TM6 form, which was suspended in 2022 to ease congestion at airports.
British travellers will still be required to have a valid passport with six months left on it and the 60-day visa-free travel will still apply. Although this is suspected to be reduced to 30 days due to the concerns over misuse of the extended stay, there is no official commencement date yet.
When will Thailand TDAC be required from?
The requirement of the TDAC will be required for any Brits entering the country from May 1 and should be filled out three days before arrival. This means the form applications will open on April 28 and can be done on the official TDAC website. Applying for a TDAC will come with no additional cost and will be free for all non-Thai visitors.
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What personal info is requested for TDAC?
Travellers will be required to submit their data on site via the official TDAC site. The information requested during the application process is highlighted below. Once submitted, certain personal details cannot be changed, including full name, passport number, nationality and DOB.
Information required from TDAC
Personal and Passport Information
- Full name (as it appears in your passport)
- Passport number
- Nationality/Citizenship
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Contact email address
Travel Information
- Flight number
- Date of arrival
- Port of entry into Thailand
- Purpose of visit (e.g., tourism, business)
Accommodation Details
- Name of hotel or residence
- Full address
- Contact number
Health Declaration
- Countries visited within the past 14 days before arrival
- Any symptoms experienced in the past 14 days (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat)
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate (if applicable, based on recent travel history)
How far in advance will I need to apply for TDAC?
You will need to apply for the TDAC three days before you are due to travel. This will open on April 28 for those who are due to arrive in Thailand on May 1 and will continue to open up three days prior for all dates going forward. You must note that the system uses Thailand time (+7 hours) as the reference, so be mindful of time zone differences when planning your submission.
After submitting your Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), you should receive a confirmation email or QR code almost immediately. This confirmation serves as proof of successful submission and must be presented - either digitally or as a printed copy - alongside your passport upon arrival in Thailand.
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A spokesperson for Travel Republic said: “The introduction of the TDAC will be introduced to help provide a smoother customer experience at immigration in Thailand and will reduce paperwork and congestion at borders. From May 1, British visitors will need to apply three days before their arrival date for their TDAC and ensure they have their confirmation or QR code at hand for border control.
“It’s important to note that the confirmation for the TDAC does still need to be accompanied by the original documents needed to enter Thailand. For Brits, this includes a valid passport with at least six months left before the expiration date, which allows travel for tourism purposes for the initial term of 60 days, which can be extended by an additional 30 days at a local immigration office.
“If you are planning to travel to Thailand for other purposes, such as work or business, you will require a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV,) which costs £300 and allows you to stay up to 180 days per entry, with a one-time extension for another 180 days and is valid for five years. Overstaying your Visa can result in fines, so ensuring you have the right documentation during your travels is important.”
