Starting from 1 May 2025, all international visitors must use the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) as the Thai government has established this mandatory digital immigration procedure. The Immigration Bureau, together with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, introduced the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) as a replacement for the paper-based TM6 form with the goal of improving entry procedures and visitor security.
Foreign travellers must finish the TDAC online at an official portal within 72 hours before their arrival through any Thailand entry point, including air travel, land crossings or sea ports. Travellers obtain a confirmation document either as a digital or printed version after completing their submission process, which needs to be shown at immigration control points. The temporary suspension of the TM6 system during recent years did not affect its mandatory nature because the TDAC remains an obligation for all non-Thai nationals while avoiding visa-exempt and visa-holding visitor exemptions. Thailand immigration may perform extra checks at borders if travellers fail to complete their necessary form submission before the deadline.
The initiative supports Thailand’s Smart Tourism Destination strategy by integrating immigration services with e-visas and health screening operations. The spokesman from the Immigration Bureau declared that the TDAC system will enhance tourist entry while enabling better visitor flow management. This initiative follows global developments such as Singapore’s SG Arrival Card and the EU's upcoming ETIAS system.
The tourism sector in Thailand is preparing to reach a new record of 40 million foreign visitors by 2025 as it expects visitor numbers to increase beyond the projected 35.5 million in the upcoming year, with 2.1 million expected Indian travellers. The TDAC will facilitate tourism sector expansion through its operational functions, which cut immigration waiting times and eliminate repeated documentation for regular visitors. Before the designated May deadline the TAT is collaborating with airlines and embassies as well as travel agencies to implement a global awareness campaign.
Travellers must register early because peak times, including the Songkran festival, will draw substantial visitor numbers. The digital card is free, and the sign-up procedure remains easy. Passport data is requested along with travel plans and accommodation bookings.
Thailand remains dedicated to modernising its tourism infrastructure as part of its goal to keep its standing as a global tourism leader. The new visa-free policy for Indian visitors provides up to 60 days of stay which will simplify visits to Thailand's beaches and temples and its festivals at the Tourism Development Authority of Thailand.
