From 1st May 2025A new era is dawning for travellers wishing to enter a new continent. Thailand. Indeed, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) will become an essential formality for everyone, replacing the old TM6 paper form. The aim of this change is to centralise visitor data and simplify the process of entering the country, both for those with and without visas. It will therefore be essential to complete this digital arrival card within 72 hours prior to travel, regardless of the method of arrival chosen.
From 1 May 2025, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) will become an essential formality for all foreign travellers wishing to enter Thailand. This new digital procedure will definitively replace the TM6 paper form, and its adoption is designed to simplify the entry process while strengthening the country's health controls.
The TDAC arrival card: What is it?
There TDAC is a digital arrival card that must be filled in by all travellers entering Thailand, whether they have a visa or not. It is part of a drive to modernise entry formalities, enabling the Thai authorities to centralise visitor information and ensure better control of health data.
A quick and easy system
The process of obtaining the TDAC has been designed to be both quick and simple. Travellers will need to complete the card within 72 hours of their arrival. All they have to do is visit the official website, where they can enter their personal details, travel details and health declaration. All these virtual steps are designed to facilitate border crossings.
The key stages in obtaining your TDAC
To complete the TDACTo apply, it's important to follow a few pre-established steps: first, access the official website. Next, enter your personal details such as name, date of birth and passport number. You will also need to provide details of your stay, including your address in Thailand and the reason for your visit. In terms of health, you will need to declare the countries you have visited in the 14 days prior to your arrival in Thailand.
Who is exempt from TDAC?
Although most travellers will be required to complete this card, there are exceptions. People in transit which do not pass through immigration control, as well as those with a "Border Passused for specific border crossings, are exempt from this obligation.
Reinforced health measures
The introduction of the TDAC not only facilitates administrative formalities; it also enables increased monitoring of health measures in response to the pandemic. By collecting data upstream, the Thai authorities will be able to better manage exceptional situations and protect the health of locals and visitors alike.
What about tourism tax and ETA?
Other travel-related reforms are also on the cards. The tourist tax of 300 bahtwhich was initially scheduled to be reintroduced from 2025, has been postponed to allow time to assess the effectiveness of TDAC. Similarly, theElectronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)which is designed to screen visa-exempt travellers prior to their arrival, has been put on hold. This shows a concern not to overwhelm travellers with too many new financial and administrative requirements as soon as TDAC is launched.
Does this mean a change in visa-free stays?
Finally, it is important to keep a close eye on developments in the rules governing duration of visa-free staywhich should be reduced to 30 days shortly. This could also initiate discussions on the potential integration of ETA into the TDAC system in the long term, making the latter even more essential.
For more personalised information and to help you with your enquiries about the e-Visa or the TDACFor more information, visit the specialist platforms.
Comparative procedure for entering Thailand
| Elements | Details |
| Type of procedure | Digital (TDAC) |
| Date of entry into force | 1st May 2025 |
| Replaces | Paper form TM6 |
| Filling time | 72 hours before arrival |
| Target audience | All travelersvisa or not |
| Authorised means of transport | Air, land, sea |
| Health situation | Questionnaire on countries visited recently |
| Exemptions | Transit and Border Pass holders |
| Card format | PDFfor printing or digital storage |
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