Thailand TDAC – How to Complete Your Digital Arrival Card

Traveling to Thailand has always been exciting, but let’s be honest paper arrival cards were a hassle. Long queues, cramped handwriting, and the constant fear of making a mistake at immigration? Not fun. That’s why TDAC Thailand, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, has become a game-changer. It replaces paper forms with a smoother online form you can complete before your trip.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything: how the TDAC system works, what personal details you need, how to handle the health declaration section, and how it affects immigration procedures for both tourists and non-Thai nationals.

1. TDAC Thailand – What It Is and Why It Matters

The TDAC Thailand initiative is the government’s push toward a new digital system that saves travelers and officers valuable time. Instead of filling in paper forms on the plane, you now use an online form.

This form helps the immigration bureau verify passport information, arrival details, and even your accommodation information. By digitizing the process, the system can automatically display relevant options through dropdown fields, so errors are less likely.

Digital Arrival Card TDAC – How It Works

The digital arrival card TDAC is designed to simplify Thailand’s entry process by letting you handle most of the paperwork before your trip.

Instead of filling out a paper card on the plane, you complete an online form in advance. Once done, you simply submit entry information through the official site, and the system stores your details securely.

Here’s what you’ll need to provide when completing the form:

1- Passport information

This includes your passport number, the three-character country code, and the issuing country. Make sure everything matches your document exactly, or it could cause delays at the immigration checkpoint.

2- Arrival date and departure date

These dates help officers track how long you plan to stay. If you’re entering under a visa exemption or tourist visa, it also helps confirm that your trip length matches the rules.

3- Flight number or entry details by land or sea

Air travelers must add their flight number, while those arriving by land or sea should provide bus, ship, or border pass details. This ensures the TDAC system records your exact point of entry.

4- Travel and accommodation information

You’ll need to list where you’re staying in Thailand, whether it’s a hotel, Airbnb, or with family and friends. Immigration officials use this to verify accommodation and for public health monitoring if needed.

5- Health declaration details

This section asks about any symptoms experienced before travel, recent countries visited, and whether you have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate if required. Even if you feel perfectly fine, you still need to complete this section.

One of the best parts of the TDAC system is how it integrates directly with the immigration bureau’s checkpoint systems. That means by the time you arrive, your arrival card information has already been processed electronically. Instead of fumbling with paper slips, immigration officers can instantly pull up your submitted information.

Digital Arrival Card – What You Need to Prepare

Before you start your TDAC application, make sure you have:

• A valid passport with all details clear
• Travel documents such as your onward ticket or visa type (tourist visa, visa exemption, border pass)
• Accommodation section details (hotel name, address, or rental info)
• Reliable internet access to complete the form

Tip: If you make a mistake, you can edit your submitted information anytime before final approval. This flexibility makes the TDAC card safer than paper.

Arrival Details – Key Information You’ll Enter

The arrival details are at the heart of the TDAC information. You’ll provide:

• Arrival date and time
• Departure information (planned date and location)
• Connecting flight details if applicable
• Whether you’re entering Thailand by air, land, or sea

Travelers sometimes ask, Do I need to enter all the information if I have a connecting flight? Yes—you must include the flight number or travel segment so the system matches your arrival correctly.

Arrival Card – Old vs. New System

The arrival card once came as a slip of paper. Today, the digital arrival card TDAC has replaced it.

The shift shows Thailand’s goal: a system that balances public health monitoring with smoother immigration procedures.

Accommodation Information – Why It’s Needed

When you enter Thailand, you must list where you’ll stay. The accommodation information includes:

• Hotel or guesthouse name
• Street and city
• Contact number or booking email

This helps the immigration bureau trace travelers if there are public health alerts (like yellow fever or other symptoms experienced).

Some travelers ask, What if I don’t have my hotel booked yet? You can still provide temporary accommodation section details. Just make sure they are updated before you arrive.

Passport Information – Key Section of TDAC

The passport information page in the TDAC form asks for:

• Passport number
• Country of issue
• Expiry date
• Your name as it appears (must match exactly)

Errors here can slow down your immigration checkpoint experience. That’s why the new digital system uses dropdown fields to automatically display relevant options, reducing typos.

Immigration Bureau – Oversight and Procedures

The immigration bureau manages the TDAC system. At the immigration checkpoint, officers already have your entry information, making the line move faster.

Instead of flipping through paper forms, they can instantly view your:

• Personal details
• Health declaration
• Travel and accommodation information
• Visa type (tourist visa, visa exemption, or others)

This helps Thailand maintain smooth immigration procedures while still protecting public health.

Health Declaration – What You Must Report

The health declaration section is one of the most important updates. It asks about:

• Symptoms experienced before arrival
• Recent countries visited
• Proof of yellow fever vaccination if coming from risk zones

This section links directly to public health monitoring. It ensures Thailand can quickly spot and manage possible outbreaks.

Travelers often wonder, Do I need to submit if I feel healthy?  Yes—you must complete this section regardless. The system uses it to create a baseline of health declaration details for all visitors.

Onward Ticket – Why It Matters

Your onward ticket proves you don’t plan to overstay. When you complete the Thailand digital arrival card, you’ll enter:

• Ticket number or e-mail confirmation
• Departure date and departure information
• Connecting flight if leaving through another hub

This requirement is tied to visa application rules. Even under visa exemption, most travelers need proof of leaving Thailand.

Air, Land, or Sea – Entering Thailand

The TDAC Thailand form is designed to work for every type of traveler, no matter how you arrive in the country. Whether you’re flying in, crossing at a land border, or arriving by sea, the digital arrival card TDAC collects the same core details and passes them directly to the immigration bureau.

This makes the process smoother and ensures all foreigners entering Thailand follow a single, consistent procedure.

Air Travel

Most visitors arrive in Thailand by plane. When completing the TDAC, you’ll need to enter your flight number, arrival date, and sometimes details about a connecting flight.

The system links this to the immigration checkpoint at the airport, so officers already have your data when you land. This helps speed up clearance and avoids the need for extra paperwork mid-flight.

Land Crossings

If you’re entering Thailand by bus, car, or train from neighboring countries like Laos, Cambodia, or Malaysia, the TDAC still applies.

In this case, you’ll use your border pass or other road entry information. The digital record helps immigration confirm your passport information, visa type, and planned departure date without needing a paper arrival card.

Sea Arrivals

Travelers arriving by ferry, cruise ship, or private yacht also complete the same TDAC form. You’ll be asked for ship details, your arrival port, and basic accommodation information.

This data helps immigration officials keep track of who is entering Thailand by sea and ensures smooth coordination at coastal checkpoints.

What makes this system effective is its universal design. No matter if you come by air, land, or sea, the same TDAC card applies.

This prevents confusion, keeps the process fair for all non Thai nationals, and ensures the Thai authorities maintain accurate entry records for both tourism and public health monitoring.

Tip: If your travel method changes for example, you book a flight after originally planning a land crossing you can update your submitted information anytime before arrival.

Complete the TDAC – Step-by-Step Process

Filling out the TDAC Thailand form may sound complicated at first, but it’s actually straightforward once you know the steps. The digital arrival card TDAC is designed to replace paper forms with a cleaner, faster process that works online. Here’s a detailed walkthrough to help you complete it without stress:

Step-1: Visit the official site with internet access

Go to the Thai government’s official site for the TDAC system. Make sure you’re on the secure page, as this is where you’ll be entering sensitive personal details and passport information. Stable internet access is a must—you won’t want your progress lost halfway.

Step-2: Enter personal details and passport information

Provide your full name, nationality, and passport details exactly as shown in your document. This includes the passport number, issuing country, and expiration date. The system uses dropdown fields to automatically display relevant options, reducing typing errors.

Step-3: Add your arrival details and departure information

Next, enter your arrival date, departure date, and your flight number if arriving by air. Travelers coming by land or sea will need to provide their border pass, bus reference, or ship details. This ensures immigration has the correct arrival card information before you even reach the checkpoint.

Step-4: Fill in accommodation section fields

Immigration requires you to list where you’ll stay in Thailand. Add your hotel name, guesthouse, Airbnb address, or host’s details. This accommodation information is essential for both immigration procedures and public health monitoring.

Step-5: Complete the health declaration section

This part is crucial. You’ll be asked to declare any symptoms experienced, recent countries visited, and provide proof of a yellow fever vaccination if applicable. Even if you feel healthy, you still need to complete this health declaration.

Step-5: Upload travel documents if required

Depending on your visa type (tourist visa, visa exemption, or border pass), you may be asked to upload supporting files like an onward ticket or visa confirmation. Make sure these are ready in advance.

Step-6: Review all the information

Before you hit submit, go through everything carefully. Check your passport information, arrival details, and health declaration details to make sure they’re correct. A small typo can delay your processing at the immigration bureau.

Step-7: Submit your application

Once satisfied, click submit. Your entry information is then stored in the TDAC system and linked directly with the immigration bureau’s checkpoint systems, so officers already have your details when you arrive.

Pro Tip: One of the best parts of the TDAC is flexibility. You can edit submitted information anytime before travel.

So, if your hotel changes, your flight number updates, or you decide to extend your stay, you can log back in and make the adjustments without starting over.

Conclusion

The TDAC Thailand system marks a major step forward in how travelers enter Thailand. By replacing paper forms with a digital arrival card, the process is faster, clearer, and more reliable.

Whether you’re traveling on a tourist visa, under visa exemption, or with a border pass, this new digital system helps you focus on your trip instead of paperwork.

Before your flight, make sure you:

• Gather your passport information, accommodation details, and onward ticket
• Complete the Thailand digital arrival card online
• Review your health declaration details carefully

By doing this, you’ll breeze through the immigration bureau checkpoints and enjoy a smoother start to your Thai adventure.