Thailand has changed its entry rules, and if you’re heading there soon, you’ll want to be prepared.
Already a favorite with beach lovers, backpackers, and now thanks to the White Lotus effect, high-end travelers too, Thailand is more popular than ever. But now, the country is rolling out a new requirement that affects all foreign arrivals.
Every non-Thai national, whether you’re visiting for a few weeks of island hopping or relocating for work, will now need to fill out a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) at least three days before landing. That’s right: no more paper forms on the plane.
The TDAC is designed to speed things up at immigration and will be linked with Thailand’s biometric database, allowing officials to do quick background checks as you enter. It’s a shift toward a more digital, streamlined process, but it means travelers need to be a bit more organized before takeoff.
How to sign up
The good news? The process is simple and free. Just head to the official TDAC website and register at least three days before your arrival in Thailand. Once you’ve filled out the required details, you’ll get a QR code to show at immigration when you land, and that’s it. No fees, no extra steps.
Make sure you’ve also got a valid passport with at least six months’ validity and a visa, if your nationality or visiting purpose requires one.
And if you’re just transiting through a Thai airport without actually entering the country, you can skip this entirely as the TDAC isn’t needed for transfer passengers.
