Thailand to roll out digital arrival card for foreign visitors on May 1

BANGKOK -- Thailand is set to roll out its new arrival card system on May 1, requiring all foreign nationals to submit their personal and travel information online up to three days prior to entering the country, authorities said on Friday.

According to the Immigration Bureau, completion of the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) will be mandatory for all foreign passport holders, including tourists, business visitors, and long-term residents, whether arriving by air, land, or sea.

Exceptions apply only to travelers in transit who do not pass through immigration control and those entering the Southeast Asian nation using border passes, the bureau said.

According to authorities, travelers can submit the TDAC individually or as part of a group via the online portal, and required information, such as intended accommodation and a brief health declaration, can be updated before travel if necessary.

The TDAC system will replace a long-standing paper-based form as part of the Thai government's broader digital transformation of immigration procedures, aiming to streamline entry processes, minimize paperwork, and enhance traveler convenience.