Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) for US Travelers: Timing & Why It Is Not a Visa
Short answer: The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is an immigration arrival requirement, not a visa. From 1 May 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering by air, land, or sea complete it online within 3 days before arrival—including travelers under visa exemption. Existing visa rules stay in place. Stand: 25 September 2026.
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What TDAC is
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is the digital form Thai immigration uses to collect arrival information before you enter the country. It sits alongside whatever permission you already hold—or do not need—for the trip itself.
That distinction matters for US travelers. TDAC does not grant you a stay, replace a visa, or change whether you qualify for visa exemption. Visa requirements and the Visa Exemption scheme remain unchanged while the form is in effect. You still decide entry permission on its own path; the arrival card is a separate immigration step you complete before you show up.
Who must file and when
All non-Thai nationals must complete the TDAC online prior to entry. Foreigners submit arrival-card information 3 days in advance of their arrival date in Thailand. From 1 May 2025, that rule covers entry by air, land, or sea.
Picture a US family flying into Bangkok for a short vacation under visa exemption, then later taking a land border day trip into Thailand again on the same trip window: each arrival still needs the card filed within the three-day window before that entry. Parents and children who are non-Thai nationals each fall under the same requirement; Thai nationality is the dividing line, not whether the trip looks “simple.”
If your schedule slips and the arrival date moves, re-check the three-day window so the submission still lines up with the day you actually enter.
Official TDAC channel
The form is filed on the Immigration Bureau site at https://tdac.immigration.go.th/. If you prefer not to handle the form yourself, optional help filing the TDAC is available on my-evisas.com.
How TDAC relates to exemption and eVisa
Visa exemption and an eVisa answer whether you need a visa for your trip. TDAC answers a different question: have you filed the arrival card before entry?
Travelers entering under the Visa Exemption scheme must still complete the TDAC. So must travelers who hold another visa type. Completing the form does not replace visa requirements, and holding an eVisa does not remove the arrival-card step. File TDAC within 3 days before arrival either way.
For the vacation-length exemption path, see whether a US trip under 30 days needs a visa. When a visa is required, see the Thailand eVisa guide. The Thailand entry overview maps the paths side by side.
FAQ
Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card a visa?
No. TDAC is an immigration requirement. It is not a visa and does not replace visa requirements.
Do visa-exempt US travelers still file TDAC?
Yes. All travelers—including those entering under the Visa Exemption scheme—must complete the TDAC. Existing visa requirements and the Visa Exemption scheme remain unchanged while the form is in effect.
How many days before arrival do I submit TDAC?
Submit arrival-card information 3 days in advance of your arrival date in Thailand. From 1 May 2025, that timing applies for entry by air, land, or sea.
Where is the official TDAC form?
The Immigration Bureau hosts the Digital Arrival Card online. Confirm the live form before you travel; Sources below list the pages used for this guide. Optional TDAC form help is also available if you want assistance with filing.
How my-evisas.com can help
You can complete the TDAC yourself on the official Immigration Bureau form, or use private help to file the arrival card.
Provided
- Optional assistance filing the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (arrival information only—not a visa)
- Guidance that points you back to the Thailand entry overview, exemption path, and eVisa guide when you still need to choose permission to enter
Not provided
- A visa substitute: TDAC filing help does not grant entry permission or change visa rules
- Sticker visas, consulate submission, or embassy appointment services
Thai immigration decides admission at the border. Start with Thailand help on my-evisas.com if you want support on the arrival-card form.
Sources
- Immigration Bureau, Thailand — Thailand Digital Arrival Card (manual) (accessed 25 September 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C. — Visa information (accessed 25 September 2026)
- Immigration Bureau, Thailand — Thailand Digital Arrival Card (accessed 25 September 2026)
Important Notice
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. my-evisas.com is a private service provider and not a government authority, embassy, or consulate.
Visa requirements and entry regulations can change at short notice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Only the official regulations in force at the time of your application are authoritative.
As of: 25 September 2026
Binding and up-to-date information is provided exclusively by the relevant official authorities. Please verify the currently applicable requirements before your application or travel: https://tdac.immigration.go.th/