Who needs to fill out the TDAC
If you're entering Thailand — by air, land, or sea — you need to submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). It applies to almost every traveller, regardless of nationality or visa type, with only a handful of narrow exemptions (for example, transit passengers who don't clear immigration).
The TDAC replaced the old paper TM6 arrival card. It's an online form, not a visa: filling it out doesn't grant you permission to enter Thailand, it's a digital record immigration officers check when you land.
TDAC vs. a visa — they're not the same thing
This trips people up constantly:
- Visa (or visa exemption): decides whether you're allowed into Thailand and for how long.
- TDAC: a digital arrival declaration you submit regardless of your visa status, giving immigration your travel and accommodation details in advance.
You can have a perfectly valid visa (or qualify for visa-free entry) and still be asked for your TDAC confirmation at the border.
When to submit it
The official system opens submissions within 3 days of your arrival date — not earlier. Submitting too early isn't possible, and submitting at the last minute (queuing at the airport, spotty hotel wifi) is where most people run into trouble.
You'll need on hand:
- Passport details
- Flight or transport details (arrival date, flight number)
- Accommodation address in Thailand
- Basic health declaration
Doing it yourself vs. getting help
The official TDAC portal is free and run by the Thai government — you can absolutely fill it out yourself in about 10–15 minutes if you have every detail ready and a stable connection.
Where people get stuck is usually one of: an unfamiliar field (accommodation sub-district codes are a common one), a typo that's hard to catch on your own passport number, or simply not having time before a flight.
That's the gap TDAC Assist fills — we're an independent, paid service, not the Thai government and not affiliated with Thai Immigration. If you'd rather have someone double-check every field and submit it for you, start an application and choose how fast you need it done.