Quick answer: Most foreign travelers entering Thailand need a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). The official TDAC guide says all non-Thai nationals must submit arrival information online before entering Thailand, whether they arrive by air, land, or sea.
The biggest exceptions are narrow: you generally do not need a TDAC if you are only transiting without passing through immigration, if your flight is only a technical landing, or if you are airline or transport crew covered by the official crew exception.
Who Must Submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is an online arrival form for international travelers entering Thailand. It replaced the old paper arrival card process and is used to collect key passport, travel, accommodation, and health declaration details before arrival.
In practical terms, if you are not a Thai national and you will enter Thailand through immigration, you should expect to complete a TDAC before you arrive. This includes tourists, business travelers, long-stay visa holders, visa-on-arrival travelers, visa-exempt visitors, students, retirees, and foreign residents returning to Thailand.
| Traveler type | TDAC needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign tourist | Yes | Submit within the 3-day arrival window. |
| Visa-exempt visitor | Yes | TDAC is separate from visa permission. |
| Visa-on-arrival traveler | Yes | The official FAQ says TDAC works with visa-on-arrival entries. |
| Thai national | No | The requirement is for non-Thai nationals. |
| Child or infant traveler | Yes | Every traveler, including children, needs a TDAC. |
| Airside transit only | Usually no | No TDAC is required if you do not pass through immigration. |
| Transport crew | No | The official FAQ says crew do not need TDAC. |
Who Does Not Need a TDAC?
The rule is broad, so the exemption list is short. Most confusion comes from travelers who are not sure whether they are "entering" Thailand or simply passing through a Thai airport.
Based on the official TDAC guide and FAQ, these travelers generally do not need to submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card:
Thai nationals
TDAC is required for non-Thai nationals, so Thai passport holders are outside the normal foreign traveler requirement.
Transit without immigration
If you remain airside and do not enter Thailand through immigration control, TDAC is not required.
Technical landing only
The official FAQ says flights with technical landings or transit flights do not require TDAC registration.
Crew
The official FAQ says TDAC is not required for crew. Normal passengers should not treat this as a traveler exemption.
Traveler rule: If you will collect bags, clear immigration, stay in a hotel, leave the airport, cross a land border, arrive by ferry, or otherwise enter Thailand, complete a TDAC unless official checkpoint staff tell you otherwise.
Do Visa Holders and Visa-Exempt Travelers Need a TDAC?
Yes. A Thailand Digital Arrival Card is not a visa, and it does not replace a visa. It is an arrival information form that sits beside your visa or visa-exempt entry status.
That means the TDAC requirement can apply even when you already have permission to enter Thailand. The official FAQ says TDAC is compatible with all visa types, including visa-on-arrival and visa-exempt entries.
Simple way to think about it
- Your visa or visa exemption answers whether you are allowed to enter and how long you may stay.
- Your TDAC gives Thai immigration your arrival, accommodation, and health declaration details before entry.
If you are unsure whether you also need a visa, read our related guide: Thailand Digital Arrival Card vs. Visa: Do You Need Both?
Do Children and Families Need TDAC?
Yes. The official TDAC FAQ says all travelers, including infants and children, are required to have a TDAC. Do not assume a child is covered by a parent's arrival card simply because the family is traveling together.
The good news is that the TDAC system supports group submission. A family or group can submit up to 10 traveler entries in one submission. The official guide also says you can reuse the same travel and accommodation details from the previous traveler when they are the same, which can save time for families staying at the same hotel.
Family checklist
- Prepare every traveler's passport before starting.
- Enter each child's name exactly as shown in the passport.
- Use the same arrival flight and first accommodation only when those details are truly the same.
- Download or save the QR code for each traveler after submission.
Transit Passengers and Technical Landings
Transit is one of the easiest places to make the wrong assumption. The official FAQ gives a clear practical standard: if you are not passing through immigration, TDAC is not required. If you leave the airport, TDAC is required.
For example, you usually do not need TDAC if you stay in the international transit area, your bags are checked through, and you do not clear Thai immigration. You do need TDAC if you book separate tickets, collect checked luggage, change airports, stay overnight in Bangkok, or leave the airport between flights.
TDAC usually not needed
- Airside international connection
- No immigration clearance
- No hotel or airport exit
- Technical landing with no entry
TDAC needed
- You collect baggage in Thailand
- You pass through immigration
- You leave the airport
- You stay overnight before another flight
Does TDAC Apply by Air, Land, and Sea?
Yes. The TDAC requirement is not only for flights. The official guide says the system applies regardless of mode of transportation, and the FAQ confirms that foreigners entering Thailand by land, air, or sea must submit a TDAC.
This means the same basic arrival card requirement can apply if you fly into Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, or Hat Yai, cross by land from a neighboring country, or arrive by ferry, cruise, or other sea route.
Important: If your travel plan changes from air to land or sea, or from one arrival date to another, make sure your TDAC matches your actual route before you enter Thailand.
What to Prepare Before You Submit
The official TDAC FAQ says the form takes about 3-5 minutes per person when the information is ready. You cannot save progress and finish later, so it is better to gather everything before you start.
- Passport details for every traveler.
- Flight number or vehicle details and your arrival date in Thailand.
- Your first accommodation address in Thailand.
- Travel purpose and recent travel history for the health declaration.
- An email address you can access while traveling.
Travelers should submit the TDAC within 3 days before arrival in Thailand, including the arrival date. After submission, download the document with the QR code or save it from your email. Printing is not required, but a paper backup can help if your phone is unavailable.
When TDAC Assistance Makes Sense
Many travelers can complete the official government TDAC form on their own. The official TDAC submission is free on the Immigration Bureau website. A private assistance service is optional and should be used only if you want help preparing, checking, and submitting your details.
Assistance can be useful for families, older travelers, people with tight travel timelines, travelers with multiple passport details to enter, or anyone who wants an extra review before submitting.
Need help preparing your TDAC?
Start your Thailand Digital Arrival Card application with guided review before submission.
Get TDAC AssistanceFrequently Asked Questions
Who needs a Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
All non-Thai nationals entering Thailand through immigration generally need to submit a TDAC before entry.
Do children need a TDAC?
Yes. The official FAQ says all travelers, including infants and children, are required to have a TDAC.
Do transit passengers need TDAC?
Not if they stay airside and do not pass through immigration. If they leave the airport or clear immigration, TDAC is required.
Do visa holders still need TDAC?
Yes. TDAC is separate from a visa and is compatible with visa-on-arrival, visa-exempt, and other visa entries.
Do land border travelers need TDAC?
Yes. Foreign travelers entering Thailand by land, air, or sea must submit a TDAC unless a specific official exemption applies.
Can I submit TDAC for my family?
Yes. The official guide supports group submission, and the FAQ says up to 10 traveler entries can be submitted per application.
Is one TDAC valid for multiple entries?
No. The official FAQ says the Thailand Digital Arrival Card is valid for one-time travel on the expected arrival date, so you need a new TDAC each time you enter Thailand.
When should I submit the TDAC?
Submit it within 3 days before your arrival in Thailand, including the date you arrive.
Sources Reviewed
This guide was reviewed on July 2, 2026 using the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card guide and FAQ from the Immigration Bureau: TDAC User Guide and TDAC FAQ & Updates. The official guide reviewed was User Guide Version 1.15 for Application Version 2026.06.00.