In January 2025, Thailand welcomed more than 120,000 British tourists, making up more than 3% of all visitors to the country that month. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has now announced that from May 1, all non-Thai nationals will need a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) to enter the country.
Travel Republic, an online holiday provider, has detailed what Brits need to know about this new requirement to ensure their travel plans go smoothly.
What is a Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
On April 1, the Tourism Authority of Thailand revealed a new entry requirement for travellers – the TDAC or Thailand Digital Arrival Card. This is part of the Thai government’s push towards digitalising the immigration process and will replace the old paper-based TM6 form, which was scrapped in 2022 to reduce airport congestion.
British tourists will still need a valid passport with at least six months remaining, and the 60-day visa-free travel rule remains in place. However, there are rumours this could be cut to 30 days due to concerns about misuse of the extended stay, but no official start date has been given yet.
When will you need a Thailand TDAC?
From May 1, Brits entering Thailand will need to complete the TDAC requirement. This should be done three days before arrival, meaning applications open on April 28 via the official TDAC website.
The good news is that there’s no additional cost for applying for a TDAC; it’s free for all non-Thai visitors.
What personal information is needed for TDAC?
Travellers must submit their data through the official TDAC site. The required information is listed below.
Be aware that once submitted, certain personal details can’t be changed, such as full name, passport number, nationality and date of birth.
What you’ll need for TDAC
Personal and passport information
Full name (as it appears in your passport)
Passport number
Nationality/Citizenship
Date of birth
Gender
Contact email address
Travel information
Flight number
Date of arrival
Port of entry into Thailand
Purpose of visit (e.g., tourism, business)
Accommodation details
Name of hotel or residence
Full address
Contact number
Health declaration
Countries visited within the past 14 days before arrival
Any symptoms experienced in the past 14 days (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat)
Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate (if applicable, based on recent travel history)
How far in advance will I need to apply for TDAC?
British tourists planning a trip to Thailand must now apply for the new Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) at least three days prior to travel, with applications opening on April 28 for those arriving on May 1, and subsequently three days ahead of the arrival date onwards. Remember that the TDAC system operates on Thailand time (+7 hours), so factor in the time zone difference when applying.
Once you’ve submitted your details for the TDAC, expect to receive either a confirmation email or QR code fairly quickly. It is crucial to have this confirmation readily available, in digital form or as a printout, to show alongside your passport when entering Thailand.
A Travel Republic spokesperson underscored the benefits, stating: “The introduction of the TDAC will be introduced to help provide a smoother customer experience at immigration in Thailand and will reduce paperwork and congestion at borders. From May 1, British visitors will need to apply three days before their arrival date for their TDAC and ensure they have their confirmation or QR code at hand for border control.
“It’s important to note that the confirmation for the TDAC does still need to be accompanied by the original documents needed to enter Thailand. For Brits, this includes a valid passport with at least six months left before the expiration date, which allows travel for tourism purposes for the initial term of 60 days, which can be extended by an additional 30 days at a local immigration office.
“If you are planning to travel to Thailand for other purposes, such as work or business, you will require a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV,) which costs £300 and allows you to stay up to 180 days per entry, with a one-time extension for another 180 days and is valid for five years. Overstaying your Visa can result in fines, so ensuring you have the right documentation during your travels is important.”
