Thailand’s new rules for Australian visitors
Thailand joins the growing list of Asian countries replacing paper-based arrivals cards with a digital equivalent.
By Staff Writers, April 30 2025
Thailand is joining Singapore and Malaysia in requiring that almost every visitor – including travellers from Australia, either on holidays or a business trip – must now complete a digital arrivals card before they can enter the country.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card became mandatory as of Thursday 1 May 2025; it replaces the long-standing paper ‘TM6’ arrivals card, and remains free of charge.
All visitors to Thailand arriving by air, sea or land must complete the online form inside of 72 hours (three days) before they arrive.
However, the arrivals card isn’t required if you are transiting or transferring in Thailand without going through immigration control.
According to the Thai government’s Immigration Bureau, “the TDAC aims to streamline entry procedures and enhance the overall travel experience for visitors to Thailand.”
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card can be filled out online at tdac.immigration.go.th, with options for both individuals and families or groups traveling together.
Once completed, travellers receive a QR code to present to immigration officials upon arrival in Thailand.
Still in the works: Thai ETA
Thailand is still considering adopting a controversial new ‘electronic travel authorisation’ which could be accompanied by a 300 Baht (A$14) tourism tax levy.
The Thai ETA would be mandatory for visitors who enjoy visa-free travel to Thailand: an extensive list of almost 100 ‘visa waiver’ countries including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and the USA, Singapore, China and Hong Kong, along with most European nations.
Thailand’s Tourism Minister, Sorawong Thientong, said “the collection of the tourism fee benefits the tourism industry since the revenue can be used for the development of infrastructure and attractions, along with ensuring tourist safety.”
The Thai ETA will be free of charge, although a new ETA application will be required for each visit to Thailand – unlike ETAs from several other countries, which remain valid for multiple entries across several years.
Since July 2024, tourists and business travellers from visa-free countries have been permitted to stay in Thailand for as many as 60 days, up from the previous 30-day limit – with the option to extend this by a further 30 days once they arrive in Thailand.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
12 Mar 2019
Total posts 4
Will this be required for APEC card holders?
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 531
Yes, ALL foreigners will be required to fill one out. It's Thailand, where foreigners are always subjected to more rules than locals.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 May 2017
Total posts 40
Another country going digital... why? I just can't be bothered. For the moment I will only travel to countries without these digital requirements. For the South Pacific, be it Samoa, Fiji or Vanuatu (and a few others), you don't need this extra requirement. That's where I'll be heading. Not to Thailand.
24 Oct 2020
Total posts 6
With due respect to Felipe, for his / her comment. Having a Philippine wife, I have " home-visited " her family in Cebu, multiple times. On approach to Melbourne or Adelaide International Air Terminals, it was always a pain filling out the old arrivals cards . . . . especially during runway approach maneuvering / turbulence.
So many Countries, including Australia have chosen the digital arrival cards route for " very valid reasons ", as follows. 1): Eliminates an ' Everest ' pile of carded paperwork customs officers must collect, scrutinize & then appropriately dispose of. 2): Said officers can then be " redeployed " to other areas such as, luggage inspection for attempted smuggling of prohibited items; or detaining & swiftly deporting those who attempt illegal entry into any Country, worldwide. 3): Lastly; it's a " great convenience " & massive personal time saver, for travellers alike. No-one likes shuffling slowly for long periods in queues, with any luggage, going through immigration points.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
21 Jul 2019
Total posts 229
With respect to CragD, cards are handed out well before final approach, so a pax usually has ample time to fill out the card before landing/turbulence whatever. And the 'Everest' pile of cards are quite frankly, not the problem of the pax - that's totally the responsibility of immigration officials and how they deal with it. You're confusing immigration and customs. It's the customs officials who check your bags for illicit items, not immigration. How is it a great timesaver?! The time saving is minimal to non-existent. You still have to be processed either by a human or a machine, and probably both!! And nobody can solve the problem if you lose your phone, have a flat battery, can't get wifi etc etc....
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 531
Crag, no one is forcing you to fill out a paper card during turbulence or even while you're on board the aircraft.
You can fill it out once you've landed, while you're in the arrivals hall. There's no need to rush after exiting the aircraft; you choose to, as you seem to believe that getting through immigration is some sort of competition where the fastest to emerge can win a prize. This is not so; no one cares and it takes as long as it takes.
An online form can create longer queues and more difficulties as there will inevitably be many who don't know how to fill it out, don't have a phone or computer or may have forgotten to do it.
These individuals should be offered a paper card as an alternative.
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 531
The planned Thai ETA will be a disaster if it's required for each entry to the country. Business travelers will bypass the country and instead use Malaysia or Singapore (or Taipei / Hong Kong) as transit points for business travel in the region. Filling out a simple online form is one thing, but a new ETA for each and every visit, unlike all other countries that permit multiple entries within a timeframe of 1-3 years, is overkill and will certainly make business travelers think twice about using Bangkok as a transit stop. Leisure travelers might be OK with the requirement, especially elderly "snowbirds" who only travel to the country once a year but spent up to 60 or even 90 days in country per trip.
04 Sep 2012
Total posts 32
Singapore has the same requirements as Thailand, as probably other Asian neighbours.
You should submit your personal information, trip details and health declaration electronically within three days prior to the date of your arrival in Singapore. This can be done using the SG Arrival Card e-Service.
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 531
Singapore has no plans for an ETA. They use a digital arrivals card. I was talking about the ETA, so I think you're definitely confused. Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam currently have no digital arrivals card nor any immediate plans to implement one. For Cambodia, the digital arrivals card is only required for arrivals into the country by air.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Mar 2016
Total posts 60
I wish some of the countries that now require these online digital arrival cards would allow you to complete them more than 3 days before you arrive as sometimes if your flight is scheduled to arrive at 1am in the country and have connecting flights it can be tight finding the window to fill in the form in.
07 May 2015
Total posts 76
I agree, although for me it's less about trying to find time to fill in the form just ahead of the flight, it's more a matter that a lot of travel planning is done well in advance eg you book flights, book hotels etc, but then you can only do the arrivals card in the 72 hours before your flight arrives, so instead of doing it when you are in 'trip planning mode' you have to make sure to put a reminder note in your calendar for inside that 72 hour windows so it becomes one more thing you have to do, and it has to be done sort of on its own. Or at least when you check in for your flight.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Apr 2017
Total posts 37
NZ only allows 24 hours before the flight departs to NZ, which is a PITA, IMO. 3 days, like most other countries, is a reasonable time frame I reckon for most people, most of the time.
10 Dec 2024
Total posts 34
Well, just back from a Bali Easter and praise the person who introduced the electronic system in Bali!!!!!!
Whollly Smokesss it was a breeze to get into Bali.
22 Sep 2017
Total posts 113
It would be nice if airlines allow onboard access to this website even for pax that haven't paid for WiFi. (I'm sure the data volume is tiny compared to streaming video.)
07 May 2015
Total posts 76
That's a great idea, very sensible, and they could also make an announcement over the PA system and also show a video which explains that you HAVE to have this form done.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Apr 2016
Total posts 20
To all who lament this type of Digital Arrivals Card and the inconvienience is imposes on them; Be grateful all countries implementing appear to require completion of the online form up to 72 hours before arrival. Just imagine the chaos if the DAC windows were different like 24, 26, 48, 72, 55 hours.
Hey but wait a minute you're accessing your digital device in a 48 hour window anyway for online check-in, so while you're checking in just complete your DAC at the same time.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Apr 2016
Total posts 20
I just started to fill in the TDAC, where can I find a self study on Thai geography ?
i'm staying in a Phuket hotel but the form wants; Province, District, Sub-district, post code
TMI
Even the hotel website doesn't contain this information !
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Thailand’s new rules for Australian visitors