Reviewed 16 September 2026. This is general travel information. Confirm current arrival requirements with Thai Immigration before departure.
Thailand does not operate a live electronic travel authorisation called an ETA. The requirement travellers need to know about is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or TDAC.
The TDAC replaced the paper TM.6 arrival card on 1 May 2025. It is submitted online through tdac.immigration.go.th. It is free, and Thai Immigration has not issued an official TDAC mobile app.
What travellers should do
Use the government website, enter your passport and travel details, and keep the confirmation available for your journey. The TDAC applies to non-Thai nationals arriving by air, land or sea, including travellers who hold a visa and those entering under an exemption.
When to submit it
Official guidance has used slightly different wording. Thai Immigration advises submitting before arrival, while Tourism Authority guidance has referred to the three days before arrival. The sensible approach is to submit during that three-day window and not leave it until travel day.
Watch for paid intermediaries
A website charging for an “ETA”, a “TDAC processing fee” or a “pre-arrival service” is not the government application. Some commercial providers may submit a TDAC on a traveller’s behalf, but the TDAC itself is free. Check the domain before entering passport or card details: the official service uses tdac.immigration.go.th.
TDAC is separate from your visa
The TDAC is an arrival declaration. It does not grant a visa, extend a permitted stay or authorise work. Visa-exemption rules, visa requirements and entry decisions remain separate matters handled by Thai immigration authorities.
Sources
Further reading: For visa and long-stay planning beyond the arrival card, see our Thailand long-stay guide.
LLA Editorial Team | Living Life Asia