Quick Answer
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is the free online form that replaced the paper TM6 arrival card on 1 May 2025. All non-Thai travelers entering Thailand by air, land or sea fill it in at the official website tdac.immigration.go.th within 3 days before arrival, and need a new card for each entry. It is free: sites that charge a "service fee" are not the official form. Save the confirmation as a screenshot, and install a Thailand eSIM before you fly so you have data for Grab, maps and messages from the moment you land in Bangkok or Phuket.
Since 1 May 2025, Thailand no longer uses the paper arrival card that travelers used to fill in on the plane. Instead, every foreign visitor completes the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before the trip. It is simple, but a lot of travelers still search for the right website, the timing and what to do if their plans change. This guide explains TDAC step by step and how to get your phone ready for Thailand.
Before you book
TDAC is not a visa. Check whether you need a visa for Thailand for your passport and the length of your stay on the official Thai e-visa website or with the Thai embassy in your country.
Key facts
- Official website: tdac.immigration.go.th, run by Thailand's Immigration Bureau.
- Cost: free. Lookalike websites that charge a fee are not the official service.
- Since: 1 May 2025, replacing the paper TM6 card.
- Who: all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea.
- When: within 3 days before your arrival in Thailand.
- Each entry: you need a new TDAC for every entry, for example after a side trip to Cambodia or Malaysia.
- Transit: travelers who transit without passing through Thai immigration do not need a TDAC.
- Mobile networks in Thailand: AIS and TrueMove H (now including DTAC), with 4G and 5G in cities and tourist areas.
- Emergency numbers: 191 (police), 1669 (medical emergency), 1155 (tourist police, with English-speaking staff).
How to fill in the TDAC
- Open the official website tdac.immigration.go.th no more than 3 days before you arrive. Check the address carefully.
- Enter your passport details and personal information exactly as they appear in your passport.
- Enter your travel details: flight or vehicle number, date of arrival, and the address of your first hotel in Thailand.
- Answer the health declaration questions.
- Submit, and save the confirmation: take a screenshot, download it and keep the email.
- At immigration, show the confirmation if you are asked. If your details change before you arrive, update or submit a new card.
Common TDAC mistakes
| Mistake | What to do |
|---|---|
| Paying a lookalike website | Use only tdac.immigration.go.th. The TDAC is free. |
| Filling it in too early | Submit it within 3 days before arrival. |
| Using one card for two entries | Fill in a new TDAC for every entry into Thailand. |
| Name or passport number typed wrong | Check every field against your passport before you submit. |
| Confirmation only in your email | Save a screenshot, so you can show it without internet. |
Staying connected in Thailand
Thailand has excellent mobile coverage in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui and along the main roads. On small islands and in national parks the signal can be weaker, so download offline maps before boat trips and treks.
What helps:
- Install a Thailand eSIM at home on Wi-Fi before you fly. Your plan starts when the eSIM first connects in Thailand, so installing early costs you nothing.
- Skip the SIM counter at the airport. Queues at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket can be long after big arrivals.
- Use Grab or Bolt for taxis and food delivery. You need mobile data to book.
- Keep your home line on for SMS codes from your bank, with data roaming switched off on it.
- Save 1155, the tourist police, in your phone.
TripoSIM's Thailand plans connect to AIS or TrueMove H, depending on the plan. Each plan page shows the networks before you buy. Our Thailand unlimited plans give between 1 GB and 5 GB a day at full speed, depending on the plan, and then a slower speed until the next day; see our daily limits by country.
How much data do you need?
| How you use your phone | Data per day | 1 week | 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light: maps, Grab, messages | 300–500 MB | 3–5 GB | 5–7 GB |
| Normal: plus social media and photo sharing | 1–1.5 GB | 7–10 GB | 15–20 GB |
| Heavy: video calls, stories and uploads | 2–3 GB or more | 20 GB | Unlimited |
Heading to Thailand?
Get a Thailand eSIM in minutes — instant QR by email, no roaming charges, with a discount applied automatically at checkout.
Our data calculator helps you estimate your own use.
Visiting more than one country?
Many travelers combine Thailand with Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos or Malaysia. Remember to fill in a new TDAC each time you enter Thailand again. For data, a Southeast Asia regional plan can cover several countries with one eSIM, so you do not need a new SIM at every border.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card free?
Yes. The TDAC on tdac.immigration.go.th is free. Websites that charge a service fee are not the official form.
When should I fill in the TDAC?
Within 3 days before your arrival in Thailand. Fill it in again for every new entry.
Who needs a TDAC?
All non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea. Travelers who transit without passing through Thai immigration do not need one.
Is the TDAC a visa?
No. The TDAC replaces the paper arrival card. If your passport needs a visa for Thailand, you must apply for it separately.
Do I need internet to show my TDAC?
No, if you save the confirmation as a screenshot or download it before you fly.
Does a travel eSIM work in Thailand?
Yes. A travel eSIM connects to AIS or TrueMove H, depending on the plan, and works as soon as you land.
The bottom line
The TDAC is free and takes a few minutes: fill it in on tdac.immigration.go.th within 3 days before you arrive, use a new card for each entry, and save the confirmation as a screenshot. Set up a Thailand eSIM at home, and you have data for Grab, maps and messages from the moment you land. Find plans for Thailand, and read our best eSIM for Thailand guide.
Sources
Checked on 7 November 2026:
- Thailand Immigration Bureau: Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
- Royal Thai Embassy: TDAC information
- Thailand e-visa: official website
What is the best eSIM for Thailand?
The best eSIM for Thailand is the plan that fits how much data you use and runs on a strong local network. For a typical trip, 5 GB for 30 days costs $5.49. If you stream, work online or share a hotspot, Unlimited costs $33.01 for 20 days. TripoSIM plans for Thailand start at $1.40, run on AIS, TrueMove H, and the days only start counting when the eSIM first connects in Thailand, so you can install it before you fly.
| Your trip | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| About a week of light use (maps, messages) | 1 GB for 7 days | $1.40 |
| 1–2 weeks of everyday use | 5 GB for 30 days | $5.49 |
| Heavy use, video calls or a long stay | 20 GB for 30 days | $12.32 |
| Streaming, hotspot or remote work | Unlimited for 20 days (1 GB a day at full speed, then slower) | $33.01 |
Live prices in US dollars, checked November 7, 2026. 19 plans for Thailand are available. See all Thailand plans →
Thailand eSIM — connected the moment you land
Install before you fly. Keep your number. No roaming bills.
3 GB · 30 days
🎁 Discount applied at checkout
Check your device
Pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or USDC
$0.20/day·$1.40/GB
$1.40/GB
Works on: AIS, TrueMove H
⚡ 5 GB/day at full speed, then 1 Mbps
$3.33/day
⚡ 1 GB/day at full speed, then 512 kbps
$2.20/day
⚡ 1 GB/day at full speed, then 512 kbps
$2.12/day
⚡ 1 GB/day at full speed, then 512 kbps
$2.77/day
Need more data for a short trip?
A longer plan works for a short trip too, and gives you more data:
Save on your Thailand eSIM
Enter your email for an instant discount code + occasional travel connectivity tips.
We’ll email your code + occasional travel tips. Unsubscribe anytime.