Thailand Digital Arrival Card

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) represents a significant step in the modernization of the Kingdom’s immigration processes. It is intended to replace or complement the traditional TM6 Arrival/Departure Card, a long-standing requirement for most foreigners entering Thailand. With the development of digital platforms and Thailand’s push toward a “smart border” framework, the TDAC is aimed at enhancing data accuracy, reducing administrative burdens, and streamlining both border control and internal migration tracking.

This article examines the TDAC from a legal, administrative, and technical perspective, including how it alters traveler obligations, the scope of personal data collection, and its interoperability with Thailand’s immigration and security systems.

I. Background and Purpose of Arrival Cards in Thailand

The Traditional TM6 Form

The TM6 card is a paper-based arrival and departure form mandated under Thailand’s Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). It serves as a physical record of entry and exit for immigration control and internal tracking purposes.

The TM6 includes fields for:

Name and passport information
Flight details
Address in Thailand
Purpose of visit
Departure details

The TM6 is often collected by immigration officers at the border or airport and was a key tool for verifying compliance with visa conditions, overstay prevention, and 90-day reporting.

II. Legal Framework Supporting the Digital Transition

Thailand’s transition to a digital arrival platform is grounded in the following legal instruments:

Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (Sections 37, 38, 76) – authority to collect foreigner data
Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) B.E. 2562 (2019) – governs use, storage, and dissemination of personally identifiable information
National Digital ID Framework – government initiative to unify identity-based services across sectors
Cabinet and Royal Thai Police resolutions supporting border digitalization under national security modernization policies

Any digital collection of arrival data must comply with the principles of data minimization, proportionality, consent, and limited retention.

III. Key Objectives of the Thailand Digital Arrival Card

Streamlining Immigration Procedures
- Reduces border congestion by allowing travelers to pre-register their data
- Enables pre-screening before arrival, akin to electronic travel authorization systems in other countries
Enhancing Data Accuracy and Accessibility
- Electronic input eliminates illegible or incomplete paper forms
- Data is instantly accessible to immigration systems, hotels, police, and labor departments where applicable
Supporting Internal Security and Overstay Control
- Automated timestamping improves tracking of lawful entry/exit
- Facilitates proactive overstay detection, reducing enforcement costs
Reducing Redundancy
- Replaces manual duplication of information in TM6, 90-day reporting, and hotel notification (TM30)

IV. Technical Structure and Implementation

A. Platform and Access

Travelers access the TDAC via:

Mobile application (iOS/Android)
Web-based portal
Self-service kiosks at selected airports

The interface requires secure identity verification, including passport scan, photo upload, and biographic data entry. QR codes may be generated to present at immigration checkpoints.

B. Data Collected

The TDAC collects the following categories of data:

Personal Identification: Name, date of birth, gender, nationality, passport number
Travel Itinerary: Flight details, port of entry, date of arrival/departure
Purpose of Visit: Tourism, business, education, retirement, etc.
Accommodation Address: Place of stay during visit
Contact Information: Email, phone number

Biometric data may be captured if integrated with immigration’s Advance Passenger Information System (APIS).

V. Status and Rollout

Pilot Programs

Initially rolled out in 2023 at major airports such as Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK)
Applied primarily to travelers entering without visa or under visa-exempt schemes
Extended to include travelers with eVisas and Thailand Elite Visas

Suspension of TM6 Requirement

In 2022–2023, the government temporarily suspended TM6 for air arrivals to reduce airport congestion. The Digital Arrival Card is intended to replace TM6 fully as the platform matures and nationwide data integration improves.

VI. Integration with Other Immigration Systems

A. Hotel Notification (TM30)

The TDAC data may be shared with the Immigration Bureau’s TM30 system, which obligates property owners to report the presence of foreign guests. If synchronized, this eliminates the need for separate notification, provided the accommodation matches the TDAC entry.

B. 90-Day Reporting

Foreigners staying longer than 90 days must report their residence status every 90 days (TM47). Integration with TDAC would allow automated calculation of stay periods and may eventually allow online reporting triggers based on arrival data.

C. Security and Watchlists

TDAC entries are cross-checked against:

Interpol notices
Thailand Immigration Blacklist
Visa overstayer records
Pending deportation warrants

This enables automated flagging for secondary screening at immigration checkpoints.

VII. Data Privacy and Legal Compliance

Under Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), all government systems collecting and processing personal data must:

Disclose purpose of collection
Obtain explicit or implied consent
Limit retention to purpose-specific duration
Ensure data access is restricted and encrypted

The Immigration Bureau and Ministry of Digital Economy and Society are jointly responsible for ensuring that the TDAC platform complies with PDPA and international data protection norms.

Concerns have been raised about:

Retention of travel histories
Use of data for marketing or law enforcement beyond intended scope
Security of cloud-based storage

Legal challenge may arise if data is misused without legal basis or adequate protection.

VIII. Benefits and Limitations

Benefits:

Reduces administrative burden for both travelers and immigration officers
Facilitates real-time analytics for national security and tourism trends
Eliminates duplicate entries across multiple immigration forms
Improves foreigner compliance tracking across multiple legal obligations

Limitations:

Dependence on digital literacy: Some travelers may lack the technical ability to complete online forms
System redundancy risks: Outages may delay entry processes
Incomplete integration: Until TM6, TM30, and TM47 are fully integrated, duplication remains
Discretionary implementation: Certain ports of entry may still require paper forms

IX. Policy Outlook and Future Developments

The TDAC reflects Thailand’s broader shift toward a smart border policy, aligned with:

Thailand 4.0 digital strategy
ASEAN regional mobility agreements
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) efforts to streamline high-value travel

Proposals under consideration include:

Linking TDAC data to eVisa and visa-on-arrival systems
Integrating with health declarations (post-COVID)
Allowing third-party input from airlines, hotels, or tour agencies
Developing predictive models for immigration flow management

Legal amendments may be proposed to enshrine TDAC as the default entry documentation, superseding older forms under the Immigration Act.

Conclusion

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card marks a substantial shift in the way the Thai government manages foreigner entry, aiming to reduce administrative inefficiency while enhancing compliance and national security oversight. Although still in its early stages of deployment, its success will depend on legal harmonization, technical robustness, data privacy safeguards, and clear guidance for both travelers and stakeholders.

As Thailand moves toward full digital border processing, the TDAC is likely to become a mandatory element of entry for all visitors, requiring travelers and operators to stay updated on its evolving structure and legal impact.