Step 1: Open the official portal (only)
Use the Immigration Bureau's free official TDAC portal. The Bureau's English manual and FAQ, checked 1 August 2026, say that non-Thai nationals entering by air, land or sea must submit before entry. The FAQ defines the filing window as within 3 days before arrival, including the arrival date. It does not prescribe “the day before” as an official best practice.
Step 2: Personal information
- Passport and personal information — copy it from the passport and review it before continuing.
- MRZ retrieval — the official manual confirms that you may scan the MRZ or upload an MRZ image to retrieve data.
- English entries — the official manual says all details must be entered in English.
Recheck the MRZ result. The Immigration Bureau expressly tells users to verify information retrieved from the MRZ. The earlier claim that the scan saves a particular percentage of typing could not be confirmed in the current official material on 1 August 2026, so no time-saving figure is published here.
The current TDAC manual does not publish a general passport-validity rule for admission. Passport and visa validity are separate entry questions, so this page no longer treats an unverified validity period as a TDAC field rule.
Step 3: Travel details
The official FAQ, checked 1 August 2026, identifies the required travel information as the flight number and arrival date, the address in Thailand and the travel purpose. Enter the values requested by the live form; do not rely on an older third-party field list.
- Arrival information — use the actual itinerary for the entry to Thailand.
- Transit — the official FAQ says no TDAC is required if you do not pass through Thai immigration; it is required if you leave the airport through immigration.
- Each entry — the official FAQ says the TDAC is for one use and a new submission is needed for each entry.
Step 4: Accommodation in Thailand
The Immigration Bureau manual and FAQ, checked 1 August 2026, require accommodation information and an address in Thailand. Use the real address shown by your hotel, host or accommodation provider and select the matching values offered by the live portal.
The earlier page asserted universal Pattaya district and sub-district selections and claimed that the system does not verify an address. Those statements could not be confirmed in the current official material on 1 August 2026. Pattaya addresses span different administrative areas, so follow the actual address rather than a generic preset.
Step 5: Health declaration
Complete the health information that the live system requests. The Immigration Bureau manual, checked 1 August 2026, says the prompt depends on Ministry of Public Health requirements and may be triggered by the countries visited during the 2 weeks before arrival, the country of boarding, nationality or flight.
The earlier fixed symptom checklist and claim that an outbreak list was usually empty could not be re-verified against current official material on 1 August 2026. Because public-health prompts can change, this page does not reproduce a static checklist.
Step 6: Review and submit
Review the preview, enter the email address that will receive the card, accept the terms and submit. The current official FAQ, checked 1 August 2026, says the update function cannot change full name, passport number, nationality or date of birth. If one of those is wrong, submit a new correct form; the Bureau says the most recent valid submission is used.
Enter your email address. Tick the terms-and-conditions box. Click Submit.
Step 7: Save the QR code
Download the TDAC after submission and keep the copy sent to your email. The official FAQ, checked 1 August 2026, says printing is not required: the document and QR code may be shown on a phone or other device. A paper copy is optional.
What happens at the airport
Keep the TDAC available for the carrier and the Thai entry checkpoint. The current Immigration Bureau material confirms that TDAC is required before entry, but it does not promise a particular inspection time or state that every airline will follow one identical document-check procedure. Those earlier operational claims could not be re-verified on 1 August 2026.
Common TDAC mistakes
- Using a non-government site — use the free Immigration Bureau portal linked above. No official fee was published on the portal checked 1 August 2026.
- Skipping children — the official FAQ says infants and children also require a TDAC.
- Reusing an old TDAC — the official FAQ requires a fresh submission for each entry.
- Trusting an MRZ scan without checking it — the official manual tells users to recheck retrieved data.
What if you forget
The official FAQ, checked 1 August 2026, says kiosks and internet access are provided on arrival for travelers without a smartphone or internet access, and directs travelers to airport or immigration staff when help is needed. It does not promise a particular waiting time and does not publish an airport TDAC fine. The earlier wait-time and fine claims therefore remain unconfirmed and are not presented as rules.
Official sources
Checked 1 August 2026: official TDAC portal · Immigration Bureau English manual · Immigration Bureau English FAQ · Immigration Bureau Thai notice. The Thai notice confirms the requirement for non-Thai travelers entering by land, sea or air; its page was re-opened successfully on 1 August 2026 and confirms the requirement and the 3-day submission window; detailed workflow claims above rely on the current Immigration Bureau manual and FAQ.
Last checked 1 August 2026. This is a summary of the Immigration Bureau's current published workflow, not a guarantee of admission or case-specific legal advice. Check the live official portal before travel.