Answer first: two things now sit at the top of every Thailand briefing. First, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is mandatory for every non-Thai arrival — including visa-exempt tourists — and must be filed online before immigration. Second, the popular 60-day visa exemption is set to change: on 19 May 2026 Thailand's Cabinet approved ending the 60-day visa-free stay and reverting most nationalities to 30 days, though this only becomes law once published in the Royal Gazette. As a Thailand DMC for travel agents, Explera tracks these rules so you can brief clients with confidence and avoid airport surprises. Always confirm the current position at the time of booking — entry rules move quickly.
What is the TDAC, and who needs it?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is an online arrival declaration that has replaced the old paper TM6 card. It is a separate requirement from any visa — having a visa or being visa-exempt does not remove the need to file it.
- Who: all non-Thai nationals, for every entry mode — air, land and sea. This includes visa-exempt tourists, business visitors, long-term visa holders and returning expatriates. Every traveller needs their own TDAC, including infants and children (group submissions of up to 10 people are allowed to save time).
- When: it can only be submitted within 72 hours (3 days) of arrival, counting the arrival day — the system rejects anything filed earlier.
- Cost: it is free. Any request for payment is a scam — there is only one official government portal, and no app, third-party website or in-person agent is authorised.
- Passport: at least six months' validity from the arrival date, and every detail (spelling, numbers, dates) must match the passport exactly.
- Cannot be edited: core identity data (name, passport number, date of birth) cannot be changed after submission — a mistake means filing a fresh form.
The 2026 visa-exemption change agents must watch
This is the live story for the trade. As of late June 2026, nationals of around 93 countries and territories still enter visa-free for up to 60 days, and the 60-day stamp is still being issued at the border. But the framework has been approved to change:
- What changed: on 19 May 2026, the Cabinet approved scrapping the 60-day visa-exempt scheme, with most travellers (e.g. from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and Japan) expected to return to 30 days visa-free.
- When it bites: the change takes legal effect only after publication in the Royal Gazette (generally about 15 days later). Until then, the 60-day exemption continues to apply.
- Why it matters for agents: clients planning longer stays may be caught between the old and new rules. For trips beyond the visa-free window, plan a suitable visa (such as an e-Visa or the appropriate tourist visa) rather than relying on the exemption.
Because the exact switch-over date depends on Gazette publication, the practical rule is simple: confirm the current visa-exempt duration for each nationality at the moment of booking and again close to travel. Our Thailand DMC trade desk can confirm the live position for your client's passport.
Proof of funds, onward travel and accommodation
Separate from the visa question, immigration can ask arriving visitors to show they meet entry conditions. Brief clients to be ready with:
- Proof of funds — a customary minimum amount per traveller, with a higher figure for families; carry it in an accepted form. (We share the current figure on request rather than publish numbers that change.)
- Onward or return travel — a confirmed ticket out of Thailand within the permitted stay.
- Accommodation — confirmed bookings for the trip, which we can supply through our Thailand DMC hotel bookings desk.
How agents should brief clients and package the trip
- Make the TDAC a checklist item — tell clients to file it only on the official government portal, only within the 72-hour window, and never to pay anyone for it.
- Check passports early — six months' validity minimum; flag renewals well before departure.
- Confirm the visa-exempt duration — verify whether the client's nationality still gets 60 days or has moved to 30, and size the itinerary to fit; arrange a visa for longer stays.
- Carry the entry evidence — proof of funds, onward travel and accommodation, all easy to assemble when we handle the ground arrangements.
- Lean on the DMC — our full Thailand DMC services for travel agents, airport and private transfer teams, and the source-markets desk make compliant, smooth arrivals part of the package. The trade desk confirms the live rules for any passport.
Frequently asked questions
Does the TDAC replace a visa?
No. The TDAC is an arrival declaration that every non-Thai traveller must file, in addition to meeting visa or visa-exemption rules. They are two separate requirements — filing the TDAC does not grant entry permission, and holding a visa does not waive the TDAC.
When should clients file the TDAC?
Within 72 hours (three days) of arrival, including the arrival day. It cannot be submitted earlier, so build it into the pre-departure checklist for the final few days before the flight.
Is Thailand really ending the 60-day visa exemption?
The Cabinet approved ending it on 19 May 2026, with most nationalities expected to revert to 30 days visa-free. However, it becomes law only once published in the Royal Gazette, and until then the 60-day stay still applies. Confirm the current duration at the time of booking.
Is there a fee to complete the TDAC?
No — it is free on the single official government portal. Any website, app or person charging a fee or asking for payment is a scam. Direct clients to the official channel only.
What should clients do for stays longer than the visa-free window?
Plan an appropriate visa (such as an e-Visa or the relevant tourist visa) rather than relying on the exemption. Our trade desk can advise the right visa for the client's nationality and trip length.
