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 cut to 30 days with effect from 15 September 2026, and that cut is law rather than a proposal: the Cabinet approved it on 19 May 2026 and the Interior Ministry notifications were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026, fifteen days before commencement. Clients who arrived before 15 September 2026 got 60 days; clients arriving on or after 15 September 2026 get 30 days for most nationalities, so quote against the arrival date, not the booking date. 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, and it is no longer a proposal. Nationals of around 93 countries and territories enter visa-free, and the 60-day stamp is issued at the border up to and including 14 September 2026:
- What changed: on 19 May 2026, the Cabinet approved scrapping the 60-day visa-exempt scheme, and most travellers (e.g. from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and Japan) return to 30 days visa-free.
- When it bites: the Interior Ministry notifications were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and took effect fifteen days later, on 15 September 2026. Until that date the 60-day exemption applied; from it, most nationalities get 30 days.
- 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 switch-over turns on the arrival date rather than the booking date, 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 which group the client's nationality now sits in — 30 days, 15, or a visa, 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?
Yes, and it is settled. The Cabinet approved ending it on 19 May 2026, the Interior Ministry notifications were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026, and they took effect fifteen days later, on 15 September 2026. Arrivals before that date got 60 days; arrivals on or after it get 30 days for most nationalities. The trigger is the arrival date, not the booking date, so a client booked today for an October arrival is on the 30-day rule.
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.
