TDAC Thailand Digital Arrival Card: Step-by-Step Guide for Malaysians (2026)
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In this guide
Going to Thailand soon? There’s one form you can’t skip: the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card). It replaced the old paper TM6 card in May 2025, it takes about 5 minutes, and it’s free.
Here’s exactly how Malaysians fill it in, whether you’re flying from KLIA or driving up through Bukit Kayu Hitam.
Who needs a TDAC?
Every foreign passport holder entering Thailand, including Malaysian tourists, business travellers and long-term residents. Children need one too.
You don’t need one if:
- You’re transiting through a Thai airport without passing immigration, or
- You’re entering with a Border Pass.
What you need before you start
Have these ready and the form takes 5 minutes:
- Passport: number, expiry date, nationality
- Flight or travel details: flight number and arrival date, or for drivers, your vehicle and border checkpoint
- Where you’re staying: your hotel name and address in Thailand (your booking confirmation works)
- Email address: your confirmation and QR code are sent here
- Recent travel history: the form includes a short health declaration about countries you’ve visited
Step-by-step: how to fill in the TDAC
- Open the official site at tdac.immigration.go.th within the 3 days before you arrive.
- Choose “Arrival Card” and fill in your personal details exactly as they appear in your passport.
- Add your trip details: arrival date, mode of travel (air, land or sea), flight number or border point, and purpose (Holiday).
- Enter your accommodation in Thailand. If you’re moving between cities, use your first hotel.
- Complete the health declaration.
- Add other travellers if you’re submitting for family or friends.
- Submit and save the QR code. Screenshot it and keep the confirmation email. Immigration may scan it on arrival.
Pro tip: Do it the night before your flight, not at the airport. Airport Wi-Fi and a queue behind you are a bad combination.
Flying vs driving in from Malaysia
| Flying (KLIA, Penang, JB) | Driving or bus (Bukit Kayu Hitam, Padang Besar) | |
|---|---|---|
| TDAC needed? | Yes | Yes (unless using a Border Pass) |
| Travel mode on form | Air + flight number | Land + checkpoint |
| Extra for drivers | — | Your car also needs Thai vehicle paperwork and Thai insurance at the border |
| Common mistake | Wrong arrival date after a delay | Forgetting the form for passengers in the car |
If your flight changes, you can edit your TDAC on the same site using your reference number.
Get your phone sorted too
You’ll need data the moment you land: for Grab, maps, and showing your QR code. An eSIM is the easiest option because you install it in Malaysia and it switches on when you arrive. No hunting for a SIM counter at the airport.
Thailand 5G eSIM (AIS)
- Install before you fly, activates in Thailand
- No roaming charges from your Malaysian telco
- QR code delivered instantly in the Klook app
Check your phone supports eSIM first: dial *#06# and look for an EID number. Not sure whether to pick an eSIM or roaming? Read our Thailand eSIM guide for Malaysians.
Pack a travel adapter
Thailand’s wall sockets take two-pin and round-pin plugs, not Malaysia’s 3-pin (Type G) plugs. Hotels sometimes have adapters, but often not enough to go round. Bring your own.
Universal travel adapter
Works in Thailand and most countries you'll visit next. Pick one with USB ports to charge your phone and power bank together.
View on Shopee →Universal travel adapter (alternative pick)
Another well-rated option if the first is out of stock.
View on Shopee →Your Thailand pre-departure checklist
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- TDAC submitted, QR code saved
- Return or onward ticket booked
- Hotel booking confirmation on your phone
- eSIM installed
- Travel adapter packed
- Some baht cash for the first taxi or meal
Planning your trip? See our 3-day Bangkok itinerary, Bangkok airport to city guide, Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 and things to do in Pattaya.
Frequently asked questions
Do Malaysians need to fill in the TDAC?
Yes. Since 1 May 2025, all foreign passport holders entering Thailand, including Malaysians, must submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before arrival. The main exceptions are transit passengers who don't pass immigration and Border Pass holders.
When should I submit the TDAC?
Within the 3 days before you arrive in Thailand. You can't submit it earlier than that, so do it the day before or on the morning of your flight.
How much does the TDAC cost?
It's free on the official site, tdac.immigration.go.th. Websites that charge a fee are third-party agents, not the Thai government.
Do I need the TDAC if I drive into Thailand from Malaysia?
Yes. The TDAC applies to arrivals by air, land and sea, so drivers and bus passengers crossing at Bukit Kayu Hitam–Sadao or Padang Besar also need to submit it, unless they enter with a Border Pass.
Can I submit one TDAC for my whole family?
Each traveller, including children, needs their own arrival card. The official form lets you add several travellers in one submission, which is faster for families.
