Who needs a TDAC? Travellers, children, transit and exemptions
As a rule, every non-Thai national who enters Thailand by air, land or sea must submit a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). That includes babies, children, long-term visa holders and residents. You do not need one if you are a Thai national, if you transit without passing through immigration, if you are crew, or if you enter with a Border Pass.
Verified: October 28, 2026
Need a TDAC for your trip?
Every case at a glance
This table follows the official TDAC FAQ, the TDAC user manual and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. To "enter Thailand" means to pass through Thai immigration.
| Traveller | TDAC needed? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist or business traveller who is not a Thai national | Yes | By air, land or sea |
| Traveller who is visa-exempt or uses a visa on arrival | Yes | The TDAC works with all visa types |
| Long-term visa holder or foreign resident | Yes | A new TDAC for every entry |
| Child or baby | Yes | Each child needs their own TDAC |
| Diplomatic passport holder | Yes | If not a Thai national |
| Tour, charter or incentive group | Yes | Every member; an agent or tour leader can submit |
| Transit passenger who passes through immigration | Yes | For example, to change airports or stay overnight |
| Transit passenger who does not pass through immigration | No | You stay in the transfer area |
| Passenger on a technical landing or transit flight | No | If you do not pass through immigration |
| Crew | No | The official FAQ says no TDAC is required |
| Traveller who enters with a Border Pass | No | Listed as an exception by the Tourism Authority of Thailand |
| Thai national | No | The TDAC is for non-Thai nationals |
Long-term visas and residents
A long-term visa does not replace the TDAC. The official FAQ says that the TDAC works with all visa types and that you must submit a new one every time you enter Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand names long-term residents among the travellers who must submit it.
This includes holders of a Thailand Privilege visa (formerly Thailand Elite), a Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, a Non-Immigrant O visa or a work visa with a work permit. It also applies when you return to Thailand with a re-entry permit.
Children and babies
Every child needs their own TDAC, including infants. A parent or another adult can submit it for them with the child's own passport details. One submission can include up to 10 travellers, and each person receives their own TDAC and QR code.
Transit and layovers
For transit, one question decides: do you pass through Thai immigration? The official FAQ says that if you do not pass through immigration, you do not need a TDAC. If you leave the airport, you need one. You pass through immigration when you change airports, when you must collect your bags and check in again, or when you leave the airport during a layover.
| Your trip | Through Thai immigration? | TDAC needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Connecting flight, bags checked through, you stay in the transfer area | No | No |
| You land at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and fly on from Don Mueang (DMK) | Yes | Yes |
| Separate tickets: you collect your bags and check in again | Yes | Yes |
| Long layover: you leave the airport to visit the city | Yes | Yes |
| Overnight layover in a hotel outside the airport | Yes | Yes |
| International flight to Bangkok, then a domestic flight to Phuket | Yes | Yes |
Who is exempt
- Thai nationals. The TDAC is for non-Thai nationals only.
- Transit passengers who do not pass through immigration, including passengers on technical landings and transit flights.
- Crew. The official FAQ says that crew do not need a TDAC.
- Travellers who enter with a Border Pass. The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists them as an exception.
The official sources list no other exemptions. Age, visa type and length of stay do not matter. If you hold Thai nationality and another nationality, the official FAQ does not say which passport decides. Ask the Immigration Bureau or a Thai embassy before you travel.
If you need a TDAC
Submit it on the arrival day or on one of the three days before it, and submit a new one for every entry into Thailand. When to submit your TDAC · The TDAC explained
The TDAC is not a visa. Check the other documents you need in Thailand entry requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do children and babies need a TDAC?
Yes. Every traveller needs their own TDAC, including infants. A parent can submit it for them, and one submission can include up to 10 travellers.
Do I need a TDAC if I only transit through Bangkok?
Not if you stay in the transfer area and do not pass through immigration. If you pass through immigration, for example to change airports or to stay in a hotel, you need one.
Do long-term visa holders need a TDAC?
Yes. Holders of long-term visas, such as Thailand Privilege, LTR or Non-Immigrant O visas, submit a new TDAC every time they enter Thailand.
Do I need a TDAC if I arrive by land or sea?
Yes. The rule is the same for arrivals by air, land and sea. Travellers who enter with a Border Pass are an exception.
Do Thai nationals or crew members need a TDAC?
No. The TDAC is only for non-Thai nationals, and the official FAQ says that crew do not need one.
Sources checked
- Immigration Bureau: TDAC FAQ · October 28, 2026
- Immigration Bureau: TDAC user manual · October 28, 2026
- Tourism Authority of Thailand: TDAC launch on 1 May 2025 · October 28, 2026
Need a TDAC for your trip?
ThaiDigitalCard is an independent, paid service, not the Thai government. A person checks each traveller's details before we submit the TDAC, for up to 10 travellers per application. Standard costs $40 and covers the first traveller; each additional traveller costs $20 or less. You get a full refund at any time before we submit.
