A Thai e-Visa, visa exemption, visa on arrival and the Thailand Digital Arrival Card are different things. Which entry arrangement you need depends on your passport, purpose of travel and intended stay.
This guide explains the differences and shows you where to complete the official TDAC free of charge.
Looking for the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
Use the Thai Immigration Bureau’s website: tdac.immigration.go.th . The official TDAC submission is free.
Submit within the official three-day pre-arrival window, using your arrival date in Thailand. Follow the dates available in the live system.
TDAC is an arrival form, not a visa. Completing it does not grant entry or extend your stay.
Open the Official Free TDAC Website
This button opens the Thai Immigration Bureau website. Thai Visa Express is an independent service provider.
Thai e-Visa, Visa Exemption, Visa on Arrival or TDAC?
| Arrangement | What it means | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Thai e-Visa | Apply online for an appropriate visa before travelling. | E-Visa is the application method, not a separate visa category. |
| Visa exemption | Eligible passport holders enter without obtaining a visa in advance. | Eligibility and permitted stay depend on the applicable rules. |
| Visa on arrival | Eligible passport holders apply for a short-stay visa at a designated arrival checkpoint. | This is different from visa exemption. |
| TDAC | Submit an online arrival card before entering Thailand. | It is not a visa. You may need a visa and a TDAC. |
Do British Passport Holders Need a Thai Visa?
Under the Royal Thai Embassy in London’s current published rules, effective from 15 September 2026, eligible British citizen passport holders can enter under visa exemption for qualifying tourism visits of up to 30 days.
Other purposes and longer stays may require a visa. Immigration officers can request supporting evidence and decide whether the traveller meets the entry conditions.
The Embassy specifies a limit of two visa-exempt land-border entries per calendar year. Do not describe that as a blanket twice-yearly limit covering every arrival by air.
Check your passport before departure. Our guide to British passport validity for travel to Thailand explains the published six-month requirement.
Planning an extended holiday? Read our guide to staying in Thailand for longer than 30 days and compare the single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visa options .
What Is a Thai e-Visa?
The Thai e-Visa system allows applicants to complete a visa application online, upload evidence and pay the government fee. Applications are submitted through the official Thai e-Visa website .
Before completing the form, identify the visa category appropriate to your plans. You may be researching:
- Tourist visas for holidays.
- Non-Immigrant O visas for relevant retirement or Thai family circumstances.
- Destination Thailand Visas for qualifying applicants and activities.
Check the relevant embassy’s jurisdiction and location requirements before applying. London applicants must remain within its permitted jurisdiction during processing. Our Thai e-Visa processing-time guide explains why allowing time for evidence requests matters.
What Is a Thailand Visa on Arrival?
Visa on arrival is available to eligible passport holders for a tourist stay of up to 15 days, subject to the applicable conditions and fee.
British citizen passport holders normally use visa exemption for qualifying short tourism visits rather than applying for a visa on arrival.
Check eligibility using the Royal Thai Embassy’s visa-exemption and visa-on-arrival guidance .
Who Needs the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
The TDAC is generally required for non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea, whether travelling with a visa, under visa exemption or on another qualifying entry arrangement.
Exceptions include travellers who remain in transit without passing through immigration and people entering using a Border Pass. Thai nationals do not complete the foreign-national TDAC.
A new arrival card is required for each relevant entry. Having an earlier confirmation does not cover every future visit.
What information should you prepare?
| Information | What to have ready |
|---|---|
| Identity | Your travel document and personal details, entered accurately. |
| Journey | Thailand arrival date, transport details and other requested trip information. |
| Accommodation | Details of where you will stay in Thailand. |
| Health information | Any declarations requested by the live system for your journey. |
| An accessible email address for the arrival-card confirmation. |
How to submit the TDAC
- Open the official TDAC website and select the arrival-card option.
- Enter the requested identity and travel-document information. Check any automatically scanned details.
- Add your journey and accommodation information.
- Complete any health questions shown for your circumstances.
- Review the information, provide your email address and submit.
- Download the confirmation and keep it accessible for your journey.
Complete the details in English. For screen-by-screen assistance, use the official TDAC user guide .
Can you submit for a family or group?
Yes. The official system offers group submission. Each traveller still needs their own accurate information. The current manual allows up to 10 travellers per group submission.
Can You Correct a Submitted TDAC?
The system provides an Update Arrival Card function. The official manual describes retrieving the submission using the TDAC number, date of birth and nationality.
Review the updated information and download the latest confirmation. The current manual identifies the following as details that cannot be updated:
- Full name as shown in the passport.
- Nationality or citizenship.
- Date of birth.
If a mistake concerns a field the system will not let you change, follow the current official guidance or contact TDAC support. Do not assume every error can be edited in the same way.
Is the TDAC Free?
Yes—the official arrival-card submission is free. A separate commercial assistance website may charge for its service, but that is not a Thai government TDAC fee.
Check the domain before entering personal information. The official address is https://tdac.immigration.go.th/ .
What If You Hold a UK Refugee Travel Document?
A UK-issued refugee travel document or Certificate of Travel is different from a British citizen passport. The Royal Thai Embassy in London requires UK-issued travel-document holders to obtain a Thai visa before travelling.
Read our guide to Thailand visas for UK refugee travel-document holders . Confirm acceptance of your exact document and any transit requirements. A TDAC does not resolve visa or document-acceptance issues.
Need Help Choosing a Thai Visa?
Tell us your nationality, document type, current country of residence, intended arrival date and length of stay. Our Thailand-based team can explain the application assistance available and provide a quote.
Explore Our Thailand Visa Services
WhatsApp Our Thailand Visa TeamPaid visa application assistance. You can complete the free TDAC directly through the official Immigration Bureau website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Thai e-Visa the same as a TDAC?
No. An e-Visa is a visa obtained through an online application. TDAC is a separate arrival card. Depending on your circumstances, you may need both.
Do I need a TDAC if I enter without a visa?
Generally, yes. Visa exemption does not itself exempt a foreign traveller from completing the arrival card.
Do children need arrival-card details?
The requirement is based on being a non-Thai traveller entering Thailand, rather than being an adult. Include each child’s information as required, including when using group submission.
Which date should I use if I fly overnight from the UK?
Use the date you arrive in Thailand. It may be the day after your UK departure.
Do I need another TDAC after leaving and returning?
Yes, for each new entry to which the arrival-card requirement applies. A previous submission is not a reusable entry permission.
Does TDAC approval guarantee entry?
No. You must meet the applicable visa, travel-document and entry requirements. Admission is decided by Thai Immigration.
Do I need an ordinary account login to update my TDAC?
The official manual describes using the Update Arrival Card function with the submission number, date of birth and nationality. Follow the current instructions displayed on the official site.
Does the two-entry exemption limit apply to every flight?
The London Embassy’s current wording specifies the twice-yearly restriction for visa-exempt land-border entries. Frequent air arrivals can still be examined by immigration officers.
Official Sources
- Thai Immigration Bureau: official TDAC website
- Official TDAC user guide
- Official Thai e-Visa application website
- Royal Thai Embassy London: visa exemption and visa on arrival
- Royal Thai Embassy London: general visa information
Information reviewed: 9 November 2026. Requirements, application screens and permitted stays can change. Confirm the current position with the relevant Thai authorities before travelling.
Thailand visa application assistance is provided by Thai Visa Express Consultants Co., Ltd., our separate Thailand-based company, which is not regulated by the UK Immigration Advice Authority. We are an independent paid application assistance provider and are not affiliated with the Royal Thai Embassy, Thai Immigration or Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Applicants may apply directly through the official government systems. Visa issue, admission and extensions are decided by the relevant authorities.
