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What should I know about the Digital Arrival Card and immigration process when arriving in Bangkok?

May 7, 2025
2 days ago
Rick **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I question for anyone who has just arrived in Bangkok by air. This may be a little long but I still confused by the immigration officers response.

I arrived early this morning from the US. Going through the immigration line and the officer looked at my passport and the Digital Arrival Card. I did the DAC at home and going through the questions, the boxes for “ where are you staying” and “On ward travel or return flight” were grayed out and you could not enter anything. So I tried it twice same thing. I went ahead with the process and it let me. Within minutes I received the email as completed and then printed it out which was one page. I also copied the QR code.

When she saw the DAC paper work she asked “ where is the second page, where are you staying and how long do you plan to stay. I am staying with a friend and had the address. She also wanted their name and phone number which I had. I had booked a flight to Cambodia out about 55 days in case I was asked this. I had planned on 60 days visa eexempt and possibly applying for the 30 day extension. Long story short she called my friend, apparently ask our relationship, ask how long I was staying and then told them they would need to take me to immigration ansi would need to get a Visa to stay longer. Now mins you, she only told them this and did not tell me. She finally stamped my pass port and I met my friends outside. They then told me what she said and none of us understood why she would say I need to go to immigration and get a Visa.

So if anyone may have an idea or if you are flying in just be aware of what they may be looking for on the DAC and hopefully you do not have the same issue. Thanks
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A recent arrival in Bangkok shared confusion over immigration procedures after filling out a Digital Arrival Card (DAC) which had grayed out fields for accommodation and onward travel. This led to questions about visa exemptions and requirements upon entry. The conversation highlighted the importance of providing complete information to immigration, including accommodation details and proof of onward travel. It was noted that failure to provide required details may lead to being advised to apply for a visa. Other commenters mentioned the need for the TM30 registration for staying at a friend's residence and provided insights on recent changes to the visa exemption policy allowing a 60-day stay.
Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
Vincent *******
they send you to immigration and let you sort it out there. long lines. additional paperwork etc. I just extended my retirment visa. 600 dollars per year. the service handles most of it. drove me to immigration and handled it all.
Rita *******
Ppl trying to escape US

Been seeing a lot of Americans get pulled up at immigration
James ******
@Rita ******
trying to escape US, it's ok Obama term ended a while back, US is back to normal.
Rita *******
@James *****
😂😂😂😂
Jeff *******
Immigration was explaining to your friends that THEY need to file a TM30

Nothing to do with DAC
Mike ******
TDAC - the best thing to happen to Vietnam in years.
Mark ******
Didnt like the look of you
Frank ********
Friend needs to do a tm30
Phil ******
@Rick *********
that's pretty harsh as its your first trip and entering Visa Exempt. Is your friend Thai? Where did you meet as maybe what your friend said something to immigration that then prompted the IO to advise you need a visa. Anyhow I think you have a warning in the system so best get a visa
Wannikea *********
Just show the tdac QR CODE from your phone, as requested to do. No need to printout anything.
Dave *******
@Wannikea ********
its best to have both , best to be on the safe side , nothing to lose tbh
Ben *********
Payback for Trumpian tariffs? Just saying...
Frankie *******
It's still 60 days visa exempt issued for American citizens. I just left BKK 1week ago
Mark ********
Very interesting. I just came in few days ago. When I filled out the dtac it did not ask for return exit flight.
Henrik *****
Entering visa excempt you have to be able to show on arrival:

Onward ticket( ticket out of Thailand) within 60 days.

Adress of where you would be staying.

20.000 Baht in cash.

Sometime they ask for proof, other times not.

Has nothing to do with TDAC
Lynnette *******
I was asked at check in desk at Heathrow for date of return, flight and duration of stay. They didn't need the TDAC because it can also be done at airport on arrival.
Mark ********
@Lynnette ******
it was grayed out
Lynnette *******
@Mark *******
if it couldn't be viewed correctly then I would have done it again.
Lynnette *******
@Mark *******
then I'd have logged out and back in. There must have been something wrong. Don't think anyone else has had that issue.
Etincelle **********
@Lynnette ******
Sorry, but there are multiple people here stating the system shows greyed out boxes. There is only one conclusion: clearly the system is still broken. Probably the same old sage they did not test it for popular browsers. As a user there is zero need to do stuff you suggest.
Lynnette *******
@Etincelle *********
I've no idea. I merely suggested, like other people, there may be an issue and to log in again. You think the systems broken, maybe. But just landed and everyone seemed to pass through with no issue.
Lee-Ann *******
@Lynnette ******
using a different browser might help too
Lynnette *******
@Mark *******
it does. But it's not got red asterisk so if you don't have a planned exit you don't enter a date.
Nongnuch ********
@Rick *********
a typical misunderstanding because of technical wrong wording of a Thai Immigration official. I take any bet that she told your friend to go to Immigration together and register you in the TM30 system as living in your friends premises
Frank ********
@Nongnuch *******
I have a long stay visa and I had to go to immigration with the house book and owner. Once registered you can do this online.
Rick **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nongnuch *******
that would make sense but she didn’t say anything to my friend about the TM30. We are going to immigration today just to sure
Malcolm *******
@Nongnuch *******
Yes your friends have to register you at their address just like all the hotels do when they take your passport, remember they MUST do this
Ian ********
@Nongnuch *******
I totally agree with you , the friend was told to do the TM30 at immigration and the friend thought the TM30 was some sort of visa and relayed this to the OP
Matt *******
Something was wrong with your DAC form, and it raised concerns. I was able to fill out the complete form with flight info and hotel info and had no issues with immigration.
Tom ********
You don't really need to book a flight to Cambodia if you don't intend to go, just a simple $12 one way bus ticket to Laos will suffice from 12go.com
Rick **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tom *******
did it in advance at home just to be safe.
Eric *********
@Tom *******
Yhank you for the link!
Tom ********
@Er**
You're welcome!
Kieren **********
Is there any dramas if your return ticket says your staying for 60 day and not 30
Frank **********
@Kieren *********
why would there be drama if visa exempt is 60 days?
Kieren **********
@Frank *********
thought it was 30 days
Graham ******
@Kieren *********
not since 15-Jul-2024
Xael ************
Same things with me, just happen 3 hours ago, i have thai GF but they still need my return ticket

if anyone in here have Visa Service please Inbox me in Dms, Thank you 🙏
Henrik *****
You are allow in for 60 days, of course you need to show that you leave within the allowed 60 days.

Having a girlfriend or not, wouldn't change anything.
Lynnette *******
@Xael ***********
proof of leaving country is a requirement they can request. If you are entering without visa.
Kieren **********
So can you now go to Thailand for 60days visa exemption and not 30 like it used to be?
Andy **********
@Kieren *********
it is currently 60 days visa exempt, but just keep an eye on things, they are discussing putting it back to 30 days again.
Benjamin *********
@Kieren *********
it's been 60 days since June or July 2024.
Kieren **********
@Benjamin ********
yeah that one cool
Kieren **********
@Benjamin ********
ok cool Thankyou going in a few months so just need to fill out and print out that new dtv thing is that all for a 60 day visit
Henrik *****
You should check again before you go, may switch back to 30, but then you just apply for a 60 day tourist visa a couple of weeks before you go.
Benjamin *********
@Kieren *********
yep 😊👍 but fill out different acronym called TDAC (the DTV is a 5 year visa)
Henrik *****
There are 3 important requirements everybody should be able to present to the Immigration Officer, when you enter visa excempt:

When do you intend to leave Thailand (within the visa exempt period).

Where would you stay.

Do you have 20.000 baht in cash.

You got 2 out of 3, so you have nothing to complain about, the officer did her work by the book.

You should have read the Thai Embassy website more thoroughly.
Rick **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ****
I’m not complaining. The officer did not clarify anything with me.
Henrik *****
What is this post then.

No Immigration officer need to clarify the basic requirements that you should know before going to Thailand.
Jared **********
Thailand’s going to put someone on the moon before they have a transparent and defined entry system fir TR/VE
Candace *********
so did you ask questions? surely they're english speaking.
Scott ***********
Was she not just telling them to make sure you had a TM30?
Rick **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Scott **********
no idea

Maybe that we had to get a TM 30
Scott ***********
@Rick *********
an awful lot of people don't bother doing it but it could go against them further down the line.
Scott ***********
@James *****
The house owner or Tennant is responsible for reporting to immigration any non Thai nationals staying at their property within 24 hours of their arrival.
Ian **********
@James *****
the TM30 has to be completed by the property owner within 24 hours of the alien arriving so this is probably what she was telling the poster's friend.
Stephen ********
@James *****
it's a requirement 🤷‍♂️
James ******
@Stephen *******
must be the new dtc because im here on second 60day and never asked for one of me
Stephen ********
@James *****
immigration dont ask for one, it is a requirement that a tm30 is lodged withing 24 hours of arrival. Hotels do it automatically, but maybe because he was staying with a friend, that friend is then supposed to do the notification
James ******
@Stephen *******
I didn't do one for my first 60 day stop, was never asked about it, then went to Vietnam came back another 60 days and nothing said, and i haven't been staying in hotel
Stephen ********
@James *****
if you ever go to immigration for an extension, the chances are that you need it. Even though its not your responsibility, if it hasnt been done you will be fined 1600฿
Jo **********
@Scott **********
nothing to do with entry
Scott ***********
Jo **********
James ******
@Scott **********
why would he need TM30
Graham ******
Do you have a hstory of Visa Exempt entries to Thailand? It could be that you got a warning that next time you try to enter you will need a Visa.
Phil *******
What is your visit history?
Rick **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil ******
first trip
Phil *******
@Rick *********
wow, that seems very harsh.
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