Aha I see. I hope they can wait for you in Thailand then. I also hope your visa will be approved soon so you can meet them there.

@Sean ******

Sure. My point is that this is most likely to happen on your first entry on the DTV, especially if you do a same day switch rather than say in 1 or 2 years from now. This is because it's easiest to pick up at the beginning. An officer who is looking to refuse entry on a DTV due to fraud, probably wouldn't allow entry and only do an investigation after the holder has been re-entering the country a year or two into their DTV validity.

@Robert ******

I only made a comment, correcting you about Thai nationals and the TM6, which is to say that until 2017, they were included.

As for this online TM6, we don't know for sure whether it will enter into force on May 1. That's simply what the news is saying now.

I never said I knew anything about it, beyond what the news is saying. On the contrary, I've suggested waiting until the government clarifies the situation.

They're correct. Even passports expire 5 or 10 years from the date of issue minus one day. So if your passport was issued on January 29, 2025, it will expire on January 28, 2035, not January 29.

@478, true, but this probably won't happen if you're successful with your first entry on a DTV. I can't imagine them going back a year or two to establish when your DTV was granted if they granted you entry the first time round. The more time passes, the less important this becomes.

The best thing to do is to stay outside of Thailand a few days or more between your last stay in Thailand and your entry into the country using a DTV.

It's those same day border runners who do a switch, that are getting caught out because it's just so obvious what they're doing.

Where are you now? See your friend first (if you're in Thailand), or invite them to meet you in Cambodia.

I think this form will mimic the Cambodian e-arrival form. I also suspect that if it does indeed begin May 1 (or even if it's delayed), during the first phase, only arrivals by air will need to fill it out.

I don't believe that land based arrivals will be ready to implement it simultaneously with air arrivals on the same date.

The Cambodian e-arrival system for instance, which became compulsory only on September 1, 2024 (after being delayed from July 1) is still only for air arrivals at this stage. Anyone who fills it out for land based entry will have it ignored.

@Tod ********

For everyone except Thais.

@Robert ******

Incorrect. The TM6 used to be filled out by everyone, including Thai nationals, until 2017. Then Thais were exempted and beginning in 2022, all foreign nationals entering by air. Finally, in 2024, major land border checkpoints temporarily exempted all persons from filling one out until the end of April this year.

@Wylie ******

Correct, that's what I understand too. Some foreigners believe they will be exempt. Was talking to this private pilot (a westerner, probably Australian or British but based in Singapore) with an incredible sense of entitlement, who is adamant he won't need one as a "crew" member as he puts it, yet he is not even an airline pilot but simply a private pilot piloting Cessnas into Hat Yai Airport.

While we can't say for sure, unless he remains airside then I'd say he will be subjected to it as well.

The news clearly states all foreigners, though I suspect there may be a few exemptions, those being border pass holders from neighboring countries and transit passengers but that's probably about it.