Starting Monday, travellers can complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card for trips beginning Thursday. This online form replaces the previous paper version and is required for all foreign visitors. The digital card can be submitted individually or for a group up to three days before the intended arrival. It requires passport details, travel dates, accommodation in Thailand, and a basic health declaration. The process follows systems already implemented in other countries.
Thailand will make it necessary for all foreign nationals to fill out a digital form before arriving. The step is meant to support officials in checking people entering the country, as part of ongoing actions against human trafficking tied to illegal online activity in Southeast Asia.
Thailand Introduces Digital Arrival Card
Starting Monday, travellers can begin submitting the Thailand Digital Arrival Card for trips beginning Thursday. This new requirement replaces the paper-based form previously used and is part of Thailand’s move to modernize border procedures.
The form can be accessed through the official website of the Thai Immigration Bureau. It must be filled out before travel and is part of broader efforts to improve entry screening procedures.
Submitted details will be matched with the immigration bureau’s biometric database, allowing officials to review visitor information and check for any criminal background.
Travellers may submit the form individually or for a group, up to 3 days before the expected arrival. It requires passport data, travel dates, accommodation in Thailand, and a short health declaration. The system follows digital entry methods already used in other countries.
Tourism: A Pillar of the Thai Economy
Thailand draws visitors for its warm climate, coastal scenery,nightlife, and religious landmarks. The travel sector supports nearly one-fifth of the country's workforce and makes up close to 13% of its overall economy. Since the start of the year, nearly 12 million foreign visitors have arrived, roughly the same as during the same period last year.
Background: Security Crackdown and Regional Concerns
The launch of the digital arrival card follows the kidnapping of a Chinese actor, which brought attention to trafficking networks using Thailand as a transit route to scam centres based in border towns of Myanmar and Cambodia. These developments have raised safety concerns, particularly among Chinese travellers, who represented the largest group of foreign visitors last year.
Conclusion
Thailand’s Digital Arrival Card enhances border security while aligning with global entry practices. It aims to protect travellers and support tourism without adding a major burden to the visitor experience.